Frequently Asked Questions
About Causability
Causability is a grant-making organization that empowers creators and nonprofit partners to develop creative programs, events, and initiatives that respond to the needs of their communities. Through grants, resources, mentorship, and collaborative partnerships, Causability helps creative ideas become meaningful community action.
Causability supports purpose-led creators and nonprofit organizations that are working together to serve their local communities.
Causability supports artists, musicians, educators, designers, performers, writers, makers, and other creative thinkers. The common thread is not a specific discipline. It is a demonstrated commitment to serving a community and using creativity to support a meaningful cause.
Community impact means creating a positive and meaningful difference in the lives of people, neighborhoods, or communities. Projects may increase access to the arts, create opportunities for connection, support learning, strengthen nonprofit programs, inspire generosity, or respond to a community-identified need.
Creator Grants
Creator Grants are intended for purpose-led creators who have already demonstrated a commitment to serving their communities. This may include volunteering, donating time or talents, contributing resources, supporting a nonprofit organization, or building meaningful relationships around a cause.
Yes. Causability’s grant model is built around collaboration between a creator and a local nonprofit organization. Together, the creator and nonprofit partner identify a meaningful community need and develop a project, program, event, or initiative to address it.
There is no stated minimum relationship length. What matters is a meaningful creator and local nonprofit partnership, a clearly identified community need, a thoughtful approach, clear roles, a realistic plan, and meaningful impact. The application should show that the creator and nonprofit partner understand how they will work together.
The nonprofit partner should confirm the collaboration, identify a principal contact, participate in required meetings, help shape the approved project, and support communication with the community served. The nonprofit may also assist with participant engagement, project documentation, testimonials, surveys, and confirmation that the event, class, or workshop occurred. The creator remains responsible for managing the grant budget, submitting receipts, completing required documentation, requesting each draw, and meeting the terms of the grant agreement.
Creator Grants are designed to support a creator and nonprofit partnership. A nonprofit may help identify a creator, develop a project, provide community knowledge, or serve as the organizational partner. If you are a nonprofit seeking a creator partner, contact Causability to discuss the possibility.
A Creator Grant may support either a new project or a new or expanded creative component within an existing program. A new project is a distinct proposed initiative. An existing-program component builds on work that is already underway but has a clearly defined creative purpose, community need, activities, budget, participants, and intended outcomes. In either case, the grant supports the approved project, and the creator is responsible for the budget, documentation, reporting, grant administration, and approved project execution.
Projects may include:
- Community workshops
- Performances
- Exhibitions
- Public art
- Educational programs
- Storytelling and film projects
- Music, dance, theater, or literary programs
- Multidisciplinary creative experiences
- Community events
- Creative fundraising initiatives
- Programs that increase access to the arts
Yes. A Creator Grant may support a creator’s collaboration with a nonprofit on a fundraising event, class, or workshop, provided the project is approved by Causability and meets all Creator Grant requirements. The project must include a defined creative purpose, community benefit, realistic budget, required documentation, surveys, and promotional participation. Grant funds must be used for approved project expenses and may not be treated as a general donation or used for unrelated nonprofit operations.
Causability does not limit its support to one specific issue or cause area. The people closest to a community often have the clearest understanding of its needs. Causability gives creators and nonprofit partners the flexibility to develop responses that are locally relevant and meaningful. Projects serving underserved and socioeconomically marginalized communities are especially encouraged.
Causability’s Creator Grants are designed to give creators and nonprofit partners flexibility in how they use the funds in support of their approved project. Grant funds must be used consistently with the application, grant agreement, charitable purpose, and requirements established for the current grant cycle.
The current Creator Grant is valued at $5,000.00. Grant amounts, payment schedules, deadlines, and other terms may change by grant cycle. Applicants should always refer to the current application materials for the most up-to-date information.
The $5,000.00 Creator Grant is distributed through three separate electronic funds transfers. The amount of each transfer is based on the approved project budget. The grant agreement will identify the payment schedule and any related documentation or reporting requirements.
