THIS FUNDRAISER IS CLOSED - FOR 2022 FUNDRAISER VISIT
Help CSAW Raise $25,000 to Create Another Year of Microgrants and a new Tuition Grant for Circus Artists of Color!
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CSAW - Connecting Circus Students Around the World has now awarded a $1,000 Microgrant to a circus artist of color every month for a year (plus one more)! Over 100 BIPOC circus artists applied for a grant. So we’re asking you to help us provide another year of Microgrants!
This time we are raising $25,000 to run our Microgrant program again AND to create a brand new tuition grant program. Both grant programs will provide funding resources for circus artists of color. This includes 12 more $1,000 monthly Microgrants and one $5,000 tuition grant. *See information on who is eligible, what a grant can be used for, etc. in our FAQ section!
The CSAW Microgrants for US Circus Artists of Color Program provided funding to BIPOC artists for projects from: starting a new company, producing a show, creating costuming, purchasing equipment, continuing training and helping to pay tuition for higher education programs.
Meet the 2020-2021 Microgrant Recipients: https://youtu.be/4BAJWYlNxv8
To see how the thirteen Microgrant Recipients of 2020-2021 used their funding, watch the video above or visit https://www.csawcircus.org/financial-aid to learn more:
CSAW is committed to taking action against racism in the circus community. As the world re-opens, let's not "go back to normal". Instead, let's create a more inclusive circus so we can learn, change, and grow together.
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Are you interested in becoming a monthly donor for CSAW? Join our Patreon to support us year round!
https://www.patreon.com/csawcircus
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WHY RAISE $25,000 THIS TIME?
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12 more $1,000 Microgrants
- For US Circus Artists of Color - one for every month from October 2021 to October 2022. This program was so successful in its inaugural year that we hope to keep it growing and budding for years to come. Learn more: https://www.csawcircus.org/financial-aid
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A brand new $5,000 Tuition Grant
- This new grant program will help us serve our mission of greater accessibility to circus education!* Three of our 20-21 Microgrant recipients used their $1,000 to help fund their tuition at the National School in Montreal as well as at Circadium in Philadelphia.
*Circus education will be used as a broad term for the purpose of this grant, meaning awardees can use the grant for applying to circus schools, higher education programs, prep programs, training, classes and anything that can be defined as further education in circus. For more information, visit our FAQ page.
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$3,000 for the Selection Committees
- All grant selection committees have and will continue to be composed of established circus artists of color within the community whose names shall remain anonymous. We are so grateful for our 20-21 selection committee for all of the help they have provided to CSAW! A portion of the funds will go toward ensuring that these committee members are compensated for their time.
* Remaining funds will go toward administrative, advertising, and Indiegogo fees, as well as to the longevity of future CSAW programming.
* As of August 2020, CSAW is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit. If you would like for your donation to be tax deductible, you may request a tax receipt by emailing info@csawcircus.org
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HOW CAN YOU HELP?
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Donate!
- Monetary donations are the lifeblood of our fundraiser, so every bit helps! Your money goes directly toward making grants for circus artists of color.
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Matched Donation
- Last year, matched donations were responsible for over half of the $20,000 raised. Email info@csawcircus.org with the amount that you would like to match and we'll work together to challenge people to meet your amount!
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Pledge a % of Your Event
- Do you have an upcoming live event? Or a virtual one? YAY! You can pledge to donate a certain dollar amount of ticket sales, etc. to CSAW. We’ll promote your event and you can encourage your audience members to donate!
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Promotion!
- Share our fundraiser with your platform! Repost our content, reach out to figure out a cross-promotion plan with us, or tell your friends to donate. Anything you can do to help spread the word is greatly appreciated.
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Ongoing Learning & Changing
- How are your anti-racism policies and training going? What needs updates, how can you keep working to learn and change? CSAW needs to do this ongoing work too. Let’s help hold each other accountable.
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More Info:
CSAW recognizes that funding and access to money is not the only barrier for circus artists of color and that there is so much more work to be done to fight systemic racism in the circus community and the United States at large. CSAW is working with existing non-profits to create an infrastructure that would allow for long-term donors and more significant funding opportunities to be created. We are also continuing conversations and learning to find where the need for funding truly lies in the circus. Receiving applications for these grants will help us continue to identify which area of circus is most in need of support. For any feedback, inquiries, or other information contact info@csawcircus.org or visit https://www.csawcircus.org/.
CSAW - Connecting Circus Students Around the World was founded by Sierra Rhoades Nicholls in 2018 to increase accessibility of information and funding for students of international circus schools. Through an increase of knowledge, resources, community, and financial aid CSAW strives to assist future circus artists in finding the pathways best for them.
Sierra Rhoades Nicholls, founder of CSAW, is white. She recognizes the potential for this fundraiser to look and feel like white saviorism. This is not her intention and she is trying to ensure that in the campaign and fundraising, she neither centers herself, nor whiteness. CSAW is endeavoring to amplify the voices of as many US circus artists of color as possible without tokenizing them. All featured circus artists have given their permission for the use of their work.
CSAW would also like to recognize that in spite of their best efforts, the above or similar harmful practices might happen anyway. In the fight for social justice, mistakes will inevitably be made. If you would like to call us out, or if you have any concerns or questions, please don't hesitate to contact CSAW in the following ways:
Email : info@csawcircus.org
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/csawcircus/
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/csaw_circus/
Website : https://www.csawcircus.org/
Twitter : https://twitter.com/CsawThe
YouTube Channel : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIDfUsWIjzZb9ExJ-E3a5EQ
TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdWeYFfh/
