Sappi doesn’t just make great coated
papers; we take an active role in
the world around us, striving to minimize
our impact on the environment while
improving the lives and prosperity of
those we touch.
papers; we take an active role in
the world around us, striving to minimize
our impact on the environment while
improving the lives and prosperity of
those we touch.
A decade ago, we launched Ideas that Matter, the industry’s only grant program aimed at helping designers contribute their talents to the charitable activities that they care about most. Sappi believes that the creative ideas of designers can have an impact beyond the aesthetic and that those ideas can be a powerful force for social good. To date, Ideas that Matter has awarded $9 million worldwide in grants supporting causes that range from youth centers and health care awareness to wildlife protection. Working together with our customers, we aim to make a difference.
Grant awards, ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 per project, may be used for implementation and out-of-pocket costs, including photography, illustration, paper, printing, mailing and related expenses. It cannot be applied toward the designer’s time.
Ideas that Matter is open to individual designers, design firms, agencies, in-house corporate design departments, design instructors, and individual design students and design student groups.
Applications are reviewed by an independent committee, composed of top graphic designers and representatives of leading philanthropic organizations. Evaluation of project concepts and design will be based on creativity, potential effectiveness and practical plan for implementation. All requested information and materials must be submitted on the official entry forms or be formatted in the same way. The decision of the judges will be final.
- All grant monies must be used within six months of receipt.
- No charity may cite Sappi or Ideas that Matter as a supplier of a grant without prior written permission from Sappi.
- Sappi employees and family members and agencies conducting business with the company are ineligible.
- Grant recipients who find they are unable to execute the chosen program may enlist the help of the non-profit organization to complete it.
- Submitted concepts not awarded a grant will remain the intellectual property of the applicant. However, Sappi reserves the right to keep and show any of the concepts unless the applicant requests otherwise in writing.
- Sappi reserves the right to reproduce and promote the funded campaigns as case histories.
- Applicants who want their materials returned must include a written request with their submitted proposal.
Sappi reserves the right to publish and promote the completed work made possible by the Ideas that Matter grant. Grant recipients may also be asked to participate in Sappi educational seminars and conferences, or to share their programs with others in the graphic arts community. Sappi reserves the right to reproduce any design submissions, along with pertinent case histories, in materials produced to promote and support Ideas that Matter program.
Your application must include the following:
- Mission statement of the benefiting non-profit organization
- Written description of the proposed project, including a list of elements
within it - Brief description of the project’s objectives
- Visual presentation of your proposed idea
- Project timeline and proposed budget
- Summary information about the applicant
- Resume of applicant
- Samples of applicant’s previous work
Send your completed application form and requested supplementary materials to:
Ideas that Matter
Sappi Fine Paper North America
89 Cumberland Street
Westbrook, Maine 04092
Proposal entries must be postmarked by July 17, 2009. Grants will be announced in Fall 2009. Ideas must be fully implemented within six months of receiving grants.
800.882.4332
