Thousands of skilled freelancers in developing countries struggle to get hired. They have talent but no way to prove it. Without access to industry tools, they can’t build projects, showcase their skills, or stand out to employers.
The FCDC Tool Jam changes that. Every month, 10 freelancers get access to a tool, use it to complete a real-world project, and publish a case study that proves their expertise.
The best projects win cash prizes, while all participants walk away with a portfolio piece that can open doors to internships, clients, and full-time roles.
For software companies, sponsoring an FCDC Tool Jam allows you to make a real impact. You’ll support a BIPOC community doing grassroots work in developing countries, get your tool into the hands of active users, and gain published case studies showing how your product solves real problems.
How does the FCDC Tool Jam work?
1. First, we find a sponsor
Your company sponsors the FCDC Tool Jam for one month. The sponsorship fee of £3,000 GBP covers:
- Cash prizes for the winners
- Full promotion of your sponsorship across FCDC channels
- Publication of case studies showcasing your tool in action
Your brand will be featured prominently throughout the month and in all promotional materials.
2. Next, we equip participants with your tool
We select 10 talented freelancers from our community of 4,000+ professionals, prioritizing recent graduates from FCDC cohorts. Each applicant submits a proposal explaining the following:
- The problem they want to solve
- An outline that includes how they’ll use your tool to solve the problem
- What success will look like
Once selected, participants receive full access to your tool for one month.
3. Participants build real-world projects
Over the month, participants work independently to complete their projects. They use your tool to solve practical problems and demonstrate workflows.
Participants will also have access to:
- A private Slack channel: For collaboration, questions, and progress updates
- Your AMA session: A 15–20 minute “Ask Me Anything” where you can introduce the tool, share tips, and answer questions
4. Submit case studies that showcase your tool
At the end of the tool jam, participants submit a case study outline covering:
- Problem statement: What challenge did they aim to solve?
- Tool application: How was your tool used to address the problem?
- Results and impact: What outcome did the project achieve?
The top three projects win cash prizes, and all winning case studies get published on the FCDC website with a “Sponsored by [Your Company]” tag.
Winners are also required to include:
- Screenshots, visuals, or code snippets to demonstrate their project
- Clear documentation of how the tool enabled their success
What type of submissions are we looking for?
Here are some examples of what we’re looking for:
- Gus Pelogia: How to use Screaming Frog + ChatGPT to map related pages
- Success Olagboye: Keyword Cannibalization: What it is and how to fix it
- Luke Harsel: Finding SERP Weak Spots: A Guide to Improving Your SEO Rankings
- Joshua Hardwick: How to find and fix broken links
The ideal submission incorporates the tool as part of a larger workflow to solve a problem the audience faces.
5. What do you get from sponsoring the FCDC Tool Jam
Sponsoring the FCDC Tool Jam is your chance to show your tool’s impact while supporting BIPOC talent.
Here’s what you get:
Brand visibility:
- 4 social media posts (Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram) highlighting your sponsorship
- 1 special newsletter sent to the FCDC community
- “Sponsored by” tag on all published case studies
- Featured mention in the FCDC Tool Jam Champion announcement at the end of the year
Real-world use cases:
- Case studies become evergreen content showcasing how your tool solves real problems
- Participants build projects that demonstrate clear product workflows, not hypothetical use cases
Community engagement:
- AMA session: 15–20 minutes to introduce your tool and answer questions from our community of nearly 4,000 members
Lasting brand impact:
- Show your commitment to supporting BIPOC talent in developing countries
- Empower your users to become brand ambassadors for your software
How much do winners get?
To attract top talent, we offer cash prizes for the best projects:
- First place: £500
- Second place: £300
- Third place: £200
Winners also get the opportunity to publish their case studies, boosting their visibility with potential employers.
Annual FCDC Tool Jam champion
Community members can enter the monthly competition as many times as they like. The participant with the most wins throughout the year earns the title FCDC Tool Jam Champion, an additional £1,000 GBP, and recognition across the FCDC community.
What sponsors need to know
Tool access:
Sponsors provide tool access for 10 participants during the tool jam. Access can be limited to the project period or extended if desired.
Product feedback:
While participants aren’t required to submit formal feedback, AMA sessions often spark valuable insights.
Participants will share their experiences, challenges, and suggestions, offering sponsors a window into how their tool performs in real-world scenarios.
Since the AMA sessions are open to the entire community, you can also do a product demo of new features and get feedback from members to improve the feature before a full launch.
What participants need to know
Ownership of work:
The case studies will be co-owned by FCDC and the sponsor. Participants retain ownership of their project work, while sponsors can use case studies for marketing and promotional purposes.
Technical support:
Participants are expected to familiarize themselves with the tool. Sponsors aren’t required to provide technical support, though the AMA session can help participants get started.
Payment of prizes:
Winners must provide valid tax information before receiving prize money. All prize payments will be processed within two weeks of the tool jam’s conclusion.
Why sponsor the FCDC Tool Jam?
- Showcase your tool: Get real-world use cases built by skilled freelancers solving practical problems.
- Support global talent: Empower BIPOC freelancers in developing countries to build careers and gain recognition.
- Boost your brand visibility: Reach an engaged community of almost 4,000 professionals through multi-channel promotion.
- Own the story: Co-own published case studies and highlight them on your platforms.
Ready to sponsor the next tool jam?
Fill out this quick form, and we’ll get in touch.
Want to pitch us a project?
Fill out this pitch form, and we’ll get back to you
Chima Mmeje
Chima Mmeje is a senior content marketer for SaaS companies. She has over 7 years of experience creating thought leadership content for brands like Wix, Remitly, and Guru.
Chima founded The FCDC in 2022 as a UK nonprofit with the primary goal of removing roadblocks that prevent BIPOC marketers from earning top dollar for their skills.
