Blerdz Unite Opportunity Grant

ABout

The Blerdz Unite Opportunity Grant was created to help fellow Blerd content creators access career-boosting opportunities at conventions, covering travel costs to local and national events. Inspired by the benefits conventions bring to those who can attend, two founding Blerdz Unite Stream Team members IdiosynAnca and Bnice0rElse champion this grant to support fellow creators in expanding their reach and impact within the creator space.

Why

Attending various conventions including Dreamcon, Twitchcon, Dreamhack and more significantly impacted both Bnice0relse & IdiosynAnca as creators from 2019-2024. Both joining the Twitch Black Unity Guild, serving as community managers of Stream Raleigh, being recognized on a global stage, and more, these local and nationwide events have provided confidence for them in the creator space. Idiosynanca and Bnice0relse are two out of seven founding members of the Blerdz Unite Stream Team.

The Blerdz Unite Opportunity Grant requirements are as follows:

Eligibility:

  • You are a Blerd (Black Nerd)!

  • Must identify as a member of the Blerdz Unite community.

  • Must be actively involved in creating content within the nerd/geek fandoms (e.g., comics, anime, gaming, cosplay, etc.).

  • 18 and up. ( Must Provide identification) 

  • Must be able to provide proof of involvement in the Blerdz community and content creation.

Application Materials:

  • Completed application form with personal information and contact details.

  • Statement of purpose explaining how attending the convention will contribute to your growth as a creator and benefit the Blerdz community (maximum 500 words).

  • Provide links to your current and past content to show activity in the Blerd/nerd sector. 

Selection Criteria:

  • Creativity and originality in content creation the active year that they are applying

  • Demonstrated impact within the Blerdz community.

  • Potential for future contributions to the nerd/geek fandoms.

  • Financial need and barriers to attending conventions.

  • Clarity and persuasiveness of the statement of purpose.

Obligations:

  • If awarded the scholarship, recipients must provide documentation of convention registration 

  • Agree to participate in any follow-up surveys or interviews to provide feedback on the impact of the scholarship.

  • Commit to sharing their convention experience and insights gained with the Blerdz community through social media, blog posts, or other platforms.

Deadline:

  • Clearly specified deadline for submission of all application materials on a rolling basis as events are held.

Award:

  • The scholarship will assist in covering expenses related to a convention.Travel, accommodation, and other relevant costs. (Hotel and Flight) 

  • The number and amount of awards will depend on the available funds and the quality of applications received.

Review Process:

  • Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee consisting of representatives from the Blerdz community and relevant stakeholders.

  • All applications will be evaluated based on the established selection criteria.

  • By implementing these requirements, the Blerdz Unite Opportunity Grant can effectively support creators within the Blerdz community to attend conventions and further enrich their contributions to the nerd/geek fandoms.