Open to any individual or start-up with a well-formed idea, an emerging nonprofit, or a well-established nonprofit with a new program, Future Fund Grant applicants should...

• have a vision for tackling pressing social challenges

• be innovative and resourceful

• have a 501c3 or have applied for a 501c3

• impact Guilford County

Anyone in Guilford County passionate about delivering breakthrough social impact can apply. Your primary focus must be to have a significant impact on the county. If improving our community is part of your life’s journey, we’re here to help you realize your mission. We are looking for people and organizations with great ideas!

Additional Notes:

There are no restrictions based on size, budget, or age of the idea/program/organization; however, participants must have 501(c)(3) status, have applied for 501(c)(3) status, or obtain a fiscal agent to receive any awards. If 501(c)(3) status is not granted within 12 months of the Future Fund Grant, any prizes will be forfeited.

Applicants may employ revenue-generating strategies for some or all of their income.

Participants must be individuals and are expected to fully engage in the program and be open to advice and coaching by business and community leaders. Multiple people cannot participate on behalf of an idea/program/organization.

There is no cost to participate in the program.

If you are serious about pursuing a great idea and growing or leveraging an organization that builds social value, you will want to be a part of our Future Fund community. If you are accepted, the worst-case scenario is that you will acquire professional marketing assets and experience great networking opportunities, excellent coaching on your positioning and pitches, a better understanding of the rich social nonprofit landscape that already exists in our region, and the opportunity to participate in our vibrant Alumni community. The best-case scenario is that you get all of that, plus, win a cash award, accolades, and tons of free publicity. In short, given the exposure and experience, everyone involved with Future Fund comes out as a winner!

Applications are available in the Fall of each year. Read carefully through all the information on this website and the online application when it is available. Be sure to check that the Important Dates work with your schedule. Submit your application online before the deadline. Don’t forget to submit your video with a google drive link and emailed it to info@futurefundgso.org.

All applications will be reviewed by a Selection Committee from the Future Fund. Based on the applications and possible follow-up research, the Selection Committee will invite ten (10) applicants to participate.

Participants will be selected based on the following criteria:

• Innovation (originality of concept or design)

• Sustainability (ability to be maintained on an ongoing basis; environmental impact)

• Impact (influence on the community, residents and target group)

Through the Future Fund 10 program, the nonprofit participants have the opportunity to share their compelling work with the community and gain:

• Valuable strategic advice and resources

• Greater confidence and effectiveness when making pitches

• Opportunities to cultivate long-term, cross-sector relationships with sponsors, businesses, other nonprofits, and community leaders

• Access to new donors and funding opportunities

• Exposure to a large audience, a strong social media community, and potential volunteers

• Professional marketing and communications advice and assets (photos, videos and signs)

• One year membership to the Guilford County Nonprofit Consortium

• A succinct and compelling pitch

• Membership into the Future Fund 10 Alumni Network.

Absolutely! Future Fund 10 does not select participants based on their public speaking talent. Our program is designed to give every participant the support, encouragement, tools, and strategies to not only develop, but deliver a compelling three-minute pitch.

NO! All participants will receive an orientation to the Future Fund 10 program, as well as a practical workshop on delivering an engaging three-minute pitch. Our coaching teams provide individualized support, encouragement, feedback, and strategies to help each participant develop an effective, compelling, and memorable pitch.

Like all leadership development programs, Future Fund 10 is a time commitment. Our program schedule is intentionally developed to give participants and their coaching teams ample time between sessions to incorporate feedback and practice, practice, practice! Is it worthwhile? Of course!  This program is designed to increase exposure, connections to new donations and volunteers, potential cash awards, and clarity of purpose.

No. Future Fund 10 is designed for nonprofit ideas/organizations. We know that great social entrepreneurs can also adopt for-profit or L3C models, but our competition is limited to nonprofit organizations to ensure that all of the ideas can be evaluated on a comparable basis.