Innovation grants 2021: an opportunity for leaders

Whether it is piloting or scaling a new program, service delivery model, social enterprise or developing policy & research for systems change, Innovation Grants are to test, develop and demonstrate new solutions, big or small.

About

Innovation Grants support projects or initiatives aligned with one or more outcomes of the Foundation’s Impact Areas:

• Education & Employment
• Environment & Sustainability
• ​Healthy & Resilient Communities
• Homelessness & Affordable Housing

1. Seed Innovation Grants
Up to $50,000 for one year.

These grants support the researching, testing or piloting of a new idea or approach. This can include:

• Project funding to test, demonstrate, trial or pilot a new concept or idea that will lead to a service improvement or an advance in a major community issue.
• Research funding to build understanding of an area or issue.
• Inform program design or practice, inform policy development and philanthropic investment or identify best practice.
• Funding to support the initial development phase of a social enterprise.

Seed Innovation Grant projects may be considered for a Scaling-up Innovation Grant in future years.​

2. Scaling-up Innovation Grants
Up to $300,000 for two years (maximum of $150,000 per year).

These grants support the expansion or replication of a proven innovation with the potential to be transformative on a broader community or systems level. This can include:

• Piloting or scaling-up a new service model or developing social enterprise.
• Applying a new approach to improving service effectiveness and/or service quality.
• Increasing impact and/or service effectiveness through sharing space or back office support, or other forms of partnership, merger or collaboration.
• Building an understanding of an emerging issue or area through applied research (i.e. research that has application in practice).