Network Innovation Grants

The Switzer Fellowship Network is one of the Switzer Foundation’s most important assets. The Foundation seeks to tap this diverse Network’s collective potential for innovation and action to solve today’s complex environmental issues.  (Click here for a downloadable pdf of the RFP for this program.)

The Switzer Network Innovation Grants Program intends to create a pathway toward environmental innovation that starts with sharing ideas that will lead to action and results. Through these collaborative grants, the Foundation will help Fellows test and improve their thinking with input from the Network, provide funding to concepts that seem most promising, and have Fellows share results and invite further feedback. Initial ideas are evaluated by staff and shared with the Network to generate further interest.

Through this program, we invite Fellows to work together, and with their personal networks of colleagues and organizations, to engage in shared learning, convening, collaboration and ultimately “breakthrough” thinking and action.

Sample ideas include:

  • Organize a spring retreat or study tour with tangible goals.
  • Follow up on a past retreat topic, such as Central Valley water issues, river restoration and downtown revitalization in New England, or others.
  • Convene or collaborate with Fellows to address a specific environmental policy or technical challenge you or your organization are tackling.
  • Organize a panel of Fellows to present at a conference or other high-profile meeting.
  • Organize a group of Fellows to start an affinity group to write a collaborative document (e.g., white paper); develop/enhance a website, video or podcast; develop a survey or other research tool, analyze and disseminate results; or develop curriculum and materials and conduct training for Fellows.

Program Criteria/Process:

  1. Interested Switzer Fellows should send a one-page (500 word) description of your concept to staff (Lissa Widoff or Erin Lloyd), or any of the trustees listed below.  The submitted description should describe how you would like to use and tap the Switzer Fellowship Network to advance progress on an issue, project or policy initiative in which you are engaged.  Fellows may also send concepts to the Switzer listserv if you want to seek partners or solicit feedback from others first (contact Erin if you need assistance with the listserv).
  2. Be willing to have your idea vetted by other Fellows for input and to gauge Network interest.  (Post your idea to the blog and send a link to the listserv.  See blog post instructions below, or contact Lissa or Erin for assistance.)
  3. Be willing to take some leadership role in advancing progress on your identified issue and indicate how you would be willing to help or lead this effort.
  4. If funding is needed, indicate estimated funding needs and whether there is a partner organization or fiscal agent you would be able to work with.
  5. If non-financial support is needed, indicate what kinds of resources or help you need.
  6. If there is an optimal schedule for this concept, or any known dates of relevance, please indicate.
  7. Budget/funding:  we realize that a fully developed budget is not realistic at this stage, and we would like to encourage Fellows to bring forward the problem you would like to solve, or ideas that you think would truly benefit from the resources of the Switzer Network, regardless of budget detail.  A typical funding range might be 0 - $15,000.

We hope to fund a few concepts with strong Network interest and potential for impact on an issue and will work with Fellows and our respective networks to creatively facilitate outcomes.

To find other Fellows:

  • Search the Fellow Directory using keywords or geographic fields;
  • Use the search function on the website (top right of screen);
  • Contact Lissa or Erin for suggested contacts, or Don Brackett for a customized group list.

To share and post your idea on the blog:

  1. Log in to the Switzer website (contact Don Brackett if you need assistance with this).
  2. Go to the blog page, enter your project idea, tag "Switzer Network Innovation Proposals" and other topics relevant to your post.
  3. Copy the link of your blog post into a message to the listserv and invite Fellow feedback on your idea (contact Erin if you need assistance with the listserv).

Deadlines:

Proposals and ideas may be submitted at any time, with the exception of proposals for spring retreat topics.  All proposals will be considered on a rolling basis.  

To Apply:

Inquiries should be directed to any of the following.  Specific instructions for applying will be discussed during inquiry process.

Inquiries may be directed to:

Click here for a downloadable pdf of the RFP for this program.

Click here for the Application Cover Sheet

Please note the Switzer Network Innovation Grants Program is replacing the Switzer Collaborative Initiatives Grant Program.