An awesome group of people in West Michigan is donating an awesome amount of cash each month to awesome people with awesome ideas. How awesome is that?
If you think you have an awesome idea that could benefit from a little cash, a generous organization called The Awesome Foundation wants to make your idea a little more “awesome-er” by giving you a $1,000 grant -- with no strings attached.
The process is fairly simple and, well, awesome. All you have to do is submit your awesome idea before the deadline posted on the Foundation’s home page -- usually the 15th of each month -- and if the board of trustees likes your idea the best out of all of those submitted, you get a check for $1,000.
The local Grand Rapids chapter of the Awesome Foundation is one of 59 chapters in 22 different countries around the world. Each chapter operates independently and has a board of 10 trustees on average. These trustees each agree to pitch in $100 of their own money every month to go toward the $1,000 grant awarded to someone with an awesome idea.
John Scott acts as the local chapter’s Dean of Awesome and handles the communication and logistics for the group. He recently replaced the first Dean of Awesome, Jerry Bronkema, who started the Grand Rapids chapter in late 2011.
Scott first heard about the Awesome Foundation on NPR a few years ago and, as expected, thought the idea was quite awesome. He figured Grand Rapids would be the perfect place to start a chapter because of our diverse community, entrepreneurial spirit, and strong evidence of philanthropy. After contacting the national organization, he discovered Bronkema had already started a chapter and asked to join. The rest is Awesome history.
Ideas that win the monthly grant are usually ones that promote “the advancement of awesomeness in the universe.” Before applying, entrants are encouraged to review the qualities posted online that make an idea awesome, and anyone living in West Michigan is welcome to apply.
Ideas more likely to win are those that help others in West Michigan become more successful and empowered. Also, ideas that can be fully funded with the $1,000 are preferred over those that need additional funds to take off.
“We’re looking for things that are special -- ideas that could grow into something magical helping others,” says Scott.
So far, the Grand Rapids Awesome Foundation has awarded 11 grants of $1,000. The Creative Youth Center, an organization that teaches creative writing to children, was their first grant recipient in November 2011. Other notably awesome ideas include prom-like dances for kids with disabilities; children’s chess lessons and tournament fees; an urban farm project; a bike race to help cure cancer; and more.
The organization gets an average of 10-12 submissions in the spring and summer months and about half of that in the winter.
The Grand Rapids Awesome Foundation is now looking for a few more awesome people to join the organization. If you’re interested, Scott asks that you connect with the organization through their Facebook page.
They prefer a one-year, voluntary commitment from each trustee, but also realize that sometimes things happen and people need to back out. An invitation to the next meeting offers a low-pressure way for interested individuals to see how the group operates and determine if it’s right for them.
The time commitment is minimal as the trustees meet only once a month. Scott says they meet at a “local watering hole” and the meetings are “very informal and involve food and adult beverages.” The group determines the next grant winner that night and also presents the check to the current winner with the opportunity to hear their story.
“It’s usually more rewarding for us than those receiving the grants,” says Scott.
He adds that each of the trustees is at a stage in life where they can afford to give back time and resources and that it’s also easy to find the $100 monthly donation if you skip eating lunch out every day.
The Grand Rapids Awesome Foundation wants to expand its board and attract more awesome idea submissions in 2013. And even if you can’t commit to being a trustee, donations are always appreciated and will increase the grant amount for that month.
So, if you’re awesome and want to be a part of this group, or if you think you have an awesome idea worthy of a grant, here’s the information you need to get involved:
- Visit the
Awesome Foundation online to find out more.
- If you’re interested in becoming a trustee or finding out more about how the organization works, connect with them on
Facebook.
-
Submit your awesome idea and tell your awesome friends to submit their ideas as well.
- Make a donation to go toward someone’s awesome idea.
- Like them on
Facebook.
- Follow
@AFGrandRapids on Twitter.
Source: John Scott, the Grand Rapids Awesome Foundation’s Dean of Awesome who’s also a Workplace Design Strategist at Haworth
Writer: Heidi Stukkie, Do Good Editor
Images provided by the Awesome Foundation.