The Inspire Genius Foundation Grants

The Inspire Genius Foundation Grants is sponsored by The Inspire Genius Foundation (supported by OpenGenius and Silicon Valley Community Foundation). This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

**Chris and Gaile Griffiths founded software company, OpenGenius, in 2006 with the mission to help people think better using technology. OpenGenius promote inclusion through assistive tech designed to benefit every member of a team, no matter their differences. ** The Inspire Genius Foundation was started with a £50,000 donation from OpenGenius to raise awareness of neurodiversity and improve the experiences of neurodivergent people.

Chris has also committed to donating profits from his latest book ‘The Creative Thinking Handbook’ to the charity. Inspire Genius has also been supported by a donation from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation We provide financial support to young aspiring neurodivergent entrepreneurs aged 21 and under who are looking to start their business journey.

Through grants ranging from £5,000 to £10,000, we aim to nurture innovative thinking and entrepreneurial spirit in the next generation. We also support organisations and charities that help young neurodivergent or disabled people develop employment skills and find meaningful work opportunities. #### New trustee to be announced soon!

Chris Griffiths, has over 28 years’ experience in setting up and leading successful businesses that have ranked in ‘Deloitte European Fast 50′ and ‘Sunday Times Fast-track 100′. Chris is the founder of OpenGenius, creators of assistive software, Ayoa. com.

He is a multiple-time TEDx speaker and bestselling author on creativity and innovative thinking skills; his latest book, ‘The Creative Thinking Handbook’ is now available in 10+ languages. Gaile Griffiths is a specialist in customer relationship and financial management. She is currently Financial, HR & Operations Director for OpenGenius, the creators of productivity and assistive software, Ayoa.

Previously, Gaile worked as a regional financial manager for Marks & Spencer for eighteen years where she led 1200 sales advisers in the rollout of the ‘&More’ credit card pilot. Kempton Rees is a litigation expert and Partner at Carbon Law Partners. Previously, he was a Partner at Darwin Gray LLP and Geldards LLP in Cardiff.

Kempton graduated from the College of Law in York and has a Masters in Engineering, Economics & Management from the University of Oxford. Jo Curry works for the Sir James Knott Trust and is the Vice Chair of the Virgin Money Foundation. Previously, she was Executive Director of Changing Lives and the Chief Executive of VONNE.

Jo was also the Vice Chair of the Community Foundation – Tyne & Wear and Northumberland, serving 9 years on the board. She was also a solicitor at Geldards LLP in Cardiff. **Neurodiversity is the term used to describe differences in cognitive functioning that affect learning, thinking, attention and memory.

Recognized types of neurological difference include dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD and autism. ** It is estimated that around **1 in 7 people are neurodivergent. ** We want everyone to be able to achieve their best at work and in education, no matter their differences.

## How to apply for support If you’re a young entrepreneur aged 21 or under who is neurodivergent and looking to start your business journey, or if you represent an organisation or charity that helps young neurodivergent or disabled people develop employment skills, we’d love to hear about your project. Please complete the form below. Fields are optional, but the more information you can supply the better we can assess if we can help.

Open application form Hide application form InspireGenius only accepts applications from neurodivergent entrepreneurs aged 21 or under, or from charitable organisations that support people that fall into this category. Please tick this box to confirm this applies to you before proceeding **Primary Contact Information** Do you have any communication needs? If yes, please briefly tell us what they are to help us communicate with you.

**Organisation Contact Information** Legal name of organisation if different (the name that is on your governing documents and bank account) **Organisation Information** Charity number (if applicable) Company/CIC number (if applicable) If you are a CIC, please state your public benefit Year organisation was established Number of trustees/directors Number of active volunteers Income (most recent accounting period) Expenditure (most recent accounting period) Please tell us about your organisation and the people who use your services.

How much are you requesting from the Inspire Genius Foundation? Please provide total project costs/budget Breakdown of the budget (including any other expected sources of funding) Please provide a copy of your latest approved accounts Will the greatest proportion of the funding be spent on Core, Capital, or Project? Please describe what you will use the grant for What difference will the funding make?

How many people will directly benefit? Where will the greatest amount of activity take place?

**Bank Details, Referee and Declarations** Please attach a copy of a recent bank statement If your organisation is not a registered charity and/or was established less than two years ago: Please attach a recent copy of your AGM notes Please attach a copy of your constitution Please attach a copy of your CIC certificate Please provide contact details for a referee e.g. beneficiary or local councillor (this cannot be a trustee, volunteer or staff member) Relationship to organisation The Inspire Genius Foundation is committed to protecting your personal information.

We collect data about you to process your application, manage your account and process your grant. The use of your information may involve sharing the information with employees, trustees, agents and professional advisors of the Inspire Genius Foundation, fraud prevention agencies and other carefully selected organisations. Please confirm you have read and understood this.

By ticking this box, I confirm that the content of this application is correct and I am authorised to make it. By ticking this box, I confirm that the organisation has an up-to-date safeguarding policy and appropriate insurances. ## Projects we’ve supported ### Centre for Social Justice’s Report: ‘Now is the time’ We’re proud to sponsor the ‘Now is the Time’ report published by The Centre for Social Justice Disability Commission.

By contributing £5,000 towards this report, we hope to increase awareness of the CSJ’s work in lobbying the government to eradicate inequalities for disabled people in all areas of life, including work, education, housing and transport. _Follow Your Dreams_ charity in Pontyclun, Wales helps young people with learning difficulties do exactly what the name of their charity promotes in a very special way.

Through the power of creativity they show that anything is possible! To help their cause, for Christmas of 2021 the Inspire Genius Foundation purchased _Follow Your Dreams’_ entire Amazon wishlist. These new supplies help them deliver fantastic craft sessions, workshops, online social activities, a 24/7 call line, and so much more to highlight possibilities and opportunities.

### Neurodiversity in Business Led by CEO, Daniel Harris, an amazing group of neurodivergent individuals and neurodiversity specialists formed in March 2022 to transform the corporate world into one which is supportive of neurodivergent talent. The Inspire Genius Foundation’s sponsorship of £3,500 for Neurodiversity in Business’ launch event at the Houses of Parliament and London Stock Exchange helped kickstart this seismic initiative.

Watch this space, awareness of neurodiversity, the benefits of it and celebrations of it are coming to a workplace near you! The Inspire Genius Foundation is based at Tec Marina in Penarth, South Wales. ### Tec Marina | Terra Nova Way, Penarth