Kickstarter, Creative Capital, and Skoll Foundation have partnered to launch a $500,000 Creative Capital x Skoll Foundation Fund that backs projects by Asian, Black, Indigenous, and Latinx creators on the crowdfunding platform. Effective immediately, funds will be awarded on an ongoing basis to creators with active projects across all of Kickstarter’s categories: Arts, Comics & Illustration, Design & Tech, Film, Food & Craft, Games, Music, and Publishing.
As the largest crowdfunding platform for cultural projects, Kickstarter supports the success of thousands of new creative ideas every year and provides an opportunity for the public to counter larger structural inequities in how capital is distributed. However, research studies suggest that Black, Latinx, Asian, and Indigenous communities face larger barriers on crowdfunding platforms, be it via access to community support or early investment to begin a proof of concept.
The mission of this Creative Capital x Skoll Creator Fund is to increase the number of funded Kickstarter projects launched by Asian, Black, Indigenous, and Latinx creators through removing early financial hurdles. These funds will help bring more of their creative projects to life in the world, creating a more diverse and equitable artistic ecosystem overall.
To select fund recipients, Creative Capital, Kickstarter, and Skoll Foundation will work closely together to continually review active projects by Asian, Black, Indigenous, and Latinx creators on the platform. The final selections will ultimately be made by Creative Capital and Skoll Foundation.
As part of the partnership, Kickstarter’s category experts will offer strategic guidance throughout each of the selected projects’ runs and Creative Capital will offer its extensive artist career development programming to the creators after they have successfully funded their project. Kickstarter will regularly promote the chosen creators on its platform, highlighting who has been funded and including them in promotional efforts through newsletters and social media.
For Creators
All projects launched on Kickstarter following their rules are eligible, and creators can nominate themselves for specific Forward Funds via this form—though applying does not guarantee funds. Our teams also work with Forward Funder organizations to proactively curate live projects that line up with their missions.
For Organizations
Forward Funders share in our belief in creative works as essential to a healthy and vibrant society. By working with Kickstarter to find projects that align with related missions, we create a bridge between institutions that champion creative projects and the creators bringing those projects to life. If your organization is interested in participating as a Forward Funder on Kickstarter.