Creative Sustainability Fund Application Form

About The Laundromat Project’s Creative Resource Programs:

The Laundromat Project's Creative Resource Programs are designed to help sustain artists, cultural practitioners, community organizers, and activists through targeted financial assistance. These programs provide vital resources to individuals and groups working on creative projects and civic actions that enrich and uplift their communities. By offering a combination of grants and zero-interest loans, we ensure that innovative ideas and social practices continue to thrive, even in the face of financial challenges.

Our Creative Resource Programs will:

• Support Creative Projects: Provide funding for new and ongoing artistic and cultural initiatives that engage local communities and drive social change.
• Offer Emergency Relief: Assist individuals facing unexpected hardships with immediate financial support to cover essential needs such as rent, medical bills, or project expenses.
• Foster Professional Growth: Equip recipients with opportunities for financial management training, professional development, networking, and mentorship to help them succeed and thrive.
• Promote Community Engagement: Encourage projects that nurture creativity, uplift local legacies, foster community wellness, and inspire collective advocacy.

Through these programs, The Laundromat Project is committed to ensuring that creativity and innovation remain vibrant and integral parts of community life, driven by the diverse voices and visions of local creators.

About The Creative Sustainability Fund:

The Creative Sustainability Fund is an innovative financial resource designed to support artists, cultural practitioners, and organizers who are members of The Laundromat Project (The LP) alumni community. The Program aims to provide accessible, zero-interest loans to individuals with a commitment to a social practice. The LP is offering these loans to provide temporary relief for artists and neighbors and allow them to focus on their craft, drive social change, and enhance community engagement, ensuring that creativity and innovation flourish in their neighborhoods.

The Program is intended to help sustain individuals' livelihoods or serve as a bridge while they engage in their creative pursuits. It particularly focuses on those who might not have access to traditional funding sources or are facing unexpected hardships. The loans will support temporary needs where funds are anticipated. Whether providing assistance to pay rent or medical bills, offering temporary project support while awaiting full funding, or seeding or expanding a creative venture, The Laundromat Project Creative Sustainability Fund is dedicated to ensuring the arts remain a vibrant and integral part of community life, driven by the diverse voices and visions of local creators. (Read more including FAQ’s here).

Application Process:

To apply for funds through The Laundromat Project Creative Sustainability Fund, individuals must complete a simple loan application form. This form requires applicants to provide personal information, including their name, contact details, and LP alumni status. Additionally, applicants must specify the amount requested, detail the purpose of the loan, and provide an expected repayment date. The application should also include a brief description of the applicant's current financial situation and explain how the loan will help sustain their livelihood or bridge funding gaps in their creative projects. Once the application is submitted, The Laundromat Project will review the request and, if approved, will discuss the loan terms with the applicant. A Promissory Note outlining the repayment terms will be provided. No credit check is required for the application, ensuring the process remains accessible and supportive for all eligible individuals. For any questions or further information, applicants can contact csf@laundromatproject.org.

Payment Process:

Applications will be accepted and reviewed by The LP’s Director of Finance & Operations and Executive Director twice per calendar year. 

Once a Creative Sustainability Fund application is approved, The Laundromat Project will provide a Promissory Note outlining the repayment schedule, which specifies the amount to be repaid by a certain date without interest. Promissory notes must be returned within 3 business days of approval or applications will be canceled and applicants can reapply. The LP will submit the payment request within 5 business days of receiving the signed Promissory Note. After submission, Payment processing typically takes 4-7 business days to complete. 

All Borrowers are expected to follow these terms to ensure the fund is available for others. If repayment difficulties arise, borrowers should contact The Laundromat Project as soon as possible to discuss possible extensions or revisions to the loan terms. In some cases, the loan may be converted to a discretionary grant. This ensures support for our alumni community while maintaining the program's sustainability.

Funds will be paid out by our program partner, Brooklyn Cooperative Federal Credit Union, via cash, cashiers check, or electronic deposit to the recipient's bank account. The payment process will be administered directly by Brooklyn Cooperative.

By default, all distributions will include a one-year grace period. Applicants are eligible to receive funds through this program no more than once in each 12 month cycle.

We encourage all potential borrowers to take a moment to reflect on their current financial circumstances and repayment strategies before beginning the application. Our goal is to help ensure that taking on a loan through this program is a thoughtful and manageable decision.

This questionnaire is not an eligibility screening or intended to deter you from applying. It is here to support your individual assessment of loan readiness and help you consider whether this is the right fit for your needs.

Our Create & (Re)Connect Fund supports alumni who are evolving past projects, launching new projects, or continuing ongoing work that engages a specific group, audience, or community.

Please note: selecting 'Yes' below does not automatically disqualify you for a loan through the Creative Sustainability Fund.