Yes. Each of the three draws has requirements that must be completed before that draw is released. Requirements may include meetings with Causability and the nonprofit partner, budget review, receipts, project documentation, presentation videos, surveys, testimonials, final budget review, and draw requests. Missing or incomplete requirements may delay the applicable draw until they are submitted or corrected.
The budget is very important. It helps judges understand whether the $5,000.00 grant would be used clearly, reasonably, and in direct support of the approved project. It also helps demonstrate that the project is feasible. The budget should identify major costs, including creator compensation, delivery costs, materials, administration, evaluation, and overhead. Significant costs, including creator and partner labor, should be visible. The budget does not need to be complicated, but it should be complete, realistic, and consistent with the project plan. Creators are responsible for managing the budget, reporting, documentation, and grant administration.
Yes. Grantees must document the planning, delivery, and completion of the approved project. Documentation may include photographs or video, event details, attendance information, project materials, a brief written summary, survey results, testimonials, the final budget, and receipts. Materials must be uploaded to the assigned Google Drive folder. Event documentation is separate from social media posting requirements. Identifiable participants may be photographed or recorded only when the required consent has been obtained. Missing documentation may delay release of the applicable draw until it is submitted or corrected.
There is no single public project timeframe for every Creator Grant. Each application should include a realistic project timeline, and the signed grant agreement will establish the project period, milestones, event or workshop date, survey deadlines, and final completion requirements. A pre-project survey and a final survey completed for Causability are required as part of the funded project. Grantees should complete the project and submit the required materials within the approved period. If circumstances require a change, grantees should contact Causability promptly and obtain written approval before changing the approved dates or scope.
Yes. Funded projects must conduct a survey before the project begins, and a final survey must be completed for Causability after the project is completed. These surveys help document the starting point, participant experience, and project outcomes. The grant agreement or reporting instructions will identify the required format, timing, and submission process.
Yes. Promotional and social media participation is a mandatory part of the Creator Grant requirements. Grantees may be required to create or participate in promotional posts, project updates, testimonials, videos, and other content about the grant, the nonprofit partnership, and the approved project. Required content must follow Causability’s submission, branding, consent, and deadline instructions.
Yes. Required meetings with Causability will be recorded for documentation, grant reporting, training, promotional, fundraising, website, and social media purposes. Grantees and participating nonprofit representatives will be informed when recording occurs and must provide the required consent.
Yes. Grantees must provide the required consent for their own photography and video participation. Grantees must also obtain appropriate consent before photographing or recording identifiable project participants. Additional permission may be required for minors. If a participant does not consent, the grantee must not use identifiable images or recordings of that person.
Unless the grant agreement states otherwise, the creator retains copyright ownership of original photographs, videos, and other creative materials they create. By signing the grant agreement, the creator grants Causability a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, nonexclusive license to edit, publish, display, reproduce, distribute, archive, repost, and use submitted materials for charitable, educational, reporting, fundraising, website, email, and social media purposes.
Creator Grant funds are provided to support an approved community project and are not paid as wages for employment. Tax treatment may vary depending on the recipient, grant agreement, organizational structure, and use of the funds. Causability does not provide individual tax advice. Grant recipients should consult a qualified tax professional regarding their specific circumstances.
Application dates are announced on the current Grants page. Because dates may change from one grant cycle to the next, please review the active grant information before preparing or submitting an application: https://causability.org/grants/
Begin by reviewing the current grant information and confirming your creator and nonprofit partnership. Then develop a clear project concept and complete the Grant Form during the active application period. Your application should explain:
- The community or cause you intend to serve
- Your relationship with the nonprofit partner
- The creative project you want to develop
- How the grant would support the project
- Who will participate or benefit
- What meaningful impact you hope to create
View Current Grant Opportunities: https://causability.org/grants/
Visit the Grant Form: https://causability.org/grant-form/
Yes, but your application should communicate a clear direction. You should be able to describe the cause, community need, nonprofit partnership, creative approach, intended participants, and how the grant would help move the project forward.
