Questions raised during and after the June 7, 2012 webinar, and the answers to them.

1.
Innovation
Fund
Post-­‐Webinar
Questions
&
Answers
Revenue Criteria
1. Can
the
1/3
match
be
made
by
the
umbrella
organization
to
which
the
applicant
is
connected?
a. Perhaps.
If
the
umbrella
generally
subsidizes
its
subsidiary,
then
such
support
would
not
qualify
as
a
match.
However,
a
special
allocation
from
the
umbrella
to
the
subsidiary
so
that
the
proposed
initiative
can
be
executed
would
qualify.
In
other
words,
support
needs
to
be
over
and
above
normal
transfers
and
specifically
allocated
for
the
proposed
project
Program Content and Geography
2. We
are
an
international
NGO
with
an
office
in
US.
The
office
was
established
last
year
but
the
NGO
has
been
in
existence
since
1995.
Are
we
eligible
to
apply?
a. Yes.
The
10
year
requirement
is
designed
to
demonstrate
continuity
in
the
delivery
of
program,
and
not
the
establishment
of
the
US
based
nexus.
3. We
are
an
organization
that
looks
to
innovate
its
funding
stream
by
having
the
government
of
the
country
take
over
the
funding
many
of
service
delivery
costs
we
have
historically
covered.
Is
this
a
viable
proposal?
a. Generally
speaking,
we
would
not
consider
cost
shifting
to
governments
be
a
viable
proposal.
That
would
not
be
an
innovation
with
a
focus
on
market
or
quasi-­‐market
partnerships
for
social
problem
solving
at
sustained
and
scalable
levels.
4. Can
we
use
the
grants
for
projects
that
will
improve
resource
mobilization
and
contribute
to
sustainable
revenue
(such
as
those
that
raise
an
organization’s
visibility
or
improve
efficiency)?
a. Simply
improving
visibility
would
not
qualify.
However,
improved
efficiency
gets
a
“qualified
yes.”
If
by
improving
efficiency
you
are
freeing
445 DOLLEY MADISON RD., SUITE 208, GREENSBORO, NC 27410• 336-376-7710 MAIN • 336-851-0410 FAX • innovation@afgg.org EMAIL • www.afgg.org WEB

