Focal Point Impact Grant
The Focal Point Impact Grant accelerates ideas with high potential for tremendous impact.
Visionary leaders are often severely underfunded – or the funding available to them is heavily restricted – making it difficult to take risks and try new approaches. Imagine having the financial support you need to test your idea and build a team around it.
The Focal Point Impact Grant exists to accelerate high-potential, innovative ideas by investing in the nonprofit leaders who can bring those ideas to life. The unrestricted grant(s) will support a trail-blazing leader(s) affiliated with a qualified 501(3)(c) seeking new ways to solve difficult problems and improve people’s lives.
The grant is open to nonprofits working in a variety of fields, including public health, medical services, education, and conservation. We want to hear from organizations that have bold, creative solutions to some of the world's most intractable problems. We are looking for leaders with a proven track record of success and a clear plan for how they will use the grant to advance their idea and make an impact.
2025 Impact Grant
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Focal Point Impact Grants are unrestricted one-time grants. Focal Point will be awarding up to $150,000 in 2025.
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Applications must be submitted no later than Friday, January 17, 2025 at 5:00 PM CST
Fifteen applicants will be invited to answer additional questions before final interviews in March.
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Applicants must be affiliated with a qualified 501(3)(c) whose work is based in the United States
Applicants must have a proven track record of success, which may include:
Lived experience
Professional and/or academic experience
Program/evidence base on which the idea builds
Proposed ideas must fall into one of the following categories:
Health, Healthcare, Medical Service
Human Services, e.g. Food/Housing Insecurity
Conservation/Environmental Services
Education
Workforce Development
The following types of organizations are not eligible for funding:
Political organizations
Advocacy or public awareness campaigns
Organizations on which current Focal Point board members serve on the board
What is Focal Point?
Focal Point is an organization whose vision is for lives and communities to be transformed by world-changing ideas. Our values include:
Fostering Innovation
We honor the legacy of this organization, founded in 1961, by continuing to invest in leaders pursuing innovation in their field and helping their work gain new attention, audiences, and relevance.
Developing People
We recognize that ideas are advanced by strong leaders, and we strive to remove barriers and build the capacity of the leaders in whom we invest.
Practicing Stewardship
We are committed to being good stewards of the resources entrusted to us, operating with a focus on efficiency while recognizing the inherent risks of pursuing innovation.
2024 Impact Grantees
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Addressing Serial Sexual Assault on College Campuses
Callisto leverages cutting-edge encryption technology to address serial sexual assault on college campuses. This technology is now available to everyone in the U.S. with an active .edu email address. Over 21 million people have free access, but not everyone is aware this tool exists.
“Callisto’s technology is most impactful as more survivors know about it. Focal Point’s support is helping us expand our outreach throughout the U.S. to find more survivors of sexual assault.”
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Glaucoma in the MidSouth: intersection of race, genetics and artificial intelligence
At the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, scientists are exploring whether variants of a specific gene are associated with glaucoma, and if those variants differ by race in glaucoma patients from the MidSouth. The team is analyzing patient data and will use AI to predict glaucoma progression. Ultimately, the goal is to understand the specific genetic architecture that may impact different racial groups’ predisposition to this disease and alter their response to treatment.
Donate Now
Established in 1961, Focal Point invests in leaders pursuing innovation in their field by facilitating connections and financial support that allows non-profits to try new things, while recognizing the inherent risks of pursuing innovation.
Ways to give:
Online (Link Below)
Mail (PO Box 9427, Metairie, LA 70055)
Planned Giving Portals (EIN 72-6027411, Metairie, LA 70055)
EIN 72-6027411