Prebys Sparx Challenge

Overview

A growing number of healthcare providers, researchers, and community advocates recognize the importance of not only treating illness but also promoting mental and behavioral well-being through non-clinical experiences in the arts, culture, and nature. Prebys Foundation aims to improve behavioral health and well-being through access to arts, culture, and nature.

Recent data supports outdoors as medicine:

* People living near parks and “green spaces” have less mental distress.
* There is compelling evidence that time spent in nature can improve the attention capacity of people with attention deficit (and related) disorders. 

* Being outdoors (local beaches and parks, and other natural and recreational areas) can also make us happier and healthier.

And this data shows arts are a pathway to:

* Decrease social isolation, forge new friendships, cultivate a sense of belonging and group cohesion, and improve social networks.
* Reduce stress and anxiety by forming a healthy distraction from everyday worries.  
* Boost self-awareness, self-esteem, and a sense of satisfaction. 
* Improvements in quality of life.

The San Diego region is home to a vibrant arts and culture community and great outdoors that offer an abundance of opportunities for healing, inspiration, rejuvenation, and social connection. Taking advantage of these assets, Prebys Foundation launched Prebys Sparx on August 22, 2024. This challenge invites bold ideas and innovative opportunities that employ arts, culture, and/or nature to address growing mental health disparities and promote behavioral well-being among youth ages 0-25 in the San Diego region. Up to four honorable mentions will each receive $25,000 and one grand prize winner will receive $1 million.

Eligibility

_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._

* Prebys Sparx welcomes applications from eligible nonprofit organizations located anywhere in the U.S. and U.S. territories that serve San Diego County.
* Organizations must be based in San Diego County or partner with a nonprofit that is based in San Diego County to be eligible.
* Partnerships must demonstrate authentic collaboration between organizations and must continue for the duration of the one-year project period at minimum.
* Memorandums of understanding may be requested from Finalists to verify authentic, sustained collaboration.

* Companies, foundations, tribal entities, universities, and others can participate as part of application teams with an eligible lead organization.
* Eligibility related to any Lead Organization by type are as follows:
* An entity serving San Diego County, California described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“IRC”), that has received a tax determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service (such entity, a “501(c)(3) organization”).
* A fiscally-sponsored nonprofit organization serving San Diego County, California.

Ineligibility

* Ineligible persons or entities
* Individuals, government agencies, for-profit companies, and organizations that do not serve San Diego County, California are not eligible to participate as the Lead Organization but may serve as partners on an Entry submitted by an eligible entity. 
* Lead Organizations that are not based in San Diego County and do not partner with a nonprofit that is based in San Diego County are not eligible to participate.
* Current or former recipients of The Conrad Prebys Foundation funding may apply with projects that represent significantly different concepts from those already funded. 
* Directors, officers, and employees of The Conrad Prebys Foundation, Carrot, funders of the Competition, and any of their subsidiaries and affiliates, and immediate family members (spouse, parent, child, sibling and their respective spouses, regardless of where they live) or persons living in the same households of such individuals, are not eligible to participate as a key member of the project team.
* The Competition Sponsor reserves the right to deem a project ineligible for consideration if, in the sole opinion of the Competition Sponsor, granting an Award to the project would give rise to an actual or apparent conflict of interest.
* Political parties, electoral campaign committees, and political action committees are not eligible to participate.
* Prohibited Use of Award Funds
* Award funds may not be used:
* For non-charitable purposes;
* To influence the outcome of any specific public election or to carry on, directly or indirectly, any voter registration drive (within the meaning of United States Internal Revenue Code (“Code”) section 4945(d)(2));
* To carry on propaganda or otherwise to attempt to influence legislation within the meaning of Code Section 4945(d)(1);
* To distribute funds to any organization not related to the proposal;
* To make a grant to any organization not identified in the proposal, to make a grant to any individual for travel, study, or other similar purposes, or to make a grant to any organization, except in compliance with the provisions of Sections 4945(g) or (h), as the case may be;
* For the creation of any endowment or for the aggregation of philanthropic capital by organizations that regrant to nonprofit organizations;
* For the creation of a venture capital fund, or pooled funds to invest in or distribute to for-profit organizations.
* For loans or microloans to individuals, nonprofit, or for-profit entities;
* To fund general operating support for the Lead Organization and/or any partners;
* To fund political organizations (501(c)(4) organizations and 527s).
* For government services.