The Tow Foundation Launches Historic $1 Million Innovation Fund
NEW CANAAN, CT – The Tow Foundation is committing up to $1 million to support groundbreaking, early-stage initiatives through the creation of a dedicated Innovation Fund.
Launching today, the Innovation Fund is focused on three issue areas affecting children and their families: mental health, early intervention efforts in schools, and public health approaches to reducing gun violence.
Grants awarded will be flexible, multi-year and include technical assistance. Applications will be accepted starting immediately through *January 28, 2022 at 11:59pm EST via a simple online form. Applicants may choose to answer the form’s questions using either written or video responses. Grant recipients are expected to be announced in the spring of 2022.
In the interest of advancing racial equity, the Innovation Fund seeks organizations that are working alongside historically marginalized communities; have Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) leaders or demonstrate a proven commitment to incorporating BIPOC leadership; and address the needs of communities.
A committee of experts, including directly impacted community members, will be assembled to review Innovation Fund applications and make grant recommendations. Current applicants will not be eligible to serve on the review committee.
The Tow Foundation’s core geographic focus remains New York and Connecticut, but this special initiative will accept applicants from a total of six states in which Foundation board members currently reside: California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
While the Innovation Fund presents an exciting opportunity for the Foundation, entrepreneurship and a commitment to supporting new, innovative projects have been central pillars of the Foundation’s grantmaking since its founding.
“This fund expands the reach of The Tow Foundation’s work with its open call for applications and use of an outside review committee of experts,” said Emily Tow, president of The Tow Foundation. “Our board is excited to support novel and untested ideas from communities that have not traditionally been eligible for our funding.”
“We’re thrilled to be supporting fresh solutions to such critical social issues,” said Frank Tow, board vice president and leader of the Foundation’s Innovation Fund. “Any organization with a bold idea, whether they’ve been in the field ten weeks or ten years, is encouraged to apply.”
*EXTENDED DEADLINE: February 28, 2022 at 11:59pm EST
For questions about the Innovation Fund or joining its review committee,
please contact:
innovation@towfoundation.org
For media inquiries, please contact:
Ryan Yoch
Senior Communications Associate
ryan@towfoundation.org
203-594-4134