Innovation Fund

Geographic Scope: United States and Global South; worldwide

Focus Areas:

• Grassroots organizations using solar energy to address social and economic disparities
• Scalable and precedent-setting solar energy projects
• Solutions addressing energy inequity in underserved communities
• Multifaceted solar applications (education, water access, transportation, etc.)

Funding Goal: Raise at least $1 million over 12 months from launch

Purpose:

• Support current Honnold Foundation grantee partners to scale and expand their work
• Fund new grantee partners with innovative solar solutions
• Address the identified $90 million funding gap for potential projects

Geographic Examples:

• Indian Himalayas
• Ecuadorian Amazon
• Memphis, Tennessee (USA)
• Navajo Nation (USA)

Partner Requirements:

• Grantee Partners must be scalable and precedent-setting
• Must demonstrate how solar can address global energy inequity
• Community-centered approach

Funding Sources:

• Sunrun committed $50,000 as matching funds (December 2021)
• Additional donations sought through fundraising
• Foundation working to identify values-aligned corporations and foundations for matching gifts

Background:
Launched in partnership with Sunrun (nation's leading home solar provider). Sunrun has prior partnership history with Honnold Foundation through Community Fund (launched September 2020).

Application Process

Call for Applications: Opened January 2022

Applications welcome from:

• Community-based organizations serving marginalized communities
• Organizations in the U.S. and around the world
• Both new and existing Honnold Foundation partners

Application Details: Specific application materials and step-by-step process details not provided in source material.