Blue Ridge Foundation: $150k for nonprofit web strategy experimenting

Nonprofits are known for being long on mission and short on technology strategy. The Blue Ridge Foundation wants to help fund a change with its new Digital Prototype Opportunity.

The focus is to fund two organizations that focus on ‘upward mobility’ and want to experiment with online strategies. B

An expression of interest is due Sept. 17th. Two projects will be selected. Selected organizations will receive approximately $150,000 worth of funding and in-kind support:

• $50,000 in funding from the Blue Ridge Foundation, to pay for hiring or re-assigning a staff member to serve as project lead
• Office space and strategic support in the Blue Ridge Foundation incubator on Court Street in Cobble Hill.
• Technological development (most likely, a new tool) built by ThoughtWorks
• Design support from students and faculty at Parsons

The project website has lots of detail for potential applicants, including some possible examples. In order to be considered, the idea must meet the following criteria:

• Take place at a New York City nonprofit
• Build on existing work
• Yield a solution that contributes to factors that promote upward mobility among low-income people
• A demonstrated ability to implement the project.

The Digital Prototype Opportunity is offering a 15-30 minute conversation with the Expert In Residence to discuss ideas with the first 20 organizations that submit expressions of interest. On September 18th, there will be a Kickoff Workshop to discuss ideas and final applications will be due Oct.4th.