UWGNB Innovation Challenge Grant

Overview

United Way of Greater New Bedford (UWGNB)

Vision statement

We envision a region where all people have access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.

Mission statement

We mobilize people, partnerships, and resources to catalyze change that strengthens the communities we serve.

Innovation Challenge

United Way of Greater New Bedford (UWGNB) has been investing in the South Coast since 1953, mobilizing resources to build stronger, more connected communities. Through our work, and the work of many similar organizations throughout the country, we know that families with high quality, affordable early education and childcare solutions are more successful in their professional lives, and by extension, their potential for economic mobility improves. Experience during the pandemic added to our knowledge by showing that disruptions in early education and care solutions result in caregivers leaving the workplace with devastating effects on their families, their employers, and the region as a whole. Thus, investments in early childhood development and education solutions enable families to begin building generational wealth and, through their efforts, lift the region.

Most of the organizations in Greater New Bedford providing social services are focused on day-to day operations and sustaining existing programs. They often do not have time, opportunities, or resources to take a step back and consider new approaches to strategically address their challenges by exploring new ways to do their work with greater efficiency or impact. Increased state funding should supplement immediate operational needs in the early education and childcare sectors, and UWGNB wants to give local organizations the wherewithal to seize this moment to address their innovation challenges to make long-lasting, system-wide changes. Ideally, organizations will work collaboratively to experiment, pilot, and test new ideas and approaches that can lead to breakthroughs in the wellbeing of preschool age children and, by extension, their families.

Specifically, UWGNB is offering the Innovation Challenge to support innovative, collaborative projects that link access to early childhood education and care to increasing economic mobility for caregivers. UWGNB defines an “innovative” approach as a novel solution that is more effective, efficient, collaborative, and/or sustainable than current solution(s).

Projects chosen will be experimental in their outlook, seeking to learn from both their successes and mistakes. Projects selected for the Innovation Fund might include:

* Reimagining the design of a program or services
* Building capacity within an organization or across the sector
* Leading cross-sector collaborations

Funding

Applicants may apply for up to 3 years of funding, with one year of funding guaranteed and funding in year 2 and year 3 dependent on the achievement of project milestones. Applicants may apply for up to $100,000 in total. Collaborative projects can apply for up to $175,000.

Eligibility

_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._

* The following organizations and projects will be eligible for funding:
* Non-profits, public entities (e.g., schools, hospitals, government, etc.), and for-profits with a social mission; collaborative projects are encouraged.
* Applications that seek funds for capital expenditures.
* Applications that seek funding for multiple years.
* The project must benefit one or more communities within the United Way of Greater New Bedford service area.
* We serve a total of nine communities, including: New Bedford, Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Freetown, Marion, Mattapoisett, Rochester, and Wareham.

Ineligibility

* The following are not eligible for funding:
* Applications for political purposes, religious purposes, or programs requiring religious participation.
* Applications that seek support for established programs, programs’ loss of another revenue source, fundraising expenses, or debt reduction.
* Funding for organizations with programs or activities that are incompatible with the mission of the UWGNB.
* Applications that do not serve or benefit the Greater New Bedford community.