Call for submissions: Creativity Pioneers Fund 2023

The Creativity Pioneers Fund, whose full application will open on 12 June, catalyses transformational social change by investing in, connecting and championing cultural and creative organisations that advance bold and unconventional practices for building a more just, inclusive, and equitable world. Working with and alongside organisations, donors and other stakeholders across the creative ecosystem, the Creativity Pioneers Fund aims to mobilise a collective effort to advance creativity for social change.

The Creativity Pioneers Fund was launched by Moleskine Foundation in 2021 to provide flexible funding in the amount of €5 000 (about $5 500) to creative and cultural organisations to help sustain their essential functions and programmes. Today, the Creativity Pioneers Fund represents a coalition of partners who believe in the transforming power of creativity and the need to use a new philanthropic approach to social change. Leveraging the creative ecosystem of partners and stakeholders, the Creativity Pioneers Fund aims to offer various learning and development opportunities for its participants/recipients.

The fund intends to invest in bold, inspiring and intersectional organisations close to the challenges and communities they seek to address.

The Creativity Pioneers Fund fund seeks to:

• Support organisations that reinforce the critical role of creativity in driving social impact.
• Provide ongoing infrastructure to build a platform that will drive greater resources and partnerships to the field of creativity for social change.
• Unrestricted funding (with a €5 000 grant) is available to organisations that demonstrate how they centre creativity in their mission and programmes. Organisations whose target audience is youths between the ages 17 to 27 years will be prioritised.

Application process

• This round of Creativity Pioneers Fund involves a two-step process. To complete the application process by late summer and disburse funds by December at the latest.
• Expressions of Interests (EOIs) will be accepted until 14 May. EOIs will be reviewed on a rolling basis and undergo a committee review, which include experts, members of Moleskine Foundation and Partners’ teams, Creativity Pioneers recipients of past editions.
• Due to the high volume of applications anticipated, Moleskine Foundation aims to complete the review of all EOIs and notify applicants of the decision by 15 June.
• Organisations invited to prepare a full proposal must submit materials by 26 June.
• Full proposals will also undergo a committee review. Final award decisions will be announced in September.
• Agreements will be finalised and funds disbursed by December.

Interested applicants should submit an expression of interest here before 14 May. Before submitting the application, applicants should carefully read the guidelines to see what organisations are eligible to apply, and the steps and criteria of the selection process.

“Through the Creativity Pioneers Fund, we are promoting a more progressive philanthropic approach based on trust, unrestricted funding, valorisation of intersectionality, simple and inclusive paperwork both at the selection process and M&E, and a strong focus on building long-lasting networks and ecosystems,” the Moleskine Foundation said. “In the application, we strongly encourage you to describe your organisation in its entirety, sharing what really moves you, beyond a conventional grant writing language.

“We will take into consideration applications coming from organisations focused on inclusivity, supporting minority groups and underserved communities. The Creativity Pioneers Fund welcomes applications from organisations working across the globe. We seek to have a range of fields and sectors represented to showcase the breadth and variety of organisations demonstrating the creativity for social change mindset.”

View the original call here.