Since 1999, Sappi’s Ideas that Matter program has awarded $1 million annually to designers around the globe to support and transform creative ideas into a powerful force for social good. The program invites graphic designers from Europe, North America, and Southern Africa to create printed communication campaigns to support social and environmental causes.

 

Sappi, a global paper and pulp company, established Ideas that Matter to recognize, encourage, and help fund the wide array of programs for social good that designers were already contributing their time and talents to on a pro bono basis. These include groups involved in education and health, science, the environment, and social conditions. Sappi states on its website, “We want to encourage ideas that have the potential to change our lives, our communities, and our world.”

Awards cover print projects on paper and range from $5,000 to $50,000 per project to cover both implementation and out-of-pocket expenses. Costs may include photography, illustration, paper, printing, mailing, and related expenses but not the designer’s time.

Ideas that Matter is open to individual designers, design firms, agencies, in-house corporate design departments, design teachers, individual design students, and student groups. Independent selection committees evaluate ideas based on creativity of concept and design, potential effectiveness, and practicality.

The deadline for the 2009 Ideas that Matter grant submissions is May 29, 2009.

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