This has been a great week for grants and other opportunities. I hope it’s a sign of good things to come. Yesterday I noticed that the Bush Foundation is offering Community Innovation Grants. It sure seems like broadband could be a part of some innovative community projects. I don’t know more than what they’ve posted online but it could be worth pursuing. Near the bottom they allude to a second opportunity for communities that are really on top of their innovation game. So there’s something for communities at all places on the innovative spectrum…
The Community Innovation Grants support innovation through community-powered problem-solving: inclusive, collaborative processes focused on making the most of community assets. We think of this as civic R&D, allowing communities to develop and test new solutions to community challenges. …
We welcome projects starting at all points along the path of creating innovative solutions, from identifying a community need or opportunity all the way through testing a new idea. We imagine that community-powered problem-solving projects may include things like community engagement, capacity-building, or piloting new solutions.
Take a look at these project examples to get your creative juices flowing.
Program Basics
- Grants range from $10,000 up to $200,000.
- You may identify and define your community. This could be a geographic community (e.g. a neighborhood, town, state or Native nation) and it could be an affinity or racial/ethnic community.
- We are not prioritizing any specific issues and instead are open to projects that address all sorts of needs and opportunities. In addition, projects can be at various stages of the problem-solving process including identifying the need or opportunity, generating ideas, building capacity or solution testing. Proposals can focus on one area or span multiple stages.
- Bush Foundation staff will work with grantees to agree upon the appropriate grant period for their project. We anticipate most grants will use their funds within two years.
- The first round of applications in 2013 are due on Thursday, July 11, 2013 at 5 p.m. CDT. Our second round will open in December of 2013. Starting in 2014, we expect to offer two grant rounds each year.
- We are currently developing a small grant version of the Community Innovation Grants program for projects up to $10,000. More information about this program is coming soon!
Have you already achieved your community innovation and you’re looking for recognition and creative capital? Consider applying for the Bush Prize for Community Innovation.
(Spoiler alert – the Bush Prize can be up to $500,000!!)