The Sprout Fund provides small, catalytic funding awards that support innovative ideas and creative people making an impact in Pittsburgh and Southwestern Pennsylvania. Through its funding programs, Sprout provides critical financial support for projects and programs in the early stages of development when just a small amount of investment has the potential to yield big results in the community.
Be sure to read through the Eligibility Information listed below prior to starting your application.
urrent Funding Opportunities
The Sprout Fund is currently operating one special project and two funding programs with upcoming application deadlines:
Social Innovation Exchange
*Special Instructions: Please submit proposals and inquiries via email to apply (at) sproutfund.org or call (412) 325-0646
Sprout offers catalytic funding for specific ideas that emerged during the January 2012 Social Innovation Exchange (SiX). Learn more about Sprout’s Call to Action for Ideas from the Social Innovation Exchange.
Seed Award »
Seed Awards provide catalytic funding to support the programmatic costs required to implement activities and events that engage people in their community. Seed Awards range from $500 to $10,000 and are made six times per year. Links to learn more:
- How to Apply for a Seed Award, including application downloads and submission instructions
- Sprout Seed Award Program Guidelines, including impact, size, frequency, and limitations
- Opportunities for Application Assistance and Development, including workshops, draft review, and mentorship.
Spark Award »
Spark is a network of people, projects, and organizations that are empowering children and youth by creating relevant learning opportunities through the compelling use of technology, media, and the arts. Spark Awards range from $2,500 to $15,000 and are made three times per year. Links to learn more:
- How to Apply for a Spark Award, including application downloads and submission instructions
- Sprout Spark Award Program Guidelines, including audience, size, and eligibility
- Opportunities for Application Assistance and Development, including workshops and draft review
Spark Sponsorship»
Spark sponsors events and activities impacting children, youth, families and members of the Kids+Creativity Network. Through sponsorships, Spark supports events and activities for children, youth, and families. Spark sponsorship also promotes knowledge sharing, communication, and collaboration among Network members, and raises greater local and national awareness of the Kids+Creativity movement. Spark Sponsorship is available up to $5,000 and requests are accepted on a rolling basis.
Spark Conference Stipend»
Spark provides stipends for individuals to attend conferences focusing on topics pertinent to children, youth, families and members of the Kids+Creativity Network. Through conference stipends, Spark is able to send individuals and delegations to conferences of regional and national import. Spark conference stipends promote knowledge sharing, communication, and collaboration among Network members, and raise greater local and national awareness of the Kids+Creativity movement. Spark Conference Stipends are available up to $1,500 and requests are accepted on a rolling basis.
Download Standard Application Templates
Sprout funding programs share standard templates for submitting information about your proposed project’s budget, timeline, and references. Please refer to individual opportunity pages for narrative questions and additional specific requirements.
- Download the Sprout Funding Application Budget Template in MS Excel format
- Download the Sprout Funding Application Timeline Template in MS Word format
- Download the Sprout Funding Application References Template in MS Word format
Eligibility Information for Prospective Applicants
The following guidelines apply to all Sprout funding programs. Individual funding programs may have additional eligibility criteria.
Organizational Status
Sprout supports community organizations, coalitions of organizations, individuals, and non-profit groups. Applicants don’t have to be 501(c)3 non-profit organizations. In addition to funding incorporated entities, The Sprout Fund can make awards to individuals, informal working groups, and even some businesses. Independent project managers can engage an existing non-profit organization with similar goals as a fiscal sponsor.
Please note: Sprout is not a small business lender or a venture capital fund and does not offer loans or organizational support to for-profit entities. Sprout only supports the specific projects of for-profit entities that are civically-oriented and propose an innovative solution to a pressing issue faced by the community.
Timing
It is recommended that applicants allow at least two months from the application due date to the beginning of the project to allow Sprout adequate time to assist applicants in implementing their project after an award has been made. Applications must be submitted a minimum 6 weeks before the proposed project’s first activity begins.
Budget Line Items
Sprout funding should be predominately used in ways that will directly serve the programmatic ends of Sprout projects. Sprout will support non-programmatic expenses; however, this support should not make up a significant portion of the overall funding request.
Specifically, the following items may be used to better understand budget items which are eligible for funding as well as those which are not:
Eligible
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Not Eligible
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Partnerships with Other Sources of Funding
Sprout supports projects that also receive funding from other sources; however, the amount available for this type of project is limited. This ensures that Sprout funding is not used to support projects that are eligible for sizeable grants from traditional funding sources.
Limitations
Sprout’s funding programs concentrate their efforts and resources on projects that fall outside the realm of traditional avenues of support. Given this focus, Sprout is generally unable to consider requests for the following types of projects:
- Small business development or venture capital
- Traditional health & human services programming
- Sponsorship or underwriting
- Unstipulated operating support
- Loans
Sprout funding should be predominately used in ways that will directly serve the programmatic ends of the project. Administrative and other non-programmatic expenses will be supported but should not constitute a significant portion of the budget request. In particular, the use of Sprout funding for indirect administrative costs, also termed overhead, cannot exceed 10% of the total award amount requested.
The Sprout Fund does not provide funding to start a business or offer operational support to for-profit entities.