The 2014 Social Innovation Fund grant competition will provide up to $65.8 million to eligible grantmaking institutions seeking to grow innovative, evidence-based solutions to challenges facing low-income communities nationwide. In addition to our focus areas of healthy futures, youth development and economic opportunity, this competition prioritizes applications targeting Opportunity Youth, Vulnerable Populations, Collective Impact approaches, and applications affiliated with presidential initiatives to expand economic opportunity.
 
We have also expanded our eligibility criteria for this competition so that in-network affiliate organizations can apply so long as they are willing to open up their SIF competitions beyond their exclusive networks.
 
Each selected grantmaker will be awarded $1 million to $10 million and will match every federal dollar of the grant award. At least 80 percent of awarded federal funds must be invested in subgrantee programs, who match their grants 1:1 as well. Applicants are strongly encouraged to send a Notice of Intent to Apply by March 24, 2014. Applications are due April 22, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Successful applicants will be notified in August, 2014. 
 

Application Deadline

NOTICE OF INTENT TO APPLY DEADLINE: Applicants are strongly encouraged to send a Notice of Intent to Apply by March 24, 2014.
 
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications are due April 22, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Successful applicants will be notified in August, 2014. 
 

Funding Announcement and Application Instructions

Applicants must read both the Notice of Funding Availability and the Application Instructions to understand the requirements and how to complete an application.

 Resources for Applicants

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions will be compiled and regularly updated. You will find the link to the questions here when they are available.

Webinar/Conference Call Schedule

The Social Innovation Fund is hosting six technical assistance conference calls for potential grant applicants. Calls will be conducted in a standard format that includes a brief overview and a question and answer session. All calls will be recorded. Replay information for each call will be posted following the call.
 
TTA Call 1: NOFA Overview
Date: Monday, March 3 
Time: 3:30 PM EST
Call-in Number: 1-877-668-4490
Participant Passcode: 629 650 681
 
TTA Call 2: NOFA Overview
Overview Call Presentation
Date: Monday, March 10
Time: 3:30 PM EST
Call-in Number: 1-877-668-4490
Participant Passcode: 628 684 047
 
TTA Call 3: Evidence and Evaluation
Time: 2:30 PM EST
Call-in Number: 1-877-668-4490
Participant Passcode: 622 374 039
 
TTA Call 4: Question and Answer Session
Question and Answer Presentation
Date: Monday, March 24 
Time: 3:30 PM EST
Call-in Number: 1-877-668-4490
Participant Passcode: 621 606 631
 
TTA Call 5: NOFA Overview hosted by GEO and Council on Foundation
Overview Call Presentation
Date: Tuesday, March 25
Time: 1:00 PM EST
Call-in Number: 1-877-668-4490
Participant Passcode: 621 838 115
 

Reviewer Outreach

We would like to invite you to participate in the Social Innovation Fund's 2014 grant competition review. As someone who is dedicated to supporting nonprofit work in our communities and shares our goal of expanding the knowledge base of what works (plus how and why), your expertise will be appreciated in assessing the quality and merit of the proposals we receive.

For 2014, the Social Innovation Fund is focused on selecting both program and evaluation experts to review applications. To be granted a Social Innovation Fund award, applicants will have to show they have a well-defined plan, the capacity to select and grow outcomes-focused nonprofit programs that have evidence of effectiveness, and will complete rigorous evaluations of their work.

If this opportunity interests you, please  click here.

SIF NOFA Toolkit

Below you will find a link to the SIF NOFA Outreach Toolkit to help spread the word. The toolkit includes SIF fact sheets, sample newsletter text, sample tweets, links to useful websites, webinar schedules, reviewer outreach information and images. Using the kit, please:

  • Promote the SIF competition to your affiliates via your organization’s newsletter or eblast
  • Encourage qualified members of your network to apply
  • Tweet (or other social media verb) about the competition
  • Consider writing a blog post on your organization’s website or an industry community like Huffington Post, explaining why you think this is an important funding opportunity for the field
  • Consider posting the funding opportunity on your organization’s website during the duration of the competition.
  • Encourage your network to participate in the SIF NOFA Webinars
  • Promote the SIF NOFA External Reviewer opportunity to members of your network that you think would be ideal grant reviewers

You have everything you need in the attached document. We hope we can count on you! 

SIF NOFA Toolkit

 

Further information

Status
Closed
CFDA number
94.019
Contact Email
innovation@cns.gov