Social Innovation Grant Program in the US

Deadline: 12-May-22

The New Jersey Office of Faith-Based Initiatives (OFBI) is inviting applications for its Social Innovation Grant Program to eliminate barriers to funding and other resource opportunities, create greater access for partnership, and enhance the capacity of faith and community-based organizations (FBCOs) to create and implement innovative approaches that are designed for community and economic transformation.

Program Information

College Readiness Program
- The College Readiness grant is designed to create greater access to college targeting the ages between 16 years and 65 years.
- Funding can be used but not limited to subsidizing a minimum of 5 college applications fees, college acceptance fees, coordinating college tours, and completion of the student’s FAFSA application.
- The project must report on how many college applications were submitted, how many program participants were accepted and how many will be entering college in the Spring and/or Fall of 2023.
Youth Entrepreneurship
- The Youth Entrepreneurship grant is designed to develop skills and strategies that equip youth that attend middle school or high school.
- The goal is to promote entrepreneurial literacy among at-risk youth and to help each start his/her own business.
- OFBI funds can be used to provide start-up capital (cannot exceed $500 per business idea).
- The organization will steward the startup capital for program participants.
- Organizations applying for this grant must indicate in the application which existing youth entrepreneurship curriculum will be used and why was it chosen.
Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM)
- The STEM grant will create opportunities for at-risk youth to creatively explore career pathways in STEM fields.
- The goal is to provide high-quality STEM programming that encourages students to incorporate STEM learning in their everyday lives, academic careers, and professional endeavors by providing hands-on experience and education in low-income communities.
- An organization applying for this grant must use relevant, real-world applications of STEM content and involve professionals within the STEM fields as part of the program delivery.
- Activities may include but are not limited to fashion design, arts, coding, robotics, astronomy, STEM conferences, gaming, etc.

Funding Information

College Readiness
- Maximum Request: $20,000
- Total Funding Available: $140,000
Youth Entrepreneurship
- Maximum Request: $15,000
- Total Funding Available: $60,000
S.T.E.A.M.
- Maximum Request: $15,000
- Total Funding Available: $75,000
The funding period is from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicant must:
- Applicants must be a non-profit Faith and/or Community-Based Organization serving low-income residents;
- Applicants must be tax-exempt by determination of the Internal Revenue Service by Section 501(c)(3) and upload their IRS Determination Letter that states that the organization is created for charitable purposes and not for religious purposes;
- Applicants must be registered with the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs and have a valid Charity Registration Number and be in Compliance with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Charitable Registration, and Investigation Section
- Be registered with the NJ Department of Treasury – Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services and must have a valid Business Revenue Number;
- Be in Good Standing with the Department of Treasury – Business Service Center
- Applicants must have their Certificate of Incorporation.

Ineligible Applicants