Deadline: 19-Nov-21
The Howard County has launched its Transform Howard Innovation Grants Program to promote innovative solutions that cultivate a thriving, equitable, resilient, and sustainable community.
Transform Howard innovation grants provide an opportunity for non-profit service providers and their partners to design and implement forward-thinking, emerging, and creative ideas derived from data-informed, people-driven metrics to build their capacity for serving their neighbors.
In addition, Transform Howard Innovation Grants recognize that collaboration with non-profit partnerships is central to promoting the safety, security, and well-being of all Howard County residents.
Categories
- Reliable & Accessible Infrastructure – Modernization, Technology, or Equity in Digital Access
- Applicants should justify that their innovation uniquely leverages technology. Does the innovation modernize an outdated process? Does the innovation close the equity gap surrounding technology? Is the organization able to sustain technology beyond the grant period?
- Ready & Successful Students – Youth Education and Empowerment
- Applicants who submit in this category should provide ample rationale on why the specific innovation is unique. Has the innovation been attempted before? How will the innovation accelerate a needed solution pertaining to students?
- Thriving & Healthy Residents – Next Generation Storytellers
- Applicants are encouraged to bring forward a social innovation that can have collective impact. As a “Next Generation Storyteller” the innovation should bring forward creative solutions toward complex problems and needs within the community. Has this idea been attempted? How is this different from what other programs have offered before?
- Safe & Engaged – Improving Cybersecurity and Resilience
- Applicants are encouraged to submit innovative ideas that will help to boost cyber security awareness and resiliency within their organization. This innovation should focus on enhancing an organization’s data protection & privacy; breach prevention & recovery, and/or security training & awareness. Does this innovation reduce cyber risk to your organization, county government, or residents within the county?
- Clean & Sustainable Environment – Innovation in Sustainability
- Applicants are encouraged to submit innovative ideas that will help their fight against Climate Change. Whether the idea is surrounding environmental justice, energy, increasing pollinators and trees, does this innovation accelerate Howard County toward an even greater sustainable future?
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must demonstrate that the organization is a 501c(3) and in good standing.
- Applicants must provide direct services to the residents of Howard County. Maryland (if the agency serves a larger geographic area, funding may only be requested for those services offered within Howard County, Maryland).
- Alignment with at least one of the grant categories.
- Organization demonstrates equitable partnerships with other non-profit organizations. Specifically, the non-profit must be able to show the collaboration and willingness of the partnership with other organizations.
For more information, visit https://www.howardcountymd.gov/innovation-grants