Causability looks for evidence of:
- A genuine commitment to serving a community
- A meaningful relationship with a nonprofit partner
- A clearly identified community need
- A thoughtful and creative approach
- A realistic plan for using the funds
- The potential to create meaningful impact
- Collaboration, participation, and community connection
Yes. Causability’s support extends beyond the grant itself. Grant recipients may receive guidance, resources, mentorship, and continued support from concept through completion.
Yes. Previous grantees may reapply if they completed their prior requirements, submitted all reports and documentation, have no outstanding obligations, and meet the current eligibility requirements.
They must propose a new or substantially different project. Previous funding does not provide special consideration or guarantee future funding.
Partners, Sponsors, and Donors
A nonprofit can partner with a creator by identifying a shared community need and developing a project together. The nonprofit contributes community knowledge, relationships, and organizational insight. The creator contributes creative vision, skills, and the ability to turn an idea into an engaging experience.
Organizations can support Causability through sponsorship, donations, nonprofit partnerships, creator collaborations, or shared community initiatives. To explore a partnership, contact Causability and tell us about your organization, your community focus, and the kind of collaboration you have in mind.
Causability’s grants are funded through private donors, individual supporters, and revenue shares from Shakti Creative Wellness Center. Every contribution helps support creators and the nonprofit organizations working with them.
Yes. Donations help Causability provide grants and resources to purpose-led creators and their nonprofit partners. When you support Causability, you are helping a creator serve their community, helping a nonprofit expand its impact, and investing in creative ideas that bring people together. Support a Creator: https://causability.org/support
Visit the Grantees section of the website to learn about previous Creator Grant recipients and the projects they developed with their nonprofit partners: https://causability.org/grants/
Review and Selection
Causability does not currently publish a specific decision timeline. Applicants will be notified after the review process is complete. We appreciate your patience while each application is carefully considered.
Applications are evaluated by an independent team of judges using established scoring rubrics. Each application is reviewed according to the same criteria, including:
- Demonstrated commitment to serving a community
- Strength of the creator and nonprofit partnership
- Clarity of the community need
- Creativity and quality of the proposed project
- Feasibility and budget
- Potential for meaningful community impact
- Benefit to underserved or socioeconomically marginalized communities
Using shared rubrics helps create a consistent, fair, and transparent review process.
The process is:
- Applications are submitted during the open application period.
- Causability reviews applications for completeness and basic eligibility.
- An independent team of judges reviews and scores each eligible application using the established rubrics.
- Judges’ evaluations are compiled and the grantees are selected.
- All applicants are notified after the review process is complete.
Once grants are awarded, Causability contacts the selected grantees and provides the grant agreement. The creator and nonprofit partner must review and sign the applicable acknowledgment or agreement before the project begins. The signed agreement outlines the requirements for receiving and administering the grant, including the approved project, budget, electronic funds transfers, surveys, documentation, social media participation, reporting, and project completion.
No. To protect the fairness and independence of the Creator Grant process, current Causability principals, board members, and staff members are not eligible to apply for or receive grants or to serve as judges. Former grantees may serve as judges if they are not current Causability principals, board members, or staff members, have no current actual or perceived conflict of interest with an applicant, and agree to Causability’s confidentiality and conflict of interest requirements.
What can cause an application to be deemed ineligible or declined?
Causability receives many applications during each grant round. We first confirm that each application is complete and meets the basic eligibility requirements. Applications that do not meet these requirements will not move forward.
Each of the three independent judges reviews eligible applications using Causability’s scoring rubric and selects one primary and one alternate grantee. The judges then meet to discuss their selections and collectively choose the primary grant recipients. Eligibility does not guarantee funding.
Each of three independent judges reviews eligible applications separately. They consider:
The creator’s relationship with the nonprofit
The creator’s experience, motivation, and fit for the project
The creative vision and community need
The project’s feasibility, timeline, and budget
What the $5,000 grant will make possible
The potential for collaboration, documentation, and impact
Judges disclose conflicts and recuse themselves when necessary. Causability provides the funding, while independent judges select the recipients.
