The Ideabox

Thank you for coming to our FAQ. We recommend you read it straight through. It's like a rite of passage.

1. What is a “creative community building project”?
2. Why the concentration on publicity, celebrity and pop culture?
3. What is social infrastructural renewal, and why is it important?
4. Can you give me an example of a CCB program?
5. What is Creative Entrepreneurial Idealism?
6. What is The Ideabox trying to do? Why does it exist?
7. Who participates? Who is it meant for? Who is "the movement"?
8. How can I submit a project?
9. What are the business plan requirements?
10. How do you select worthy submissions?
11. Will I get funding? How?
12. How do you make money to operate?
13. What are your next goals moving forward?
14. Are there any other functions TIB will add to its operations?
15. What else do I need to know?
16. How can I help?

1. What is a “creative community building project”?

Per our mission and goals, it is a community building initiative infused with a creative element. This means it must use creativity, art, athletics, or some other "funky" topic or theme in order to make commuity building fun and attractive.

Litmus test: the program should motivate people to participate not just because it's important to give back to the community, but because they'll have fun doing it.

It also means that it's going to add value to the community in one or several unambiguous ways.

It helps if the topic has resonance with pop culture and possibilities for cross-sector synergy, publicity (“hey, look at how these guys are merging graffiti culture and Mexican mural painting in a neighborhood beautification program that also ties into art coursework at the local schools!) celebrity promotion (let’s get some famous graffiti and mainstream artists to speak about this program!), and general fun (let’s have a Saturday painting event with a local band and a bake sale, etc!).

2. If you’re a bunch of idealists, why are you obsessed with publicity and celebrity and pop culture?

Part of TIB's long-term strategy is to brand civic engagement as cool, so that more people actually do it. That means taking the American culture's obsession with celebrity and entertainment and flipping it, judo style, to use that energy in a positive way. Focusing on creative approaches allows us to broadcast the many fun and cool community building programs and possibilities . Instead of the generic “help out this nice program because it’s nice to be nice!” approach--which is effective only among people who already understand this, and don't need much convincing--we’re actively courting the creative sector and its knack for publicity. Creatives, their publicity machines, and their celebrity representatives can make a uniquely powerful contribution toward convincing regular people how genuinely fun (in addition to rewarding) it can be to give back to the community.

So, rather than demeaning or avoiding America’s problematic obsession with celebrity and entertainment (an approach you might find in other academic or activistic circles), we are trying to leverage it.  "Sexiness" and "cool" are not our primary concerns; they are means to an end.

By using the creative arts and popular social media that perpetuate the field, TIB aims to popularize civic engagement on a professional as well as a social level.  Social popularization is crucial to not only draw in new participants, but to ensure that the field has lasting power. “Cool” ideas might change, but as long as we leverage cool ways and cool people to speak for the inherent goodness of civic engagement and social solidarity, then we’ll have a voice. We believe that voice can help generate a contagious cultural momentum.

This resonates to the part of our branding and messaging strategy that capitalizes on the current sociopolitical climate (symbolism of Obama's election; recession & crisis; falling behind the rest of the world; new New Deal; etc). People—especially young people—identify with the need for change, the need for solidarity and sacrifice. Through our Big List of programs and the underlying CEI ethos, TIB finds ways to concretize that general desire for change and most importantly, provides an easily accessible venue to act on that desire.

By following this strategy, and plugging into the new emerging metanarrative of social infrastructural renewal, we’re going to make civic engagement cool. (In addition to getting lots of press and some money for the programs on our Big List.)

3. Wait-- "the new emerging metanarrative of social infrastructural renewal"?

Yes. TIB is a well timed to succeed because we’re finally moving into a new historical moment. Since September 2001 we had been in what we might call a 9/11 period, in which that day and the resulting geopolitical events framed the way we looked at ourselves and the world, for better or worse.

Now, things are changing in crucial ways. We believe that the election of President Obama, set against the financial crisis, represents—among other things—the end of cynical 9/11 politics. The move into a post-9/11 era means emphasizing more than just protecting ourselves from outside forces. It means improving ourselves from within.

