GALVANIZE: AFDC: Supporting artists in the age of COVID // NY Times praises DC grant winner // It's raining grants in April!

Subject: AFDC: Supporting artists in the age of COVID // NY Times praises DC grant winner // It's raining grants in April!

We're giving away multiple $1,000 grants next month to help the DC community survive and thrive in the age of Covid-19. Apply by April 19th!

Learn about Awesome Foundation DC grants and more! View this email in your browser We're still here, still awesome, and still giving grants!  March Grantee: Artist support in the age of COVID-19 Times are tough in the coronavirus age, especially for artists and public community spaces. Our March grant winner, The Nicholson Project, will quickly mobilize its network of artists and art administrators to 1) create an outlet for peer-to-peer networking through virtual town halls and 2) create opportunities for these artists to earn revenue during this uncertain time through participation in a new digital art gallery. Beginning this Thursday, they will host the first in a series of online conversations with artists in the DMV about how are artists making or experiencing new routines, tending to creative spaces, and practicing self-care. Space is limited, register here. ▶ Learn more about the project or apply for our next grant by April 19th! Grantee Update: Plants & Blooms Reimagined in The NY Times Our Feb. 2018 grant winner, Plants & Blooms Reimagined, was featured this past month in The New York Times praising their fantastic use of recycled floral arrangements to create a "part education, part art therapy and part wellness activity" for seniors, homeless women, and people with disabilities around The District. It's so awesome to see this project continue to bloom! ▶ Read more here! ▶ Get a regular dose of beautiful flowers from them in your Instagram! It's raining grants this April! In these pandemic times, Awesome DC is doubling our efforts and going to give out multiple grants in April to help The District and our community. We're seeking ideas that will be impactful and immediately help the DC community in the age of Covid-19. These types of proposals could include: public safety, arts, culture, community, mobility, or just cabin-fever-busting-weirdness to brighten the day. Please spread the word and if you have an idea -- apply now: ▶ Pitch your idea by April 19th! Grantee Update: Starting With Today -- Live! This week our May 2018 grant winner, Starting With Today (SWT), launched its first The Shape Up Live series on Instagram Live to connect the DC community during the pandemic. The series kicked off with two sessions lead by doctors discussing health risks that affect the Black community, and the anatomy and behavior of this particular SARS-CoV-2 virus. SWT will continue creating informative programs in the coming weeks. ▶ Follow them to join future SWT events! Our next grant deadline is Sunday, April 19th -- apply here! Here are the 4 criteria we use to evaluate and select grants:  #1 - Is it awesome? (Is it unique? Interesting? Impactful? There's all sorts of types of awesome.) #2 - Does it directly benefit the DC area? (We put heavy weight on supporting our tiny city/state and the awesomeness within. There are North Virginia and Baltimore AF chapters also!) #3 - Will $1,000 make an actual impact? (Some organizations are super-well funded so we focus on helping the little guys and girls and tend to fund small but mighty projects that $1,000 will actually make a difference.) #4 - Is it immediately actionable? (Similar to the actual impact, we heavily prefer projects that are a month or two away, so that the money can create immediate awesome impact in the community. If your project is a year away, wait to apply for a better chance at getting the grant.) Have questions or need more info about applying for a grant?  Check out our Awesome DC Grant Applicant Guide, Pro Tips & FAQ! Follow all the DC Awesomeness on social media: Twitter Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Email Website