Applications now open for cause-related organizations and emerging creative professionals

COLUMBUS, Ohio, 6 January 2016--Fulcrum Creatives, Columbus’ only Certified B Corporation branding, design and creative services agency, today announced the launch of FORCE, Fulcrum Creative’s latest initiative that matches a team of young, talented professionals with a nonprofit, social enterprise or cause-related organization, to design and implement a creative solution to elevate that organization’s message from concept to market.

“FORCE will help meet the creative needs of a cause-related organization while providing mentorship opportunities for next-generation creative talent,” said Jason Moore, Founder and Principal of Fulcrum Creatives. “Since 2002, Fulcrum has focused on delivering creative leverage for the greater good. FORCE is just one expression of our culture here at Fulcrum.”

Fulcrum Creatives will select one organization to participate in FORCE. The goal of this initiative is to be the impetus behind increasing the impact of a mission-based organization, and provide an opportunity for a team of young professionals to showcase their work and build relationships with community leaders in a collaborative setting to jointly address a social or environmental issue.
Fulcrum is now accepting applications for FORCE. Cause-related organizations based in Franklin County and surrounding counties may apply online by January 31, 2016. Students or young professionals must submit applications and portfolios online by February 29, 2016.

 “We want to help organizations disrupt the marketplace by applying great creative to address a specific issue, or increase the volume on a particular message that needs to be heard in order to spark meaningful change,” continued Moore.

FORCE is not free for the organization Fulcrum Creatives selects, however, pricing is greatly reduced to increase the point of entry for small- to mid-sized organizations, while also taking into account the level of experience of the project team. The team of young professionals selected will be compensated for their work. Fulcrum Creatives will mentor the project team and oversee the project management to ensure that final deliverables meet industry standards.

About Fulcrum Creatives
Since 2002, Fulcrum Creatives has worked with nonprofits, social enterprises, benefit corporations and organizations—whose bottom lines are focused on impact, sustainability and solving for the greater good. Branding, digital presence and strategy, marketing, SEO, social media and copywriting are just a few of Fulcrum’s core offerings. Fulcrum Creatives earned its Certified B Corporation (B-Corp) certification in October 2014, making it the first B-Corp branding, design and creative services agency in Ohio; the third B-Corp in Central Ohio; and the eighth B-Corp in Ohio.

Reposted from The Center for Social Enterprise Development.

Six women business leaders from Central Ohio today announced that Pipeline Angels has opened a call for applications for its signature bootcamp for new investors, slated to take place in Columbus in Spring 2016. In collaboration with the Center for Social Enterprise Development (CSED), Columbus’ leadership group consists of Shelley Bird, Carol Clark, Lisa Courtice, Nichole Dunn, Tracy Maxwell Heard and Susan Rector. Individuals interested in participating in Pipeline Angels’ angel investing bootcamp may apply online.
 
Pipeline Angels, a network of new and seasoned women investors, is changing the face of angel investing and creating capital for women social entrepreneurs. Pipeline Angels holds a signature bootcamp for new investors and a signature pitch summit for startups looking for funding. Since launching in 2011, more than 180 women have graduated from Pipeline Angels’ bootcamp for new investors and these women have collectively invested over $1.7 million in more than 20 companies that have gone through Pipeline Angels’ pitch summit process.
 
“When a longtime supporter connected me with Allen Proctor at the Center for Social Enterprise Development, I was thrilled to learn more about the thriving social entrepreneurship community—particularly, the growing number of women social entrepreneurs—in Columbus,” said Natalia Oberti Noguera, Founder & CEO of Pipeline Angels. “While entrepreneurs are everywhere, capital isn't. I'm passionate about activating local capital for local entrepreneurs. We are committed to launching our angel investing bootcamp in new cities to activate more women angels who will then have the opportunity to invest in local entrepreneurs. One of our new markets for Spring 2016 is Columbus and we're delighted to welcome Shelley Bird, Carol Clark, Lisa Courtice, Nichole Dunn, Tracy Maxwell Heard, and Susan Rector as our local ambassadors and champions.”
 
Pipeline Angels’ angel investing bootcamp has three applicant criteria: 1) Meeting one of the accredited investor definitions (for example, US$200K in income or US$300K joint income with spouse for the past two years, or US$1M net worth); 2) show an interest in a group learning model; and, 3) be passionate about social entrepreneurship.

“Women are under-represented in the angel investing world,” said Carol Clark, Founding Member of X Squared Angels Group. “We are excited to have Pipeline Angels introduce more women to the combination of expertise and capital that angel investing will allow them to provide to social enterprises.”
 
“Engaging women in opportunities like Pipeline Angels is right in line with the mission of Women for Economic and Leadership Development (WELD),” said Tracy Maxwell Heard, Board Chair, WELD. “Pipeline Angels places women in leadership positions empowering them as a collective economic force and ultimately benefitting the community. Couldn't have a better match.”
 
Participants pay $4,500 to enroll in the six-month program, which requires an estimated time commitment of two full days per month. In addition to the enrollment fee, participants invest at least $5,000 in a woman-led for-profit social venture at the end of the program. For-profit companies incorporated in the U.S. with a social and or environmental focus and a woman founder can apply to present at an upcoming Pipeline Angels Pitch Summit here, including the 2016 Columbus Pipeline Angels Pitch Summit, which will be held on Thursday, April 7, 2016. 
 
“Columbus Pipeline Angels provides a focused program of business leadership for women who want to align their investments locally and drive economic security in Central Ohio via women business owners,” said Nichole Dunn, President & CEO, Women's Fund of Central Ohio.
Pipeline Angels is also accepting applications for its signature bootcamps in Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, DC. Learn more about Pipeline Angels online, or send an email to [email protected].
 
About the Center for Social Enterprise Development
The Center for Social Enterprise Development (CSED) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded in June 2014. Its mission is to provide information, training, mentoring and support to enable charitable organizations to develop new business activities that show strong promise of producing new sources of revenues to support and advance their charitable mission. CSED programs are open to all interested individuals and organizations who are dedicated to producing social impact from commercial activities primarily in the Central Ohio region.