Frequently Asked Questions
These Frequently Asked Questions are organized into four sections: About innovation@cfed; About Innovators-in-Residence; About Innovative Ideas and About Innovation Summits.
About innovation@cfed
What are the elements of innovation@cfed?
What is the innovation@cfed learning community?
Will innovation@cfed change over time?
Who is eligible to participate?
innovation@cfed is a strategic initiative that helps those who traditionally struggle in our economy prosper. A national nonprofit, CFED works to expand economic opportunity so people build wealth by saving, getting an education and becoming homeowners and business owners.
innovation@cfed was launched to accelerate the next generation of strategies to expand economic opportunity. We’re looking for great ideas and policies, products and practices that will help Americans build wealth, bring about greater social equity, alleviate poverty and lead to a more sustainable economy.
innovation@cfed has three components: Innovative Ideas, Innovators-in-Residence and Innovation Summits. Under Innovative Ideas we invite you to submit good solid concepts that have the potential to significantly impact economically vulnerable people. We will select ideas to showcase widely and to stimulate discussion and exchange. Innovators-in-Residence will receive financial and technical support in a virtual or onsite CFED residency to refine and grow their innovations to marketable scale or to advance them through expanded real-world application. In the fall of 2009, we’ll host the first of a series of Innovation Summits which will bring together idea champions, innovators, creative thinkers and doers to advance innovations in economic opportunity.
Through innovation@cfed, persons of all backgrounds and interests are invited to engage with CFED and each other around innovative ways to expand economic opportunity. This is the innovation@cfed learning community. Community members from all sectors, backgrounds and places can sign up to receive regular updates and are encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas on the innovation@cfed website, through its blog and by e-mailing to innovation@cfed.
innovation@cfed is intended to not only support innovations in progress, but also to serve as a learning platform for CFED and the community-at-large about how to make innovation happen more effectively. As such, innovation@cfed will grow and evolve over time, as we learn together.
Anyone age 18 years or older is invited to participate in the innovation@cfed learning community and to respond to online invitations. Applicants to become Innovators-in-Residence must be able to work in the United States. Employees of CFED, CFED Board members and their families are not eligible to submit Innovative Ideas or apply to become Innovators-in-Residence.
If you have questions that are not answered in these Frequently Asked Questions, please send them via e-mail to innovation@cfed.org. Questions and answers that may be applicable broadly will be shared (without attribution) here.
If you need technical assistance with an online form, please contact Aaron Watts.
About Innovators-in-Residence
What is an Innovator-in-Residence and does the award go to an individual or an organization?
Can I apply to be an Innovator-in-Residence while I keep my other job?
Must the applicant be available to work out of CFED’s Washington, DC office?
What is the stipend, and how will the stipend be paid?
What are the criteria sought in potential Innovators-in-Residence?
What are the conditions and expectations of an Innovator-in-Residence?
Can a non-U.S. national apply to be an Innovator-in-Residence?
What will the workplan look like?
What will the learning agenda include?
Who will own the intellectual property?
Can a group of two or more persons apply under the Innovator-in-Residence program?
An Innovator-in-Residence is an individual who is prepared to take a proven concept to the next level during the residency period with CFED’s help. You may be a free agent or may be associated with an organization. For example, you may be a staff member of a nonprofit organization or associated with an academic institution. Note: One Innovator position for the Spring-Summer 2009 application cycle is targeted toward innovations in manufactured housing.
- Can I apply to be an Innovator-in-Residence while I keep my other job?
If you are associated with an organization, you must describe in your application how you would propose to coordinate the residency with your employer and your job, and the time you are prepared to commit. Your employer will have to be aware of, and agree to, the expectations associated with an Innovator-in-Residence. It will be up to you to obtain your employer’s written agreement, based on your individual circumstances. Some possible examples include:
Mary works at a nonprofit organization. Mary’s employer agrees that the subject of the Innovator-in-Residence application is in line with its organizational mission and gives Mary permission to dedicate a significant amount of time during the residency period to the innovation work plan. Mary’s employer also agrees that she can spend the amount of time at CFED’s Washington, DC, headquarters and at other anticipated trainings and meetings that Mary lays out in her innovation workplan.
