Sappi Ideas that Matter

10 years ago, global paper produce Sappi launched Ideas that Matter, the design industry's only grant program aimed at helping designers contribute their talents to the causes they are passionate about.

“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 $10 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.”

So, do you want to make a difference through your love of design? Do you have a cause or charity that you're passionate about? What message would you spread to affect positive change? How can you help those in need through design? Sappi's Ideas that Matter program is there to make something possible that designers would otherwise not have the means to accomplish.

The deadline for entries for this year is July 16, 2010. Design students, student groups, instructors, individual designers, design firms, agencies, in-house corporate design departments are all eligible to receive grants if their ideas are selected. If you haven't thought about it, you still have plenty of time.

First, get inspired: read about the sixteen designers that received grants for their projects in 2009, and check out stories from other grant recipients from the last ten years.

Next, if you don't already have a project or cause in mind, start thinking about the possibilities, and develop your idea to submit to Sappi's Ideas that Matter foundation. Lastly, of course, visit sappi.com to learn more about how to submit your proposal.