Meet Give a Brand! 2017 finalist, Graphic Scholarships
Old-school graphic artists give young designers a way into the industry through Graphic Scholarships, also known as GCSF. This Give a Brand! finalist provides financial support for New York City-area students pursuing graphic arts and communications, as well as mentorship and help with job placements.
The foundation was born 15 years ago, when the head of the New York Department of Education’s committee for graphic arts suggested starting a scholarship fund. The group began informally, soliciting donations from their connections in the industry and acting as steward of those funds. When it became apparent that the wish to give was there, and to ensure that donors could receive tax deductions, they formalized as a 501(c)3.
That first year, they raised $5,000. Last year, they raised $200,000. Supporters have included printing and advertising heavyweights like Adobe, Conde Nast and Xerox, raised in partnership with industry associations like the Advertising Club of New York.
With no paid staff and no overhead, all of the money the fund receives goes towards scholarship recipients. “I’ve been extremely lucky to have active people involved,” says cofounder Mark Darlow of the dedicated group that keeps the foundation going through sheer legwork.
Recipients of GCSF aid have attended world-renowned design schools: Pratt Institute, Parsons The New School for Design, the Rhode Island School of Design, and the Fashion Institute of Technology among them. They’ve gone on to pursue graduate degrees and land plum jobs in the industry after graduation.
GCSF offers support to high school and college students, as well as those entering graduate programs. They also run a mentorship program, pairing up professionals with students for one year of one-on-one support, portfolio tips and career advice, as well as internship opportunities.
To apply for a scholarship, students from the five boroughs must write a letter, gather letters of recommendations, and submit work samples and grades. The board, which includes former scholarship recipients, then reviews the applications.
The academic year culminates with an awards ceremony in which members of the organization and supporters in the industry come together to celebrate scholarship recipients with their families. At last year’s ceremony, scholarship recipient Annie Wong, the first in her family to go to college, told the audience that she saw graphic communication as a “visual means of solving problems.” Another called it her “healthy obsession.”
Darlow and his cofounders have seen the industry change immensely since GCSF’s inception: from a world of typesetting and printing to one of of web design, video production and the ever-growing intersection of design and tech. But they stay true to their original intent of supporting talented students as they pursue their careers. With a stronger brand that better communicates the value of their work, they believe they can tap a host of new sponsors and offer stronger support to tomorrow’s great creators.
Give a Brand! is Thinkso’s annual pro bono branding project. The winning nonprofit, chosen by public vote, receives more than $50,000 worth of free branding, including a new logo, website, marketing materials, and more.