The F. M. Kirby Foundation has announced the recipients of its inaugural Innovation Engine Grant Program, awarding three organizations $300,000 each, to be distributed over the course of three years. In sum, the Foundation is committing $900,000 to these pioneering new approaches. The recipients — Adirondack Community Foundation, Braver Angels, and Prevention is Key — were selected from a competitive pool of current Foundation grantees for their innovative programs that expand impact and fulfill unmet needs, while maintaining organizational focus.
The Innovation Engine Grant Program represents the Foundation’s commitment to supporting strategic growth among its nonprofit partners. Inspired by the “Twin Engines” model developed by researchers Ann Mei Chang and Laura Lanzerotti, the initiative encourages organizations to balance proven solutions with bold innovation to maximize their social impact.
“These three organizations exemplify what we initially envisioned when we created the Innovation Engine program,” said Foundation President Justin Kiczek. “Each recipient has developed a thoughtful approach to expanding their reach while staying true to their core mission. They’re not just scaling what works — they’re reimagining how to address persistent challenges in their communities.”
The Adirondack Community Foundation will use its grant to implement its current project, Strengthening the Adirondack Region Safety Net, an initiative that addresses fragmented social services across New York’s vast North Country. By fostering cross-sector collaboration and developing innovative delivery models, the program aims to create a more accessible and resilient system of care for vulnerable residents in one of the state’s most geographically challenging regions.
Braver Angels, known for its work bridging political divides, will launch the Citizens Commission on Immigration, applying its proven depolarization methods to immigration policy. The ambitious project brings together grassroots participants, policy experts, and members of Congress to build consensus on immigration reform, with plans to deliver a unified Report to the Nation in 2027.
Prevention is Key will establish the Morris County Respite Center, expanding beyond traditional prevention and recovery services to offer comprehensive support that upholds dignity and promotes holistic wellness for vulnerable individuals. The center represents a significant evolution in the organization’s approach to community care, addressing gaps in existing services while building on proven prevention and harm reduction strategies.
Each selected organization demonstrated how their proposed initiatives complement rather than duplicate existing work, showing clear pathways to sustainability and measurable impact. The Foundation’s evaluation process emphasized innovation, organizational alignment, and potential for lasting change. From a pool of 40 applicants, the selection process narrowed 11 semi-finalists to five finalists before choosing the three winners. The other two finalists also presented compelling models: the Morris County Organization for Hispanic Affairs proposed a Wellness Community Center to provide low-cost, culturally appropriate health services to Spanish-speaking residents without insurance, while the Greater Easton Development Partnership designed the Easton Marketplace Innovation Hub, a dual-site business incubator supporting neighborhood entrepreneurs with community facilities and a downtown showroom.
“What excites us most about these projects is how each organization identified unmet needs and developed creative solutions that extend their impact,” Kiczek noted. “The Adirondack Community Foundation is tackling service delivery across a challenging geography, Braver Angels is applying their expertise to our most contentious policy debates, and Prevention is Key is expanding their model of care in ways that serve people more comprehensively. We congratulate all three organizations and thank them for their commitment to this inaugural grant program.”
The Innovation Engine Grant Program was launched in April 2025 with applications due in May. The Foundation reviewed proposals using established evaluation rubrics and conducted finalist interviews in the fall before making final selections. The program is designed as a supplement to regular Foundation grants and operates independently from annual funding decisions.
Applications were open exclusively to current F. M. Kirby Foundation grantees with budgets between $250,000 and $4 million. The Foundation intends to continue the grant program in 2027, dedicating 2026 to fostering collaboration among winners and highlighting their evolving programs. The Foundation will announce the 2027 application window in late 2026. Interested grantees should monitor the Foundation’s website and social media for updates.
