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Helpful, Unfettered Gift (HUG) Creative Micro-Grant Program
HUGs can be used for a wide array of creative projects, initiatives or businesses (for-profit or nonprofit) in Charlotte. We announced a new set of HUG grantees will be announced publicly at the monthly CreativeMornings/Charlotte gathering.HAGA CLIC AQUÍ PARA SOLICITAR UN REGALO ÚTIL SIN RESTRICCIONES PARA EL PROGRAMA DE MICROBECAS (HUG) >>
Charlotte needs creative ideas and projects.
Creative ideas and projects need financial to move forward.
And, the creatives behind them need to know they’re seen, appreciated and supported.
In short, they need a HUG. And, that’s where we come in.
Already Got a HUG?Share your story here!!
“Love Bombs of Cash”
HUGs (Helpful Unfettered Gifts) are $250 strings-free micro-grants – aka “Love Bombs of Cash” – awarded monthly to non-profit and for-profit creative initiatives in Charlotte to help propel the project forward or remove a small obstacle to its overall success. This is real money, making a real difference. All of it is at work today in the Queen City.
Propelling Big Ideas with Little Nudges
Charlotte is an incredibly creative community. A town bursting with passion and ideas in every corner. And, we are fortunate to have a number of generous grants and funds.
But, they can be difficult to apply for and, sometimes, more than a creative need to JUST. GET. STARTED. Sometimes, all you need is a little nudge to move your idea forward.
We asked ourselves, “What if we used a little cash and a lot of love to start as many creative fires as possible as quickly as we can here?”
That’s how the HUG Micro-Grant program was born.
The Fire Spread Quickly
Our first month - July 2017 - we gave one grant at the monthly meeting of CreativeMornings/Charlotte. It was awarded to Shakespeare in a Chair.
Immediately, two sponsors jumped up. In August, we gave out three. And, it went from there.
Thanks to our incredible sponsors -- T. Reid & Company, Savvy + Co. Real Estate, Google Fiber, Dualboot Partners and NoDa Brewing -- and generous private donations, we’ve awarded more than $50,000 in HUGs to 200+ Queen City creatives since we started.
Today, HUG Recipients (we call them HUGgees) are doing work across Charlotte in the categories below:
- Visual & Performance Arts
- Community Building
- Music
- Creative Community Engagement
- Podcasts and Media
- Craft and Fashion
DONATE AND SPONSOR A HUG (oR HUGS)
If you’re interested in helping, you can donate in any amount right here.
If you’d like to be an official HUG sponsor at the partner level ($300 a month), please reach out to us here.
