SCORE believes that advancing clearer, more impactful pathways from education to work requires innovative partnerships between education, community, and industry. More innovation is needed in the education-to-work space to accelerate a student’s path from education to a career that enables economic independence and success. At our Future Forward Summit, SCORE announced the launch of a new education-to-work grant and fellowship: the Future Forward Innovation Grant.
Grant Overview
Recipients of the Future Forward Innovation Grant will receive up to $75,000; get one year of strategic consulting from SCORE to design, implement, and evaluate their pathway program; and participate in a cohort-style learning fellowship.
This grant will help stand up the design and/or implementation of innovative education-to-work models that support students on pathways to high-demand, high-wage careers. These models must be:
- Student-centered: The pathway must create an accelerated opportunity for students to earn an “impact credential,” that is, a credential that data show offers a clearer pathway toward a high-wage, high-demand career.
- Market-driven: The pathway must be developed with an employer or industry partner to meet a specific workforce need.
- Education and employer partnership: The pathway must be created through collaboration among K-12, postsecondary education, workforce training, and/or community partners working alongside an employer or industry partner.
Ideal grant applicants may come from the education field, nonprofit organizations, government, or industry. Applicants may be individuals or organizations in the early stages of envisioning an innovative education-to-work pathway program for their community or they may have an established program they are prepared to bring to the next level. Applicant teams that incorporate partnerships across education and industry are highly encouraged.
Ready to Innovate? Apply Today!
Applications for the Future Forward Innovation Grant are now open and will be accepted through April 11, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. CT. Please review the application and contact us at innovationgrant@tnscore.org with any questions.
Watch the Future Forward Innovation Grant Webinar
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have additional questions, contact SCORE at innovationgrant@tnscore.org.
Who can apply?
Applicants can be individuals or organizations from education (K-12 or postsecondary), industry, and nonprofit organizations. Grants can only be awarded to the partner that is a not-for-profit entity. If you are a for-profit entity, we encourage you to identify a not-for-profit partner.
Are all applicant partners required to be identified by the application deadline?
At the time of submission, you should have at least one partner committed to launching or scaling the pathway program. You may add additional partners later, as needed.
Are applicant partners required to be in Tennessee?
The students impacted by SCORE’s grant must be Tennessee students. This means that the pathway must be serving Tennessee students. Industry partners may be based out-of-state but have a presence in Tennessee.
Where is the application? What is the best way to submit it?
The application is available on the grant landing page on our website. When you click on the application, it automatically downloads to your device. The budget template is accessible via a hyperlink in the application document. We recommend you access and complete these documents on a computer or tablet rather than a mobile device. Submit the completed application and required appendices to innovationgrant@tnscore.org by the deadline.
Does the grant only support a new program?
Grant recipients must be launching a new program or scaling an existing program. Grants will not be awarded to existing programs to supplement their budget and support their existing student body.
How many students must the pathway serve?
SCORE does not have a requirement for the number of students served. This grant is meant to spur innovation and generate proof points, which could mean piloting a pathway with a small number of students initially. In other words, no program is too small if it has potential to make a large impact.
How do you define student?
SCORE is dedicated to catalyzing transformative change in Tennessee education so that all students can achieve success. The students engaged in the pathway program can be up to age 24. While pathways are not required to exclusively serve a special population of students, applicants should include whether any special populations of students will be served by the pathway. In addition, applicants should explain why the target group of students currently lacks access to this opportunity.
Are there parameters regarding industries for these pathways?
SCORE is agnostic to the industry as long as the accelerated pathway leads to high-demand, high-wage degree or credential. “Accelerated” means a student can more quickly and seamlessly earn the credential than currently possible. (Learn more about impact credentials.)
Are grant recipients required to participate in the fellowship?
Yes.
Are all fellowship convenings mandatory?
Yes. There are four in-person convenings for the fellowship and grant recipient teams must attend all convenings. We anticipate three convenings will be held at the SCORE office in Nashville, and one convening will be held in another community in Tennessee.
Is participation in mentorship mandatory? What types of mentors are available?
Yes. To support the successful launch and scale of the pathway programs, SCORE will match grant recipient teams with a mentor based on their individualized needs. Mentors, including some who are on the selection committee, have expertise in education, industry, entrepreneurship, government, policy, business/finance, partner engagement, student success, operations, and more.
In addition to the fellowship convenings and mentorship, what can grant recipients expect from SCORE?
Grant recipients will meet monthly with SCORE via Zoom to discuss progress and tackle challenges. Twice during the grant year, grant recipients will also submit a grant report and budget.