Do you have an awesome project to revitalize your community that could use financial backing? Are you an artist with an exceptional idea, but no funding to get your innovations off the ground? The Awesome Foundation’s San Francisco chapter could be exactly what you need to get your project going.
“I really like the idea of empowering artists and people who take the initiative to do something that might have not happened otherwise,” said Jesse Taggert, dean of Awesome Foundation San Francisco. “I’m continually humbled by the passionate projects out there. We only fund a small number of the requests that come in, but we are in awe when we read them.”
The Awesome Foundation — AF — is a global network of people who are interested and devoted to spreading awesomeness all over the world. There are currently 38 chapters of the Awesome Foundation in various countries. The foundation distributes a series of $1,000 grants to deserving causes and projects.
“Our main criteria when choosing awardees are projects that are ‘wondrous and delights,’ usually something that a number of the trustees say ‘that’s awesome’ to when we read the applications,” said Taggert about the San Francisco chapter.
“We’re interested in projects or experiences that reach out to or involve the people in the Bay Area community in some way —and projects where $1,000 is a major component to making the idea happen,” Taggert added.
The Awesome Foundation began in Boston, Massachusetts in 2009. The qualification process is simple: You have an idea that needs money. The application process is reasonably short, and the turnaround for that application to be processed is quick as well.
“Part of the reason Awesome Foundation came to be was because folks were frustrated by how hard and time consuming it is to apply for grants. We’re here to make applying for a grant easy and fun, with a relatively quick turnaround.” declared Taggert.
Each chapter of the Awesome Foundation has around ten “micro-trustees” who devote their own time and money into sifting through the applications. These trustees not only choose which projects and ideas will receive the financial aid, but they also pool together their own money to give as the grant.
“Our chapter trustees range in age from early 20s to mid-50s, and we keep an open mind about all sorts of projects, and don’t only fund ideas that are ‘like us.’” Taggert explained. “We go through stages where we’ll fund more game, art, youth, or fun projects, but have also gone through stages where we've funded a podcast about the history of the bay, or a writing and illustration project that showed the population of who spends time in the SF Public library,” she added.
“I don’t care who you are or where you came from,” Taggert stated. “If you have an awesome idea that will engage your community and make people say, ‘that’s awesome,’ we want to hear about it.”
When asked why she enjoys serving as dean of trustees Taggert said, “I’m always surprised to see how people react to learning they’ve received an Awesome Foundation grant — each person reacts differently — and love seeing the boost in energy they experience because of the AF vote of confidence, intellectually and financially.”
The Awesome Foundation San Francisco chapter currently has 11 members serving as trustees. The San Francisco chapter can be followed on Twitter: @awesomesfo, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/awesomeSF.
For more information on how to apply or become involved with the Awesome Foundation, please visit: www.awesomefoundation.org. The San Francisco chapter’s email is sf@awesomefoundation.org.
