I applied to Side Hustle Syndicate a while ago (this past year) through their official inquiry form, hoping for support in restarting my art practice after a long and difficult creative pause brought on by the pandemic. Unfortunately, I never received a reply—not even an acknowledgment that my application had been seen.
Since then, I’ve discovered that the grant's creator has not posted updates or engaged with the community since 2022. After some further digging, I learned that the program is run solely by one individual, not a review committee. This means that any decisions made—whether to support, ignore, or deny an applicant—can be heavily influenced by personal bias without oversight.
In my case, I believe a personal history with the grant provider influenced their silence. There was no transparency, no communication, and no recourse for fair review. That lack of accountability is harmful, especially to creators reaching out in good faith for support and community connection.
If Side Hustle Syndicate is still active, I hope it will consider implementing a more inclusive and transparent review process. At the very least, applicants deserve acknowledgment and clarity—especially when they've shared deeply personal stories in their applications.
For others considering applying: be aware that the process may not be impartial and that there is currently no committee to ensure fairness.
— Anonymous Applicant, Artist & Creator
Over 1.8 million nonprofits and charities for donors, volunteers and funders
8 Pageviews Read Stories
- EIN 82-4337779
- 584 Richards Rd Columbus OH 43214-3744 USA
- Add to Favorites