Published On: April 30th, 2019

April 30, 2019—Cambridge, MA

The Cambridge Community Foundation (CCF) has announced its first ever CCF Social Innovation Award, a new competition identifying and supporting the emerging innovators developing solutions to urban problems in Cambridge.

The competition is open to all—individuals, students, groups, entrepreneurs and nonprofits—who are making a difference in the quality of life in Cambridge. Applications are due May 10.

“In a city like Cambridge–an epicenter of innovation and home to socially-minded residents–we know there are original, creative and daring ideas that could, with small resources and light touch interventions, have huge impact in our community,” said Geeta Pradhan, president of the Cambridge Community Foundation. “The CCF Social Innovation Award is an opportunity to fuel these ideas and create a pipeline for social innovators with the next great idea for Cambridge and beyond.”

Applications will be judged by an expert panel of local civic leaders, including Cambridge Mayor Marc McGovern; Mary Ann Bates, executive director of Poverty Action Lab at MIT; Conan Harris, senior vice president of policy and external affairs at College Bound Dorchester;  Risa Mednick, the former director of Transition House; and Lori Lander, artist, founder of Many Helping Hands and CCF Board member.

Awards range from $1,000 to $5,000. Online applications must be received by May 10.  The winner, of $5,000, and two runners-up receiving $1,000 each, will be announced on Friday, May 31, 2019 at a celebration of CCF’s nonprofit partners, Cambridge Community Foundation Salutes: Celebrating 150 Cambridge Nonprofits that Change Lives.

All interested in applying for the inaugural CCF Social Innovation Award should apply online by May 10: http://cambridgecf.org/2019-social-innovation-award/

About the Cambridge Community Foundation:

CCF is the local giving platform for Cambridge supporting our city’s shared prosperity, social equity, and cultural richness, with roots that go a century deep. The Cambridge Community Foundation connects sectors across the community, to highlight emerging and critical needs, and catalyze efforts– from fundraising and grant making, to civic engagement– to ensure resources are focused where they can make the greatest difference.  CCF and its donors distribute $1.3 to 1.5 Million in grants to local nonprofits each year. Last year, CCF supported 150 nonprofits serving the Cambridge community, involved in human services, workforce training, housing, hunger, homelessness, elder services, youth and early childhood services, education, and the arts.