The Eisner Prize Fellowship Grant

The Eisner Prize Fellowship, launching on April 24, 2024, supports innovative leaders in intergenerational connection. With a total award of $50,000, the fellowship promotes new projects that connect different generations through research, technology, or programs. Applicants from diverse backgrounds, including students and nonprofit staff, are encouraged to apply. The fellowship emphasizes individual projects, allowing Fellows to execute their ideas within a year, fostering collaboration and creativity in the field.

A recording will be made available following the session.The Eisner Prize Fellowship is a new program designed to support leaders pioneering innovations in intergenerational connection.
Since 2011, the Eisner Foundation has awarded the Eisner Prize to honor people and organizations doing exceptional intergenerational work across the country. In this next phase in the evolution of the Eisner Prize, The Eisner Foundation is providing financial resources, networking opportunities, and the prestige of the Eisner Prize to leaders with new ideas and perspectives that will propel the field forward.
What kinds of project proposals might be successful?
Proposals for new innovations in intergenerational connection will be the most successful. We are open to new programs, research, technology, or any other innovation that intentionally connects different generations in new ways. This is not intended to support existing programs, unless the proposal involves new aspects of those programs. Projects should have goals achievable within a year and with a $40,000 budget. An itemized budget is not necessary at the time of application, but the applicant should present a project scope that can be accomplished within a year and with this level of funding. The project should also be executable by the Fellow themselves – The Eisner Foundation can support the Fellows as thought partners and connectors, but the foundation’s ability to act as research partners or as external capacity for a project will be very limited.
What does the funding cover?
The fellowship includes a total award of $50,000: $10,000 to the Fellow, and $40,000 to use to execute their project. The $10,000 is a stipend and can be used by the Fellow in any way they wish. For those working with an organization, this stipend should be disbursed in addition to the Fellow’s salary, not in partial replacement of it. The $40,000 should be used for project execution of new, defined intergenerational projects, and should not include overhead costs.

Eligibility

The Eisner Prize Fellows application is open to anyone working to innovate in the area of intergenerational connection – whether that be through research, programs, technology, or other efforts advancing the field. Individuals can apply regardless of affiliation.Students, people working in nonprofits, government, or for-profits, or people unaffiliated with any of these are welcome to apply. Please note that the fellowship is for individuals and not intended to serve as a grantmaking program for nonprofits, so while nonprofit staff may apply and execute their project under the umbrella of their organization, the project proposed should be something new, envisioned and executed by the Fellow.Co-leadership teams can apply, but please note that the application is set up for individuals, so applicant teams will have to select one person as the main contact. The award funds would remain the same for each Fellowship, even if it’s awarded to a team.