Juan is a faculty member at a university. Juan obtains a sabbatical leave from the university during the residency period to pursue his Innovator-in-Residence workplan.
- Must the applicant be available to work out of CFED’s Washington, DC office?
An Innovator is not required to relocate to CFED’s offices, but must be prepared to devote significant effort to refining and expanding the application of the tested concept. At a minimum, the Innovator will be expected to participate in some face-to-face meetings with CFED in Washington, DC, along with significant telephone and electronic communications. The frequency of meetings and other expectations around communications will be mutually agreed upon between CFED and the Innovator.
The residency period will be arranged between CFED and the Innovator based on the planned development of the Innovation and a written workplan. It will generally be a period of 12 to 24 months.
CFED is committing $50,000 as a cash stipend or equivalent to each Innovator-in-Residence. The agreement signed by CFED and the individual will stipulate how and when the stipend will be paid. A typical payment schedule will be equal monthly installments over the residency period. The stipend is intended to support the Innovator’s ability to work on the agreed work plan, including travel and other expenses to fulfill the expectations of the work plan, such as periodic visits to CFED if the individual is not located in Washington, DC (see Must the applicant be available to work out of CFED’s Washington, DC office?).
The stipend is a grant to the individual, not salary or wages from CFED, and the individual will not be an employee of CFED. Individuals should consult with their tax advisor for information about the stipend’s tax treatment. If the individual is employed (see Can I apply to be an Innovator-in-Residence while I keep my other job?), the employer must agree in writing to the arrangement, and the stipend may then be paid in the form of a grant to the employer organization under certain circumstances.
There are basic criteria for a potential Innovator-in-Residence that include:
- Innovations must have potential to create large-scale/significant impact for low- and moderate-income (LMI) individuals in the U.S., and Innovators must have a well-articulated theory of change.
- Applicants must be able to articulate the value of “embedding” the Innovation at CFED for a one- to two-year period, and describe what will be gained by leveraging CFED’s resources.
- Innovations that link community practice, public policy and/or private markets, and that are closely linked to CFED’s strategic goals will receive special consideration.
Innovators-in-Residence will be expected:
- To work with CFED to develop a detailed workplan with timeline and outcome/evaluation measures.
- To use personal best efforts, along with CFED support, to achieve the objectives of the workplan.
- To develop with CFED a learning agenda appropriate to the Innovation, its goals and its stage of development.
- To share knowledge and lessons with CFED and, in collaboration with CFED, to inform the broader field and public.
The Innovator-in-Residence position is designed for a qualified individual (1) working on an approach that can benefit low-income people in the U.S.; and (2) who is able to work closely with CFED in an in-person or virtual residency. As detailed in another FAQ above ("Must the applicant be available to work out of CFED's Washington, DC office?"), an Innovator is not required to relocate to CFED's offices, but must be prepared to devote significant effort to refining and expanding the application of the tested concept. At a minimum, the Innovator will be expected to participate in some face-to-face meetings with CFED in Washington, DC, along with significant telephone and electronic communications. The frequency of meetings and other expectations around communications will be mutually agreed upon between CFED and the Innovator.
Based on these two requirements, an Innovator is mostly likely to be a U.S. national. A non-U.S. national may apply, however, he/she must be able to demonstrate that he/she is has or can obtain any necessary permissions such as visas and work permits to fulfill the expectations. CFED is not able to assist non-U.S. nationals in obtaining such permissions.
Workplans will be highly customized to the Innovator's concept and may include such varied activities as market research or market development, pilot or market testing, policy development, communications strategies, and more. Workplans can include, but must not be limited to, research. Workplans will include deliverables that reflect real-life application that will achieve significant impact through community practice, public policy and/or market mechanisms.
The learning agenda will be designed to capture data, lessons and other information that can be used by the Innovator and CFED for immediate and possible future uses, such as improvement of the Innovation program design or implementation. Each Innovator's learning agenda will include the development or refinement of a theory of change and logic model. The learning agenda may also include evaluation design or knowledge dissemination strategies.
