Unity for Humanity 2024 Grant now open, with wellness-focused Grant Judge, Jewel

We are always inspired by the innovative ways that creators are using real-time 3D (RT3D) to build a more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable world. Today, the Unity for Humanity 2024 Grant opens to continue our support of social impact creators and their critical work.

For 2024, we will award a total of $500,000 USD across multiple projects, including a grant in collaboration with award-winning singer-songwriter, NYT bestselling author, and mental health pioneer, Jewel. Together, we’ll select a RT3D project that directly addresses themes of wellness as one of our 2024 grant recipients.

Read on for additional details on our collaboration with Jewel and insights from some of our past grantees. If you’re working on a game, experience, film, mobile app, or other project that uses real-time 3D to support a United Nations Sustainable Development goal, learn more and apply today.

For over 20 years, the Inspiring Children Foundation (ICF) – cofounded by guest grant judge Jewel – has transformed lives through a whole human approach to physical, emotional, and mental health.

ICF’s complete portfolio of tools, including Jewel Never Broken (a free online community and curriculum), integrates mental health behavioral resources with best-in-class peer support. These trusted and proven tools have been the foundation for the emerging metaverse-based mental health platform Innerworld. Both ICF and Innerworld have helped countless young people build meaningful connections, learn mindfulness, and expand their self-efficacy to heal, grow, and flourish.

We are proud to collaborate on this crucial mission to make wellness tools widely accessible. Explore the ICF mental fitness library and Jewel Never Broken to learn more about the theme for this grant category.

For inspiration on your application, check out the amazing stories behind some of our past Unity for Humanity grantees. These teams have been able to accomplish so much, and you could be next.

Origen, is a narrative XR piece designed to connect users to the environment through stories from the Indigenous communities that have safeguarded the land of the Amazon rainforest for centuries. Set in an ethereal forest, Origen guides viewers to consider their role in land stewardship and the cause-effect relationship we have with the Earth, while underscoring the importance of intergenerational storytelling.

Emilia Sánchez Chiquetti and the Presencias team were awarded a Unity for Humanity Environment Grant in 2021 to support the development of Origen. Since then, the team has completed the Venice Biennale College and showcased the experience at the 2023 Venice Immersive Festival.

Hear more about Origen from Kent Bye’s Voices of VR podcast interview with Emilia.

Songs of Cultures, a 2022 Unity for Humanity Imagine Grant winner, is an app that uses AR to turn familiar environments into fantastic musical worlds, facilitating the social integration of children and migrant families. The project was developed by Binh Minh Herbst and her company A.MUSE, a female-founded interactive design studio, in partnership with educators and parents.

With an emphasis on fun, Songs of Cultures encourages kids to learn about cultural differences, appreciate their own roots, and expand their horizons through the joy of music.

Explore the app and embark on a musical journey around the world.

2023 Unity for Humanity Community Grant winner, Amaru, is an app that offers a virtual self-care pet to assist users in developing new habits and practices for their mental health. Originally launched in May 2021, Amaru was specifically designed to address the growing mental health crisis by providing tools and resources for improving focus, managing anxiety, and alleviating depression.

Downloaded over 700,000 times and boasting a 4.8 out of 5.0 rating on Google Play, Amaru has won endorsements from mental health and video game nonprofits like Take This, Guardians Mental Health, and Global Game Jam as well as awards from the NC IDEA and Unity for Humanity. Amaru has raised money for the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) and is the focus of multiple studies that indicate the game helps.

While Amaru is currently only available in English, the team is embarking on a campaign to localize the app into more languages to radically expand its access and impact. Check it out today on your iOS or Android device.

For more information on the Unity for Humanity Grant, see the FAQ at the bottom of our Unity for Humanity page. You can also join the Unity for Humanity Community Discord to connect with other social impact creators and find a channel dedicated to answering grant questions. If you’re ready to apply for a grant, submit an application by 11:59 pm PT on January 5, 2024.