Impact at GCSF is not just about numbers; it is about people and places transformed. In a village in Ghana’s Volta region, our grant allowed a cooperative of seamstresses to shift from synthetic fabrics to locally grown cotton dyed with plant pigments. The project reduced imports, revived an old craft and increased incomes. In Rotterdam, a fellowship alumna organised monthly climate‑storytelling nights that now attract hundreds of participants, sparking a city‑wide commitment to plant more trees. On a Caribbean island, a Climate × Culture Lab co‑designed an art installation that became a coral‑reef regeneration site. These stories illustrate a consistent pattern: when you invest in creative people and their communities, you create ripples that lead to greener economies, healthier societies and stronger identities.

Our impact data back this up. Since launching, we have funded over 30 projects across six regions, trained 200 young creatives, supported 15 prototypes with environmental benefits and helped dozens of projects secure follow‑on funding. We track the emissions saved by upcycled fashion lines, the number of fair‑wage jobs created, the audiences reached by our educational materials and the policy changes our dialogues influence. Each metric is paired with the human stories that make the numbers meaningful.

Every project we support maps onto multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Our food‑sovereignty grants tackle hunger (SDG 2) while empowering women (SDG 5) and protecting biodiversity (SDG 15). Our digital‑access programmes address industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9) and reduce inequalities (SDG 10). Our labs create jobs (SDG 8) while exploring renewable energy (SDG 7) and climate action (SDG 13). We are explicit about these connections because the SDGs provide a common language for ambition and accountability. In a world where only around one‑third of SDG targets are on track, we use our platform to accelerate progress by demonstrating that culture is a lever for systemic change.

Our impact is multiplied through collaboration. Municipalities host our public events and provide venues; embassies co‑finance residencies and help with visas; corporations contribute expertise and resources in areas like supply‑chain management and digital platforms; universities conduct research and evaluation. We take pride in building partnerships that are more than transactional—each one is a meeting of values and goals. For instance, our partnership with a West African airline enables us to support artists’ travel while the airline works on reducing its carbon footprint; our collaboration with a Dutch pension fund funds our fellowships while informing the fund’s own impact‑investment strategy. These relationships ensure that cultural sustainability is embedded across sectors.