The Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Innovation Grant is designed to support the development, startup, and/or launch of innovative programs that advance the FCS Body of Knowledge and expand the impact of FCS professionals in improving individual, family, and community well-being. This one-year grant provides funding to catalyze new ideas, creative approaches, and forward-thinking solutions that respond to emerging needs, trends, and opportunities within FCS-related fields.
The purpose of this grant is to:
- Encourage innovation in program design and delivery;
- Support the creation or launch of new initiatives, not continuation of existing programs;
- Expand the reach and relevance of FCS in contemporary contexts;
- Promote interdisciplinary collaboration and applied practice; or
- Generate scalable and sustainable models that can be replicated or adapted.
For the purposes of this grant, an “innovative” program is one that demonstrates one or more of the following characteristics:
- New or Novel Approach: Introduces a fresh idea, method, or model not previously implemented within the applicant’s organization or community
- Creative Problem-Solving: Addresses an identified need or challenge in a unique or nontraditional way
- Emerging Trends or Technologies: Incorporates new technologies, research, or practices relevant to FCS fields
- Interdisciplinary Integration: Combines multiple content areas of FCS or connects FCS with other disciplines (e.g., health, technology, education, workforce development)
- Expanded Access or Reach: Engages new or underserved audiences in meaningful ways
- Transformational Potential: Has the capacity to significantly improve outcomes, practices, or systems
- Replicability and Scalability: Can be adapted or expanded for broader use beyond the initial implementation