2. up
resources
that
will
be
allocated
to
diversify
revenue
then
yes.
To
create,
build,
or
support
a
nonprofit
fundraising
team
or
effort,
no.
5. If
we
are
a
re-­‐granting
organization
to
grassroots
groups
in
the
developing
world,
could
we
qualify?
a. Generally
speaking,
regranting
does
not
qualify.
If
you
are
essentially
acting
as
a
US
based
fiscal
agent,
and
the
grassroots
group
is
an
independent
freestanding
organization,
then
you
as
the
U.S.
based
organization
could
apply
on
behalf
of
the
organization
for
funds
to
implement
that
organization’s
proposal.
6. If
the
project
is
based
in
the
US,
but
involves
and
benefits
program
participants
who
live
in
developing
countries,
is
that
use
of
funds
eligible?
a. Yes,
if
the
benefits
are
in
the
developing
world.
7. We
are
a
US
based
organization
that
trains
college
students
in
all
aspects
of
small
enterprise.
They
carry
out
their
small
enterprise
on
college
campuses,
and
the
profit
they
generate
is
allocated
to
a
US
-­‐based
development
organization
that
uses
microfinance
to
support
small
enterprise
among
rural
women
farmers
in
Africa.
Is
this
a
model
that
would
fit?
a. If
the
focus
of
the
organization’s
proposal
is
the
benefit
to
the
work
the
NGO
is
accomplishing
for
rural
women
in
Africa
and
the
US
program
is
simply
a
way
of
contributing
to
that,
the
model
would
fit.
If
the
focus
of
the
proposal
is
on
the
benefit
to
the
US
based
programs,
then
it
would
not
fit.
There
would
also
need
to
be
demonstrated
that
the
profit
is
necessarily
allocated
to
the
microfinance
fund,
that
it
is
built
in
to
the
process,
and
is
not
simply
a
voluntary
grant
on
the
part
of
the
US
based
organization.
8. We
design
a
product
that
is
built
and
used
in
the
developing
world.
We
are
generating
funds
for
our
work
in
the
developing
world
by
starting
a
program
to
sell
our
product
in
the
U.S.
Would
this
US
effort
count
if
all
the
revenue
is
used
to
fund
our
work
in
the
developing
world?
a. If:
a)
funds
from
US
sales
are
truly
creating
a
new
source
of
revenue,
and
a
grant
will
not
simply
cause
a
reallocation
of
funds
that
would
otherwise
support
domestic
program;
and
b)
revenue
is
necessarily
used
to
support
program
outside
the
US,
then
the
proposal
would
meet
the
guidelines.
9. Is
global
biodiversity
conservation
eligible
under
the
Environment
category?
a. Yes.
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3. 10. Does
the
Health
critical
area
include
mental
health?
a. Yes.
11. If
the
US
based
organization
is
helping
artisans/
artisan
groups
in
developing
countries
gain
access
to
new
markets
for
their
work,
is
that
eligible?
Would
the
fund
provide
support
for
several
pilot
situations
helping
artisans
gain
access
to
new
markets/speciality
retailers,
etc?
a. This
is
well
within
the
intent
of
the
innovation
fund.
12. Whether
the
mission
to
advance
freedom
of
information
and
expression
in
support
of
democracy
and
democratic
institution
building
would
qualify
for
this
RFP?
Would
the
fight
against
impunity
in
crimes
committed
against
human
rights
and
freedom
of
expression
defenders,
including
journalists,
qualify
for
this
RFP?
a. Within
its
five
areas
of
focus,
the
Innovation
Fund
defines
its
current
priorities
in
the
developing
world
as
follows:
i. Global
Health,
with
specific
reference
to
health
systems;
ii. Education,
with
specific
reference
to
sustained
broad
access
to
basic
education
among
all
disadvantaged;
iii. World
Relations,
with
specific
reference
to
entrepreneurial
effort
and
job
creation
in
conflict
areas
of
the
world;
iv. Environment,
with
specific
reference
to
access
to
clean
water;
v. Poverty,
with
specific
reference
to
innovations
in
increasing
family
incomes,
small
and
micro
enterprise
strategies.
Policy
work,
advocacy,
or
projects
to
advance
a
cause
in
public
opinion
or
government
policy
corridors
are
not
qualified
for
Innovation
Fund
grants.
13. Can
you
make
up
of
an
example
of
an
ideal
project
that
meets
the
requirements?
a. There
is
no
ideal
project.
More
important,
we’re
confident
that
applicants
and
the
creativity
they
bring
to
the
problems
they
face
will
fashion
initiatives
that
meet
our
criteria
better
than
any
hypothetical
we
could
offer
up.
That
said,
the
following
is
a
relatively
clear,
if
unimaginative,
example
of
an
initiative
that
meets
our
criteria.
An
organization
in
the
clean
water
space
is
working
in
five
villages.
It
believes
it
has
developed
a
technology
that
can
turn
the
provision
of
clean
water
into
a
business.
It
has
a
plan
to
make
that
happen
but
it
needs
is
a
beta
test
in
two
villages
to
determine
the
skills
and
capabilities
that
are
needed
to
execute
the
plan
and
to
finalize
(because
the
Fund
is
Page 3 of 4 |

4. targeted
at
the
go-­‐to-­‐market
phase)
revenue
structure
that
both
enables
entrepreneur
profit
and
(if
required)
payment
back
to
the
originating
technology
owner
via
fees
or
licenses.
They
are
seeking
funding
for
a
beta
test.
This
would
qualify.
Application Process
14. In
regards
to
the
organizations
not
chosen
as
finalists,
will
they
have
the
opportunity
to
receive
a
critique
of
their
proposals?
a. Yes.
Other
15. Can
you
help
clarify
your
definition
of
"innovation"
i.e.
are
you
focusing
on
new
methods
of
fundraising,
or
to
help
our
organization
expand
into
a
new
fundraising
method
for
us?
a. By
innovation
we
do
not
mean
the
improvement
of
traditional
philanthropic
grant
acquisition.
We
are
really
talking
about
social
finance
and
the
investment
in
medium
sized
non-­‐profits
to
make
them
able
to
play
on
this
social
finance
field,
and
thus
provide
some
needed
stability.
16. How
do
you
define
social
finance?
a. It
is
everything
from
program
related
investment
to
impact
investing.
There
are
many
different
aspects
to
social
finance.
What
it
generally
means
is
strategies
that
have
the
ability
to
reach
markets
or
quasi
markets
in
a
reliable
way
to
generate
profits
for
social
problem
solving.
17. Will
this
opportunity
be
offered
only
once,
or
will
it
be
offered
again
in
the
future?
a. Yes.
Plans
are
for
this
to
be
an
ongoing
offering.
June
15,
2012
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