Telluride Foundation: $50M Innovation Prize

06 Nov Telluride Foundation: $50M Innovation Prize

The Telluride Foundation announces a $50,000 Innovation Prize. A new grant opportunity for creative ideas about improving the Telluride region.

Do you have a great idea that would benefit the Telluride community? Ever wanted to implement a project that would make living, working, or visiting Telluride even better, but you lacked the necessary funding? Now is your opportunity to put that idea out there. How? By entering the Innovation Prize contest. If selected, you will receive a $50,000 grant which should put you on the road towards making your idea a reality.

The Telluride Foundation is a nonprofit, community foundation committed to preserving and enriching the quality of life of the residents, visitors, and workforce of the Telluride region. In support of that commitment and building on Telluride’s entrepreneurial and innovative culture, the Foundation will be awarding this grant, in the form of a “prize,” for an idea that will improve the quality of life of its franchise.

“The Telluride Foundation wanted to create a process for surfacing and discussing local issues and creative solutions,” said April Montgomery, Vice President of Programs at the Telluride Foundation, “We hope the Innovation Prize will engage the community, as well as local and non-local organizations and experts, in the exchange of breakthrough ideas, programs, and/or approaches.”

The Innovation Prize is intended to solve a real problem for real people by implementing a validated solution as opposed to supporting a planning process or design that could lead to a solution.

The contest is open to any team made up of individuals, organizations, nonprofits, businesses, and/or government/taxing entity. However, applicant teams must include at least one 501(c)(3) or government/taxing entity, which will serve as the fiscal agent and accept prize funds.

The Telluride Foundation will award the winner a prize, up to $50,000, over the course of a year to implement the proposal. The winner will be chosen by the Foundation’s Grants Committee, with input from on-line public comments and the audience in attendance at the final pitch event on March 15, 2017.

The proposal must have measurable outcomes and demonstrate benefit or success in a category similar to, but not limited to the following: transportation, economy, inclusion/diversity, health or healthcare, energy, or government efficiency.

Proposals will be reviewed based upon the following criteria: innovative, impactful, inclusiveness, and validation.

The complete guidelines, criteria, application and more information can be found here. 

The deadline to apply is January 15, 2017 5 p.m.(Mountain Time).

More about the Telluride Foundation:

The Telluride Foundation exists to create a stronger Telluride community through the promotion and support of philanthropy. It is a nonprofit, apolitical community foundation that provides year-round support for local organizations involved in arts, education, athletics, charitable causes, land conservation, and other community-based efforts through technical assistance, education and grant making. As a grant maker, The Foundation awards grants to qualified applicants who serve the people living and working in the Telluride area for the purpose of enhancing the quality of life within the region.

For more information on the Telluride Foundation, visit www.telluridefoundation.org.