We are excited to announce the winners of the 2025 F. M. Kirby Foundation Innovation Engine Grant Program. This year’s cohort represents a diverse group of visionary organizations dedicated to addressing critical social, health, and educational challenges with bold, scalable solutions. These finalists exemplify innovation, impact, and community-centered approaches, and we look forward to supporting their efforts as they advance toward final selection. The full list of finalists and semi-finalists is also included below.

Winners:

Adirondack Community Foundation
Strengthening the Adirondack Region Safety Net
Adirondack Community Foundation’s social safety net initiative strengthens and streamlines essential social and health services for vulnerable residents across New York’s North Country. By supporting cross-sector collaboration and innovative delivery models, the initiative works to expand access and build a more resilient regional system of care.

 

Braver Angels
Citizens Commission on Immigration
The Citizens Commission on Immigration is a bold national initiative by Braver Angels that applies proven depolarization methods to one of America’s most contentious issues. By involving grassroots participants, policy experts, and members of Congress from the outset, the project aims to build near-unanimous consensus on immigration reform and deliver a unified Report to the Nation in 2027.

 

 

Prevention is Key
Morris County Respite Center
Morris County Prevention is Key’s new Respite Center will expand support for vulnerable individuals by offering essential services that uphold dignity and promote holistic wellness. Building on the organization’s prevention, recovery, and harm reduction work, the center marks a vital step toward more comprehensive, compassionate community care.

Finalists:

Greater Easton Development Partnership
The Easton Marketplace Innovation Hub
The Easton Marketplace Innovation Hub is a dual-site business incubator designed to move neighborhood entrepreneurs toward regional market success. Combining community-based facilities with a high-traffic downtown showroom, the program supports over 40 entrepreneurs annually and offers a replicable model for inclusive, place-based economic development.

Morris County Organization for Hispanic Affairs
Wellness Community Center
The Wellness Community Center provides low-cost, culturally and linguistically appropriate wellness services to underserved communities, with a focus on Spanish-speaking residents. Designed to reach those without health insurance, the program promotes accessible, inclusive care that addresses critical health and wellness needs.

Semi-Finalists:

CoHome
Mainstream Housing Model: A Blueprint for Inclusion
Cohome’s Mainstream Housing Model will transform its award-winning Miller residence into a fully accessible demonstration site for inclusive living. With upgrades, educational programming, and a replication toolkit, the initiative aims to meet national demand and expand Cohome’s innovative model across communities.

Episcopal Preaching Foundation
The Continuing Education, Networking and Support Program for Licensed Lay Preachers
The Continuing Education, Networking and Support Program will establish the first comprehensive support system for lay preachers in the Episcopal Church. Through the new Episcopal Lay Preaching Network, the program will provide continuing education, mentorship, and online resources to strengthen lay preaching and ensure long-term impact.

New Jersey Theatre Alliance
Theatre and Health Bridge Project
The Theatre and Health Bridge Project, launched in January 2025, was developed to provide opportunities for our member theatres to offer artist residencies to patients of various units of care at two medical centers. These residencies, which focus on the power of storytelling and other theatre-based techniques, provide a creative and healing outlet for patients. The Alliance’s vision for scaling up this program, in collaboration with member theatres, is to build new partnerships with medical centers and community health organizations across New Jersey to provide artists residencies to a growing number of patients of various units of care, as well as healthcare workers at these institutions.

North Carolina Arts in Action
Arts in Action Academy
North Carolina Arts in Action’s Arts in Action Academy is a new professional development program that trains early-career teachers in movement-based strategies to boost classroom engagement and reduce attrition. By transforming its proven pedagogy into a scalable model, NC AIA aims to support educators, reach more students, and strengthen its long-term impact.

Reach Out and Read
The Newborn Dose
The Newborn Dose is an innovative hospital-based initiative from Reach Out and Read New Jersey that introduces shared reading and early bonding to families starting on day one. By integrating literacy guidance and book distribution into newborn care routines, this program strengthens parent-child relationships, promotes early learning, and lays the foundation for lifelong literacy success.

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey
The Theatre Caravan
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey’s Theatre Caravan is a new summer tour bringing accessible, high-quality classical theater to diverse communities across the state. Through free or pay-what-you-can performances, the program aims to break down barriers to the arts and foster lasting community connections.

 

Honorable Mentions:

Students 2 Science, Empowering STEM Teachers

Lake Hopatcong Foundation, Discover, Data, Drones

The Growing Stage Theatre for Young Audiences, Beyond the Curtain

Innovation Engine Origin

The F. M. Kirby Foundation is committed to advancing social change through impactful partnerships, strategic innovation, and investment in thoughtful programming. Central to this commitment is the concept of “Twin Engines” — a dynamic model that emphasizes two key drivers: scaling proven solutions and fostering innovation. Inspired by the research of Ann Mei Chang & Laura Lanzerotti, profiled in the article entitled, Twin Engines for Propelling Social Impact, this approach ensures that organizations not only sustain their efforts but continuously evolve to meet the demands of an ever-changing world. 

At the Foundation, we believe that the most effective way to drive lasting impact is by supporting organizations that balance innovation with scalable action. By cultivating partnerships and investing in forward-thinking “Engine No. 2” initiatives, we empower nonprofits to maximize their reach, deepen their influence, and propel their organizations forward in the future. The Twin Engines model aligns closely with our values, focusing on enhancing organizational capacity while encouraging bold, creative approaches to problem-solving. 

The Foundation partnered with our friends at the Center for Advancement of Social Enterprise (CASE) at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business on a four-part webinar series focused on the idea of maximizing impact through innovation and collaboration. Find links to each webinar and a comprehensive resource page below.

Together, through our support of this dual strategy, we help organizations build on their successes while innovating for the future. We are proud to partner with those committed to meaningful and sustainable social impact, ensuring that today’s challenges are met with tomorrow’s solutions.