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Sustainable Vision grants

technology innovation+scalable commercial potential+social impact

Next Deadline: October 15, 2010

“I realized today that the technology we’ve been focused on is really only a very small part of what we're trying to do."
-Sustainable Vision grantee developing a lifesaving medical device for Bangladeshi villagers without a reliable source of electricity.

NCIIA funds the early development of breakthrough technologies created and commercialized for the benefit of people living in poverty in the US and abroad. Sustainable Vision grants support the creation of sustainable and scalable businesses (non-profit or for-profit) developed by university innovators and their partners as an outcome of curricular & extra-curricular educational programs that engage students in experiential learning.

Sustainable Vision has both a domestic and global focus. To date, 41 grants have been made to innovate, commercialize, and distribute technologies in the US and 30 countries throughout Asia, Africa, and Latin America.  Sustainable Vision supports technology innovations that address basic human needs such as affordable energy, clean water, health and medical devices, agriculture, IT and other income generating tools. Grantees have access to funding and  rigorous venture development support, including workshops, mentoring and a network of advisors, entrepreneurs, faculty and students. Click here to see examples of ventures launched by grantees.
 

Keys to Successful Proposals

  • To receive a grant, the proposal must be based on the implementation of a new technology or the creative application/improvement of an existing technology. Proposals need to describe a plan to create an economically sustainable business that can be scaled and/or replicated to reach substantial numbers of people.
  • Programs should provide experiential learning for the students involved. We favor proposals that create and/or expand curricula and experiential learning opportunities that continue after the grant period.
  • The market and customers that will use the product or service (individual, business, government, NGO) should be identified, and an initial plan for design, manufacturing, marketing, sales distribution and support be defined. Although the business model may well change during and after the grant period, a clear and compelling approach that includes a timeline, resources needed, and key milestones to achieve initial success must be presented in your proposal.
  • The program may begin by addressing needs at a household or community level, but should have demonstrable potential for regional, national, or even global impact. In allocating limited grant resources, grantees with the greatest transformative potential will be favored.
  • Grantees must have defined partners in the communities that they are targeting. These partners may share in the funding, which is disbursed to a US university or college under the supervision of the faculty Principal Investigator. Partners may include other educational institutions, NGOs, government agencies, and individual entrepreneurs.
  • NCIIA notifies applicants of the outcome of their proposal’s review approximately 90-120 days after the submission deadline.

    

 

Learn More

 

Contact Us

Have an idea but not sure it's a fit with the Sustainable Vision grants program? Send a 1-2 paragraph summary to grants@nciia.org and we'll provide you with feedback. Please note that due to high volume, we are unable to guarantee responses for feedback requested less than two weeks prior to the proposal deadline. You may also contact a member of the grants team at 413.587.2172.

Questions? Contact us: grants@nciia.org or call 413-587-2172