Gift of Innovation
Looking for solutions for your nonprofit?
Dupaco’s Gift of Innovation is a grant program that offers innovation sessions for eligible nonprofit organizations to grow operations and capacity.
Application deadline: November 15 at 11:59 p.m. CT
Innovation is key for nonprofits to flourish
Dupaco’s Gift of Innovation, powered by The Innovation Lab, is offering up a variety of innovation sessions for eligible nonprofit organizations (up to $40,000 in value). It’s all about boosting your operations and capacity, ultimately impacting the communities and people you serve.
Details & eligibility
Want to apply? Here’s what you need to know...
Applicant will be eligible for consideration of a grant if they meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Applicant must have an active 501(c)(3) status.
- Applicant must be 501(c)(3) public charity that is not a supporting organization or unit of state, local or federal government (e.g., public library, public university).
- Applicant resides and operates in Dupaco Credit Union’s charter area:
- Iowa: Any county
- Illinois: Carroll, Jo Daviess, Rock Island, Stephenson, Whiteside
- Wisconsin: Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Lafayette, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Walworth, Waukesha
- Applicant agrees to abide by the program award timeline.
- Applicant submits a completed application in accordance with the procedures.
To be considered for a grant, an applicant must:
- Meet the stated eligibility criteria.
- Submit a completed grant application at the link below.
- Provide any supplemental information needed to substantiate that the applicant meets the application requirements.
- Agree that the organization has the capacity to commit the resources required for the Innovation Session(s) and timeline of the award.
- Receive a grant if the application is approved pursuant to the Credit Union’s grantmaking selection process.
Grantmaking preference will be given to organizations that operate in the cities where Dupaco maintains a physical branch office. Eligible grant applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Organizational readiness and capacity to participate in innovation sessions
- Level of impact the session would have on the organization and their service to individuals and the community
- Level of impact the session would have on individuals served (e.g., improved service, new service, increased number of people served)
- Organization’s stated needs fit well with the proposed process and expected outcomes of session.
- Quality of the application (clearly stated, feasible, and appropriately focused detailing how the session would impact their organization)
Dupaco Credit Union’s community impact team will review applications and confirm that applicants meet the eligibility criteria. A committee made up of the credit union and our partner, The Innovation Lab, will review and make final approval of award winners.
Applicants may, at the discretion of the Credit Union, be given an opportunity to provide additional information to supplement their application. The Credit Union strives to promptly notify any applicants who are not eligible to receive a Grant due to a failure to meet the eligibility criteria.
The Credit Union anticipates applications will be reviewed and acted upon within eight weeks of submission, however this timeframe may vary based on the time of year and number of applications being submitted. Applicants will be notified by email whether their application was selected for an award.
Ready to innovate? Apply today
All grantmaking decisions are subject to the discretion of Dupaco Credit Union. Grantmaking decisions are final and may not be appealed. Dupaco anticipates awarding grants up to $40,000 in value. The actual number and total value of these awards may vary based on the applications received and the interest in specific sessions.
Innovation sessions
From half-day sessions to a full year of capacity-building services, we’ve got you covered
If you’re selected to receive a grant, the team will work with you to help determine the appropriate session for your needs!
| Session Type | Value | Overview | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half-Day Innovation Session | Value of $1,500 | A quick, effective service that engages diverse stakeholders in a memorable experience, producing 2-3 actionable strategies. | • Engages 12-50 stakeholders • In-person or virtual • Helps create 2-3 “winning” ideas |
| Full-Day Innovation Session | Value of $3,000 | All the benefits of the half-day session, plus a deep dive into implementation planning—perfect for creating new ideas and an action plan to drive a program, marketing or operational strategy. | • Engages 12-50 stakeholders • In-person or virtual • Helps create 2-3 “winning” ideas AND actionable implementation plan |
| Two-Day Strategic Session | Value of $5,000 | An innovation-focused process that creates practical strategic plans, offering a fresh alternative to traditional methods. | • Engages 6-40 stakeholders • In-person or virtual • Results in highly actionable ideas AND strategic plan with implementation steps |
| One-Year Capacity Builder | Value of $10,000 | During the one-year process, we’ll deliver a tailored combination of services to help you build a more sustainable organization. We’ll map out a process with the nonprofit at the start of the program. | • Engages 6-40 stakeholders • One-on-one coaching and strategy discussions • Goal setting with the board and key stakeholders • Group innovation sessions • Business development sessions • In-person or virtual • Results in highly actionable ideas and strategies PLUS metrics, all focused on impact and sustainability |