Innovators and CFED will come to an agreement on ownership of proprietary information, products and techniques developed, refined or enhanced during the residency with CFED, and the appropriate use and protection of intellectual property. As a mission-driven organization, CFED’s intent is to maximize the impact of innovations to the benefit of all Americans. CFED has a longstanding record of widely sharing successful practice and policy, but we also recognize that some business models require protection to ensure their viability.
The Innovator-in-Residence program is designed for an Innovator who is an individual, however if a group of two or more works very closely together on the proposed innovation, you may still apply. One person should be designated as the lead individual on the application. The other(s) in the group should be named and their roles described, either in the body of the application or in one of the permitted attachments.
- How can I apply?
Visit http://innovation.cfed.org/innovators-residence.php for application instructions. When you are ready to submit your online application, go to http://innovation.cfed.org/apps/innovators/. The deadline is 8 p.m. Eastern Time/5 p.m. Pacific Time on April 3, 2009.
- What happens after I apply?
All applications will be reviewed for how well they align with the basic criteria (See What are the criteria sought in potential Innovators-in-Residence?). By April 17, 2009, all applications will have been reviewed and some individuals will be asked to proceed to the next stage by submitting a full application.
- What happens if I am selected to submit a “full application”?
Applicants from whom we are requesting full proposals will receive an e-mail covering the following points:
- Timeline and process for notifying them whether they are selected;
- Full proposal form (as an attachment) and instructions for submitting it by May 1, 2009;
- Invitation to schedule a phone consultation with CFED staff to answer questions and receive feedback on their application; and
- Expectations of Innovators-in-Residence (participation in Innovation Summit, intellectual property arrangement – including examples of types of potential intellectual property agreements, public relations role, etc.).
- What if I am not invited to submit a “full application”?
These applicants to the Innovators-in-Residence program will receive an e-mail informing them that:
- They have not been selected to submit additional information;
- Their innovation will be considered as an Innovative Idea unless they either opted out on their application or opt out by responding to this e-mail.
- How will the final selections be made?
The selections will be made by CFED with input from Strategic Advisors. CFED will review application materials. CFED may ask applicants for clarification or additional information, and interview applicants in person or by telephone. CFED may check references and ask third parties for input about the subject area or the application. Note that innovation@cfed funders may be involved in helping to make decisions as agreed with CFED.
- How and when will I be notified?
On April 17, 2009 we will notify all Innovator-in-Residence applicants of their application status by e-mail.
About Innovative Ideas
How do I submit an Innovative Idea?
Will the idea be shared with others?
Can I nominate someone else’s idea?
May I submit more than one Innovative Idea?
What are some of the criteria that will be used to select Innovative Ideas?
What kind of support will Innovative Idea champions receive?
Is there a learning agenda for Innovative Ideas?
Submit an Innovative Idea using the online form. Submissions must be made by 8 p.m. Eastern Time / 5 p.m. Pacific Time on April 3, 2009.
Yes. The Innovative Ideas program is designed to stimulate conversation, spark creative thinking, and/or inspire working groups about emerging innovations as a way of catalyzing their development.
UNTIL FEBRUARY 17, 2009, you had the opportunity to Nominate someone else’s idea. If you used the online nomination form, you had to identify at least one individual who had worked on the Idea closely enough to describe and champion it. For all nominations received by the deadline, CFED has or will contact the person or persons identified in the nomination to encourage them to submit the Innovative Idea for consideration. Ideas that were nominated but are not submitted by the submission deadline of April 3, 2009 are not eligible for consideration.
Yes. Please use a separate online form for each Idea you submit.
We are looking for
- Good, solid innovative ideas that can expand economic opportunity for significant numbers of low- and moderate-income Americans
- Ideas with great potential impact for particularly disadvantaged populations will receive special consideration
- Ideas that will benefit from increased visibility resulting from selection
- Ideas that cross “silos” and/or incorporate synergies among community practice, public policy and private markets will be given special consideration
- See Selection Criteria.
