Washington, Carter & Johnson County, TN – Social Innovation Grant Applications for United Way of East TN Highlands are now open.
United Way of East TN Highlands is looking to award up to $40,000 worth of grants and prizes to local nonprofit organizations who are working on innovative solutions to social issues in our community. The Social Innovation Fund was created in 2020 through a private donation that was designated specifically to drive social innovation in the region. It is used to support new programs aimed to meet social needs by filling gaps in our community related to health, education, or financial stability.
Applications are available online at www.unitedwayetnh.org/innovation and are due April 5, 2023. Local non-profits are encouraged to apply and share why their socially innovative program is worthy of, and would benefit from, a $10,000 grant. Finalists will be chosen by our Community Impact Team and invited to participate in our annual Social Innovation Pitch Night event on May 11, 2023, which will be held at ETSU’s Martin Center.
“Social innovation is an exhilarating vision that seeks to leverage more efficient, effective, and sustainable solutions while aiding new programs that address community gaps in critical areas such as health, education, and financial stability,” says Abraham McIntyre, Community Impact Coordinator at United Way of East TN Highlands. “Adopting a bold approach that integrates innovative thinking, collaborative strategy, and creative problem-solving allows us to make a substantial impact in our community.”
This year’s event will feature live pitches from local nonprofit organizations who are looking to innovatively solve problems in our community. The organizations will be pitching to a panel of judges and a live voting audience. The three pitches with the highest number of votes will each be awarded a $10,000 grant!
Three additional grants focused on education will be given out to support our Tennessee Afterschool Network (TAN) organizations. To be eligible to apply, you must be a local nonprofit or community organization serving Washington, Carter, and/or Johnson County, with an innovative program less than two years old. Each organization must be a 501(c)3 or covered under one. More information including 2021 and 2022 grant recipients and the application itself can be found online at www.unitedwayetnh.org/innovation.
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About United Way of East TN Highlands
Serving Washington, Carter, Johnson and Southern Sullivan Counties, our goal is to break the cycle of poverty by uniting people and resources to strengthen the health, education, and financial stability of every person in our community. Our vision is to be a community united to empower every person and organization to reach their full potential and achieve more. For more information about United Way of East TN Highlands, please visit www.UnitedWayETNH.org.