4. A process for awarding small
grants and non-financial
support through Fellows to
support new Fellow-led ideas to
tackle social problems
1 What is Catalyst? thersa.org/catalyst
5. Grants:
• Initial grants of £1,000-£2,000
• Additional grants of £5,000
Each year we award a total of £100,000
to Fellows’ projects
1 What is Catalyst? thersa.org/catalyst
6. Non-financial resources:
• Regional teams find local Fellows who can give expertise
• SkillsBank matches to Fellows who have volunteered time
• Staff target Fellows via our database
• Subject expertise from RSA staff including signposting to
other funds available
• Help to raise awareness via newsletter, blog & Journal
Fellows are encouraged to apply to Catalyst for non-
financial resources even when grants are not needed
1 What is Catalyst? thersa.org/catalyst
12. Idea:
• does it offer a solution to tackle a pressing
social problem?
• is it a totally new idea or applying something
in a new setting?
• can it be sustained in the longer-term?
3 Exactly what does Catalyst support? thersa.org/catalyst
13. People and other resources:
• does it have a passionate and relevantly skilled and
experienced team*?
• can it involve the wider Fellowship in the development or
delivery of the project?
• is it in its early stages of development?
• does it need to deliver activities that would be difficult to
deliver without the help of Catalyst?
• does it have a feasible and economical plan for delivering
those activities?
* must have an RSA Fellow as part of the team leading the project
3 Exactly what does Catalyst support? thersa.org/catalyst
15. If you want to help:
• register in the RSA SkillsBank and we will match you to
ideas that need your experience and expertise
www.thersa.org/skillsbank
• find Catalyst-supported projects that match your
interest via the list of all Catalyst projects at
www.thersa.org/catalyst
• if you want to help a specific project, mention the name
of it when you register in the SkillsBank
4 What can I do next? thersa.org/catalyst
16. If you have an idea:
• talk to Fellows at your local network meetings (now!) to get
feedback and start collaborating by getting in touch with your
Regional Team www.thersa.org/fellowship/where-you-are
• post your idea onto a relevant group on the Fellows online
social network www.rsafellowship.com
• complete the Catalyst application form via
www.thersa.org/catalyst – after the deadline, staff and
Fellows will give applicants feedback and a chance to amend to
make the strongest possible case to the Catalyst panel
4 What can I do next? thersa.org/catalyst
17. For the application form or more
information, please visit
www.thersa.org/catalyst
If you have any other questions email
fellowship.fund@rsa.org.uk