CFED staff and resources will be committed to working with selected Innovative Idea champions to develop short descriptions for publication and website. Innovative Ideas champions will be invited to play key roles in interactive discussions during the 2009 Innovation Summit and to contribute to a postconference publication. Innovative Idea champions will have the opportunity to provide content and host blogs on the innovation@cfed website and to share and disseminate their innovations through CFED’s website, publications and networks. One of the goals of CFED's support is to help cultivate working groups or communities of practice around these ideas as a way to encourage their evolution.
CFED will monitor the evolution of Innovative Ideas over time, tracking their development and refinement and how their evolution fits with our understanding of the innovation process. Our aim is to facilitate and accelerate dissemination and real-world application of ideas. Understanding how ideas evolve over time, how and to what extent innovation@cfed enhances or expedites their development, and how Innovative Idea champions interact with a larger community will provide feedback that will be used to refine CFED’s work and support for innovation.
About Innovation Summits
What are the Start and End Times for the Summit?
What hotels are offering discounted accommodations?
Will meals be provided at the summit?
Will vegetarian meals be available?
What about participants with special needs?
What is the program and schedule for the day?
What types of people will attend?
Who are the Sponsors of the Summit?
Who is the Summit’s Media Partner?
Will I receive a refund if I have to cancel my registration?
Who may I contact with questions?
The Summit will start at 9am and end at 4:30 pm. From the outset, you will be plunged into exciting interactions with a variety of innovation practitioners from around the country. Don’t miss a minute of this action-packed day! The Summit ends in time for you to catch your breath before travelling only two blocks to the historic National Building Museum where CFED will celebrate its 30th anniversary starting with cocktails at 6:00 p.m. followed by dinner (You can register for both events at the same web address).
The cost is $190.00 per participant. Breakfast and lunch are included.
The cost of the Summit is $190.00 per person. If you have more than five individuals from a single organization, you may inquire about a group rate by emailing innovation@cfed.org
CFED has reserved a room block with special rates at the Hotel Monaco, conveniently located three blocks from the Summit venue. Contact Hotel Monaco at 1.877.202.5411 and reference CFED. You will also receive online hotel reservation instructions with your Summit registration confirmation.
Breakfast and lunch are included in your registration.
Meals will be offered buffet-style with a variety of choices including vegetarian selections.
For participants with physical disabilities or mobility impairments, spaces within Sidney Harman Hall are accessible via elevators. For questions about any special needs, please e-mail innovation@cfed.org so that we may answer your question.
The program will be a high-energy, highly interactive format to engage every participant in creating innovative approaches to expanding economic opportunity. Visit the Web site frequently to catch additional information about the program that will be posted periodically. The full schedule for the day will also be posted there soon.
The Summit will host 250 participants. Space is limited to enhance the interactive experience, so register early to secure your spot!
Participants will include a varied and accomplished group with backgrounds in business, community practice, government, policymaking, the media and more.
Presenters include national innovation leaders . A variety of distinguished individuals from varied backgrounds will serve as topic experts and facilitators. CFED’s recently-announced Innovators-in-Residence and Innovative Idea Champions will present their cutting-edge concepts. And, don’t forget – you, the participants, will be key to creating lasting value from the day.
We are grateful for the support of Sponsors who enable innovation@cfed to present the 2009 Innovation Summit. Please visit Sponsors to read about them. Please email innovation@cfed.org if you are interested in becoming a Sponsor.
We are proud to announce our Media Partner, the Stanford Social Innovation Review. A leader in reporting on and examining social innovation, SSIR provides substantive insights and practical experiences that will help those who do the important work of improving society do it even better. Visit with SSIR’s publisher or editor live, at the Summit!
Cancellations received in writing by October 8, 2009 will receive a refund of paid registration fee less a $25.00 (per registrant) processing fee. Please allow four (4) weeks for the refund check to be processed. No refunds will be made for cancellations received after that date. Please contact innovation@cfed.org if you must cancel your registration.
If you have any questions about the 2009 Innovation Summit or any aspect of innovation@cfed, please email the Innovation Team at innovation@cfed.org.
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