Spark Grant Fund

Spark Grant Fund is sponsored by Great Lakes Innovation District for Economic Empowerment, Inc.. A bi-monthly cohort micro-grant program for digital, tabletop & live-action game innovation. This fund supports game engines, software, licenses, physical prototyping, LARP materials, narrative design, playtesting, game art, sound, and UI.

Spark Grant Fund – Great Lakes Innovation District for Economic Empowerment, Inc. A Bi-Monthly Cohort Micro-Grant Program for Digital, Tabletop & Live-Action Game Innovation Fund Purpose & Creative Ambition The Spark Grant Fund is the entry-level capital platform of the Great Lakes Innovation District for Economic Empowerment and the first on-ramp into our Game Innovation Design Studio.

This fund exists with a clear and ambitious goal: We believe the next successful game studio—video, tabletop, or live-action—can be created here. a tabletop game (board game, card game, role-playing system), or a LARP experience (story-driven, immersive, or community-based), We strongly encourage you to apply. Spark Grants are designed to help creators move from ideas to prototype—and from prototype to something bigger.

2. A Direct Invitation to the Community! Spark Grants are for people, not résumés.

Aspiring video game developers and studios Tabletop and card game designers LARP creators, worldbuilders, and organizers Youth ages 14+ with game ideas Indie creators, artists, coders, writers, and designers Esports players and organizers Adults 65+ interested in storytelling, design, mentoring, or play Community members with no formal training or prior experience If you have been thinking, this program is for you. 3.

Fund Structure (Phase I) Cohort Cadence: Every other month Grant Pool per Cohort: Minimum $2,500 Individual Applicants: Up to $500 Team Applications: Up to $1,000 Grant Type: Unrestricted micro-grants Each cohort is a two-month experiment, prototyping, and learning cycle inside the Game Innovation Design Studio. 4. Bi-Monthly Cohort Schedule (2026) 5.

Who Can Apply (Individuals & Teams) Anyone age 14 or older with: A tabletop or card game concept A LARP scenario, system, or experience Teams may apply for up to $1,000, including: Tabletop and LARP collectives Intergenerational teams (youth + adults, including 65+) Friends, families, or newly formed creative teams No company formation or prior funding required. 6.

Youth Participation Guidelines (Ages 14–16 Only) To ensure a safe and supportive environment: A parent or legal guardian must submit: A short video message of support The parent or guardian must: Always be on-site during in-person engagement at the Game Innovation Design Studio These requirements apply only to applicants ages 14–16. Applicants 17 and older may participate independently. 7.

Explicit Invitation to Adults 65+ The Spark Grant Fund actively welcomes applications from adults age 65 and older, including individuals who are already deeply engaged in: Video game development and interactive media Tabletop game design and publishing Live Action Role Play (LARP) design and facilitation Narrative design, systems design, and worldbuilding Esports, simulation, and game-based learning We recognize that many creators, designers, engineers, writers, and community leaders continue serious creative and technical work well into later stages of life, and that their experience, discipline, and perspective strengthen game ecosystems and studios.

Applications from adults 65+ are welcomed on equal footing with all other applicants—whether applying as individuals, as part of teams, or as collaborators across generations. This emphasis is included intentionally to ensure the Game Innovation Design Studio remains a truly multigenerational creative space, countering industry norms that often market only to younger audiences. 8.

What the Spark Grant Can Support Spark Grants may support: Game engines, software, and licenses Physical prototyping (cards, boards, rulebooks, props) LARP materials, narrative design, and playtesting Game art, sound, narrative, and UI/UX Early-stage team collaboration Community playtests and showcases The focus is on making games playable—digitally or physically. 9.

Cohort Experience (More Than Funding) Kickoff Session – orientation and community building Optional Studio Access & Skill Workshops Mid-Cycle Check-In – supportive feedback Community Demo / Playtest / Showcase Event Spark Grants function as a micro-residency for game creators across formats.

Original video, tabletop, or LARP game ideas Creative ambition and curiosity Willingness to prototype and iterate Feasibility within a two-month cycle No pitch decks. No business plans. No gatekeeping.