Finally the need for infrastructural renewal in America is being talked about in the mainstream press. We hear about a New New Deal, reform on Wall Street, making American cars energy efficient, etc. A new paradigm is emerging: the paradigm of American renewal. We are beginning to accept that we have fallen behind the rest of the world in important ways, and risk falling further if we don’t get our act together.

For us, that means not only improving the physical infrastructure—bridges, electric grid, public transport—but the social infrastructure as well. As we enter a potentially historic recession, it’s no coincidence that the economic disparities between rich and poor are the greatest they’ve been since the time of the Robber Barons. Social solidarity and sense of community have eroded. It’s time to address these issues at the local level. Communities, especially urban ones, are the core of American life, and they’re falling apart. To renew America’s promise, we need to improve our schools, increase opportunities in downtrodden neighborhoods, and increase the sense of solidarity between actors in these areas. We need to renew our social infrastructure.

For more on this, see some blog entries.

4. I see. But so can you give me an example of a CCB program?

We can give you many. Please see our list of partner projects. Then imagine how much more impressive and useful this list will be when it features the dozens and dozens of extant programs across the country and the unlimited program proposals that people can submit for publication on our list!

By putting all such initiatives—both extant and proposed—in one space; by making the database searchable by key metrics; by offering support and opportunities for funding; and by talking about all the related issues in this nascent movement, TIB is a hub for CCB programs.

5. So what is this Creative Entrepreneurial Idealism?

CEI is the ethos behind TIB. If CCB is the "what," CEI is the "how": creative community building programs are guided by Creative Entrepreneurial Idealism.

In listing, supporting, and seeking funding for CCB projects, we want to establish the CEI lifestyle and movement. We want future students imagining themselves as CEIs and following the course of study unique to their talents that will enable them to reach their potential in the creative, entrepreneurial, and idealist realms.

CEI isn’t just another acronym. It’s a useful way to represent a spirit and movement that combines the best aspects of American culture. Our creative industry is respected the world over; entrepreneurialism is embedded in our national purpose; and idealism speaks to our historic desire to be the best and lead by example in an imperfect world.

6. So if CCB is the "what" and CEI is the "how" then what is the "why" behind TIB?

First, because there are lots of great CCB ideas that simply deserve the funding they seek in order to make a real difference in their communities. This is why other direct donation programs like Kiva make so much sense and are so successful.

Second, over the long term, to make civic engagement cool, so more people—especially young people—are encouraged to give back and contribute to America's rejuvenation. Because now more than ever in the emerging multipolar world, we need to collectively reinvest in America's social infrastructure.

7. So then who is the "who"? Who are your allies in this movement?

In general, the “who” is all of us, together: everyone who is interested in doing good while also having fun. 

But more specifically, as it says on our home page: a combination of actors in the creative sector, community builders, and funders or donors. Some are CEIs, others are supporters, allies, and enablers. Each component makes a unique contribution, and TIB is the place where they can interact and exchange ideas and proposals and work toward real results.

To get a better sense of the ways people form different sectors correspond to the CEI culture, see the nifty diagram in the “why CEI?” section.

Finally, we are working on a cohesive and useful diagram of the actors and sectors of the emerging movement. Be on the lookout for that. Until then, please see the blogroll and other sites of interest lists on the TIB Blog.

In addition to those sites, we should mention two other allies we’re hoping to line up. Namely, the US Government and Venture Capital firms. Given that TIB provides the implementation infrastructure to employ young people who are involved in creative community building/service programs, and that innovation is key to the TIB model, we would like to see the creation of something like a US Department of Innovation take shape, and/or the implementation of Enterprise Reinvestment Schemes akin to the ones in effect in the UK that encourage private equity and venture capital investment in offering tax benefits to those investors. 

<!--EndFragment-->

8. Okay, I want to make a difference while having fun. I want to submit a project or something.

Great! First, browse TIB to get a better sense of what’s out there already.

Then, turn your compelling idea into something that resembles a business plan, and check out TIB's internal application, which is short and simple. Fill it out, upload your plan, and you’re done. We’ll get back to you.

9. What kind of business plan are you looking for? I don’t have an MBA.

TIB's criteria for a "loose business plan" include at least the following: mission and goals, brief description, proposed budget, staff, development strategy and timeline, strategic challenges, and logistical obstacles.

