Deadline: 7-Jan-22
Applications are now open for the BRIDGE Spark Accelerator Programme, a six-month grassroots civic engagement accelerator building multiracial, progressive change in Texas.
BRIDGE scours the state for talented, passionate community organizers, activists, and technologists with innovative civic organizing ideas who are driven to make a meaningful change in their community.
BRIDGE uplifts Cohort members as they lead local-focused, data-driven evergreen progressive infrastructure projects. Working side-by-side with founders, their team helps them hone their plans, test their ideas, measure their impact, solve problems, navigate challenges early, and co-design progress with their community.
Benefits
During the Spark Accelerator, BRIDGE provides:
- $100,000 seed and assisted grant funding so founders can focus on the work, pay themselves, hire staff, and grow their impact quickly;
- Weekly one-on-one coaching sessions specializing in areas like field strategy, data, advocacy, fundraising, leadership development, organizational culture and design, operations, and finance;
- Monthly group workshops with talented trainers & facilitators to build leadership, organizing, advocacy, and nonprofit management skills;
- Comprehensive back office support supporting operations, accounting, financial management, and fundraising record keeping from professional accountants and CPAs;
- State and federal compliance and organizational formation support from experienced attorneys;
- Exclusive leadership dinners with unprecedented access to current and former Executive Directors and Founders, coalition leaders, major donors, and movement thought leaders;
- Talent bank access for hiring top-tier organizers, advocates, technologists, fundraisers, nonprofit professionals, and consultants across the state; and,
- Alumni support collectively shaping the future and evolution of the progressive movement in Texas.
Requirements
- BRIDGE has intentionally designed the Spark Accelerator application process to be simple and broad to encourage innovative, experimental, and imaginative solutions. You know your community best, so they want to hear your ideas, projects, and missions to engage more Texans.
- Must Haves (Required)
- A measurable civic engagement solution, which could be voter engagement, voter registration, voter education, progressive issue advocacy, leadership development, political technology, data management, a ballot proposition, or other base building strategy;
- An early-stage venture or an idea for a new impactful project. There is a spectrum of startup experience applicants will apply with and they are excited to welcome concept ideas through implemented programming in the startup stage;
- Plan on forming a nonprofit organization, including 501(c)(3) and/or 501(c)(4) entities, a for-profit venture (service or product focused), or work in coalition with other established organizations; and,
- Full-time participation commitment from every founder and co-founder accepted to Spark. This is an intense program and it will take your entire focus for the six months.
- Would Be Nice (But Not Required at Application)
- Always building base by inviting new voters, volunteers, and community members into the work;
- A passion for grassroots infrastructure building, transparency, radical feedback, continual improvement, accountability, and shared learning;
- Laser-focused on programs and data but able to see the bigger vision; and,
- Find co-founders to share responsibility and lean on each other when times get tough. Solo founders are welcome, but should be prepared to accept the additional challenges of this model.
- Must Not (Restrictions)
- No political candidate, political party, elected official involved projects or collaboration;
- Cannot form a Political Action Committee; and,
- No founder may run for political office during Spark.
For more information, visit https://www.bridgeinfrastructure.org/spark