The most common reasons an application may not advance
Causability Creator Grants support projects created in collaboration with a nonprofit organization the creator already knows and cares about.
There is no required minimum length of time for the relationship. However, the application must clearly demonstrate:
- How the creator and nonprofit are connected
- The nature of their existing relationship or previous collaboration
- Why the creator cares about this nonprofit
- The nonprofit’s support for the proposed project
- The anticipated roles of the creator and nonprofit partner
- How the project will serve the community
A proposed partnership created only for the purpose of applying may not meet this requirement.
Applicants may request up to $5,000 in Causability grant funds. The budget must show the project’s full anticipated cost, including:
Creator compensation (hourly rate x projected hours
Materials, production, travel, venue costs, and any other expenses
The amount requested from Causability
Other cash funding
In-kind contributions
All remaining funding sources
If the Causability grant does not cover the project’s full cost, the remaining funding sources must be identified in the budget and secured before the application is submitted.
We want to hear from you. Tell us why this project matters to you and what you hope to create in your own words. We appreciate personal, genuine applications rather than AI-generated responses.
The clearest path to consideration is simple: document the relationship, provide a complete and realistic budget, and tell us your story in your own voice.
Budget And Funding
Yes. Show the full anticipated cost, not only the amount requested from Causability.
No. The application budget is a preliminary working estimate. It should be complete, realistic, and based on your current plans. Updates may be made as the project develops. Material changes after an award require Causability’s written approval.
Eligible costs may include:
- Creator compensation
- Materials and supplies
- Subcontractors and professional services
- Rental or venue fees
- Travel and transportation
- Documentation and promotion
- Other creator or participant expenses
All expenses must directly support the proposed project.
Use:
Estimated Project Hours × Proposed Hourly Rate = Estimated Compensation
The rate should be reasonable for the work and briefly explained in the budget.
Show how you currently expect to use the grant across Draw 1, Draw 2, and Draw 3. Include the expenses or milestones connected to each draw. Draw amounts may be revised as the project develops.
Identify all additional cash or in-kind funding needed to complete the project. Required funding must be secured before submission. The project should not depend on an unknown funding gap.
Yes, when the event is part of a meaningful creative project and the creator has a substantial creative role. Grants do not fund general fundraising operations, routine annual events, or ordinary overhead.
No. Expected ticket sales, donations, or fundraising proceeds count as secured only when already committed or guaranteed.
These files are provided for preparation only. The completed budget must be submitted with the online application. You are not required to use this budget you may upload your own.
Grantee Responsibilities
Grantees are expected to:
- Sign the Grant Requirements Agreement and submit EFT information.
- Complete required pre- and post-project surveys for the creator and nonprofit partner.
- Attend an introductory Zoom, a nonprofit partner Zoom, and a check-in before each draw.
- Confirm and follow the approved project plan, timeline, budget, milestones, and documentation plan.
- Provide required updates, social media posts, and tags to Causability.
- Use Causability’s logo as directed.
- Submit process videos, event photos, videos, and final documentation.
- Obtain permission before sharing participant images, videos, or testimonials.
- Gather community feedback when appropriate.
- Keep receipts, invoices, payment records, and time records.
- Report significant changes before proceeding.
- Submit final reporting and closeout materials.
The nonprofit partner should remain actively involved throughout the project.
Funds are distributed in three draws connected to project milestones, required check-ins, updates, and documentation.
Changes to the project scope, budget, timeline, nonprofit partnership, or draw allocations require Causability’s written approval before proceeding.
Shakti Event Venue
Yes. Grant recipients may request to host approved project activities at Shakti Creative Wellness Center, including workshops, exhibitions, performances, nonprofit gatherings, and community events.
There is no venue charge for approved Causability grant projects hosted at Shakti. Use is subject to advance approval, availability, capacity, safety requirements, and setup and cleanup expectations.
Creators remain responsible for planning, managing, documenting, and completing their events, as well as for other project expenses.
Use of Shakti is optional and does not affect an application’s eligibility, score, funding amount, or selection.