Innovation Fund Partners

The Innovation Fund was launched in May 2009 to encourage multifield collaborative projects that focus on access to healthy food and the built environment.

The Convergence Partnership is utilizing a new approach to national grantmaking by supporting local and regional foundations in creating sustainable local impact. The Innovation Fund provides matching dollars—up to $100,000 per year, for two years—for foundations to engage in two strategies that hold great promise to create healthy places: supporting land use/built environment change and/or improving access to healthy food. The Fund provides resources for grantmakers to support new projects that encourage multifield partnerships in these arenas with a focus on policy and environmental change efforts to promote equity. The Innovation Fund aims to catalyze a shift in foundations’ investments and goals while providing opportunities and incentives for local organizations to shift their efforts. 

Fifteen foundations were selected for their innovation and diversity. The partnership encourages awardees to leverage their funds and to take risks in their grant making, to carefully track progress, and create internal supports to sustain these new programs. The grant recipients reflect a broad range of geographic locations, communities, projects, grantmakers, and partnerships.