10. How do you decide which plans are selected?

From a funding perspective, TIB performs the useful role of “vetting” to to ensure that all listed programs are immediately worthy of funding, or at least serious negotiation toward that end. It is imperative for TIB to maintain the highest standards so that, over the long term, everyone from philanthropies to regular people looking to make a smart investment will know they can trust us to supply great programs led by capable individuals.

At the same time, we recognize the power of a good idea, and will do our best to support projects that are not yet ready to be publicly listed. These submissions will be wait-listed. This means that while your proposal isn't fully "there" yet, we love it and want to help you improve it.

All submissions will be read by TIB staff. We will get back to you as soon as we can.

11. Fair enough. What are my chances of getting funding?

It’s impossible to say. Our role is to democratize the funding environment for potential donors and to build the brand for creative community building programs and CEI. We will promote certain programs that we feel great about (e.g. our Idea of the Month) for whatever reason. In general we will do our best to publicize all the programs through various forms of outreach, from emails to viral marketing campaigns and cooperating with other do-good publicity outlets.

Once TIB gains its own revenue streams, we will offer periodic micro-grants for smaller programs. Our staff will vote on these winners.

In both cases, it depends on you more than us: the harder you work on your idea and business plan, and the better your infrastructure, the likelier you are to receive funding.

12. Do you take a cut if I get funding? (Or, how do you make money?)

Exactly. We have to survive somehow. We are performing a service here, after all. A few services. So unless a billionaire bestows us with independent wealth (we’re working on that), we need to take a cut for successfully enabled funding connections. We are still discussing the exact percentage, and whether or not to charge a nominal submission fee (like $50) if your project is accepted for listing.

For more on our revenue generation situation, see our Business Plan (sec 4, p.8).

13. Besides raising money, what are your immediate goals moving forward?

Good question. The details are in the Business Plan, but for the first quarter of 2009 we are focusing on:

• Filling the Box: we’ve built it, now they must come.

We’ll reachout to and recruitment of extant CCB programs that don’t even know they’re CCB. We need to grow our list in order for it to be useful in the way we envision. Similarly, reach out to the creative and educational sectors (via events and promotions) to draw submissions for CCB program ideas.

• Further entrenching ourselves in the nascent “movement”

that means engaging actors primarily in the community building and service sectors, the creative sector, philanthropy, and social entrepreneurship. But many others are implicated; see “Why CEI?”. We need to build alliances with these people based on common goals and generate momentum for TIB in the process.

• Selling ourselves

People like our idea, but we still need to work hard to convince key actors of both the role TIB can play in this movement, and the utility of CEI as a term to use in it.

• Perfecting the website

We recognize there’s work to do. Suggestions are welcome.

• Raising money

We explained this already.

14. Good luck with that.  Are there any other functions TIB will add to its operations?

Good question. We have a couple of TIB outreach projects planned for development in 2009.

One of them is to coordinate with existing social entrepreneurship programs at business schools. Tentatively called TIB-MBA, what we want to so is essentially match MBA students with specific creative community building projects in their city/locality. While studying these MBAs represent a highly trained employee pool that can work in a consultative capacity in building nascent TIB partner projects towards sustainability, social impact maximization, and launch/expansion.

We see it as a win-win proposition: the people who submitted the project to TIB get a chance to develop it; select qualified business school students get a chance to test their managerial skills on a real (i.e, non-hypothetical) project in the field; and the MBA program gains prestige for promoting an exciting hands-on project that bridges academia with real results in the same locality (and perhaps even improves town-gown relations). More on this soon.

15. Sounds great. What else do I need to know?

Not sure. You’ve already asked a lot of questions. If you have more, share them with us. We’re still in alpha version and understand that the concepts and functions might not necessarily be clear at first. We’re going to do our best in early 2009 to improve our messaging and approach.

Also, you might want to ask how you can help.

16. I meant to ask that. How can I help out?

Thanks for asking. We would most benefit from thoughtful suggestions and monetary donations to keep us going until we get that big-time grant. Equally important, if you know people who might be able to help out in either of those ways, put us in touch!

Thanks.

No: thank you. Please enjoy your visit to TIB.