Deadline: 15 November 2019
Applicants are invited to submit applications for the Vodafone Foundation Innovation Fund which has been set up to support innovative work that aims to create better outcomes for most excluded and disadvantaged youth.
The Foundation is looking for proven or promising ideas, projects and programs that:
- align with their strategy,
- generate outcomes in one or more of their five keys areas (Youth Justice; Care and protection; Long term beneficiaries; Rangatahi Mäori & Meaningful Learning)
- that are innovative
- that utilize technology in their implementation or dissemination
- The Foundation also interested in digital inclusion projects.
Digital Inclusion Projects
In 2019 the Vodafone New Zealand Foundation is making an open call for projects and ideas that seek to address or change the barriers to digital inclusion for most disadvantaged and excluded young people.
The Foundation is looking to fund interventions, programs, policy change, advocacy and partnership projects.
Funding Information
- Projects Under $50,000
- The Foundation likes to begin most of their funding relationships with grants under $50,000.
- Seed Stage Projects ($1,000 to $10,000 per application recommended)
- ‘Seed stage’ describes early stage ideas and concepts being developed for use in New Zealand. Projects applied for could be research, developing options papers, building relationships, creating a feasibility study, youth co-design, early stage testing of an idea or project, or the adaptation of a successful project for the New Zealand context. It’s focused on exploring ideas and testing their viability before proceeding to a pilot stage. There must be a focus on generating positive outcomes for the most excluded and disadvantaged young people in New Zealand. The Foundation anticipate organizations that are applying at the seed stage plan to apply to pilot the project in the future.
- Pilot Projects ($10,000 – $50,000 per application recommended)
- A pilot project sees a developed and scoped idea put into practice on a small scale. This may involve building a minimal viable product or testing a project/program in the real world. Applicants will actively track measurements and learnings as part of a pilot – both the positive and the challenging. The Foundation anticipates organizations with successful pilot projects would seek to scale the project as the next phase.
- Second Stage or Phase Pilot Projects ($10,000 – $50,000 per application recommended)
- An opportunity to take a pilot project to the next phase before wider scaling. In this phase a pilot project will have already taken place, and the learnings from it might have indicated tweaks and tailoring before it is ready to be rolled out widely. This may involve further development of a minimal viable product or more advanced testing of a project/programme in the real world. Applicants will actively track measurements and learnings – both the positive and the challenging. The Foundation anticipates organizations with successful pilot projects would seek to scale the project as the next phase.
- Projects over $50,000 (maximum of $200,000)
- Innovation Funding over $50,000 is for organizations that already have a proven project or program and wish to increase the scale of their work to enhance the positive outcomes for young people
- Applicant’s organization does not need to have started a project through foundation’s funding to be applicable for funding over $50,000, however successful applicants will likely have an existing relationship with the Vodafone Foundation, or strong evidence of the efficacy of their project.
Criteria
- This is an open, contestable grant round and all registered charities are encouraged to apply. If successful a maximum of 15% of the grant may be used for organizational overheads.
- Successful organizations, if they have completed all reporting requirements, may apply twice in one year. Large institutions, such as Universities may submit a maximum of eight applications per calendar year.
- The majority of successful applications will be those that use technology to implement or disseminate their project and are likely to support positive intergenerational outcomes.
How to Apply
- Projects under $50,000 can apply using online application form.
- Projects seeking over $50,000 should contact Grants Advisor.
For more information, please visit https://foundation.vodafone.co.nz/innovation-fund/