A life fulfilling approach to living with dementia
2023 Innovation Programs Grants
The Foundation’s Innovation Grants Program seeks, supports, and sponsors authentically engaging community programs and activities exemplifying the I’m Still Here
Principles
Innovation Grants the ISH Foundation has supported and intends to support through this RFP reflect truly innovative engagement programs that employ arts, culture, animals,
music, community activities, physical exercise, intergenerational programs, and other activities that help people living with dementia (PLWD) flourish and feel fulfilled.
The Innovation Grants Program favors activities that use community resources to engage persons living with dementia and their care partners, wherever they reside. Outreach
to underserved individuals and communities are particularly welcome. We welcome programs that reduce the community stigma often faced by those living with dementia.
The Innovation Grants Program will work with grantees to gather data on program success to add to the growing evidence base demonstrating the positive outcomes
associated with nonpharmacological programs for people living with dementia.
Basic grant award guidelines:
•
Nonpharmacologic program.
•
One year of programming
•
Up to $10,000.
•
Reflects the I’m Still Here Principles
•
Meets the defined Assessment Criteria
GRANTS PROCESS
Two Stage Proposal and funding
process
•
Stage One: Submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) generally describing the proposed program. The criteria described below will be applied in reviewing the LOI.
•
Stage Two: A subset of proposers will be invited to submit a Full Proposal.
Letter of Inquiry (LOI)
Maximum two pages
•
Basic information about the proposing organization.
•
A brief overview of the proposed program for persons living with dementia and their care partners.
•
The amount of financing being requested from I’m Still Here.
•
Brief Statement of how these funds will be used.
•
Describe how the proposed program:
Will innovate and be innovative.
Will authentically engage persons living with dementia.
Meets the I’m Still Here Principles,
Aims at underserved populations (if possible), and
•
suggest measurable success outcomes.
Full Proposal
Maximum four pages
The full proposal covers the same topics as the LOI in greater
detail.
•
Description of why the proposing organization is well suited to manage the
program.
o
The capabilities of the individuals who will be involved in the program
•
More detail about the intended audience of the program
o
Underserved populations, if relevant
•
Detail about how the program emphasizes three major elements described below:
o
Innovation
o
Authentic engagement
o
•
A more explicit budget, and Data gathering approaches for both quantitative and qualitative program feedback.
•
How your proposed program be identified and labeled as a separate I’m Still Here funded program.
If you want additional information please email us at:
Proposal Assessment Criteria
How Innovative is the program
o
By innovative we mean one of the following: a totally new program that has never been done before; a program or service provided in a unique new way.
A program or service that engages persons living with dementia in ways not previously used; a program designed specifically to engage a new group of
users – cultural, underserved, geographical. Although not preferred, we will consider a traditional program (for example an arts program) delivered in a
new way.
How much does the program reflect Authentic Engagement (AE)
o
Authentic engagement programs provide meaning and purpose to persons living with dementia. AE programs draw intense
attention of participants, no matter participants’ cognitive ability.
o
In AE Programs, there is no need to assess what a participant might have lost or what is “still there”, nor a need to measure such
changes. Program success of AE programs is measured in terms of how present the person is to her or his surroundings – how
authentically engaged. How much he or she might have lost since the last time their mental capacity was measured is of less
interest than the degree to which the person is present. In turn, presence is related to how authentically meaningful an event is to a
person’s life, to that person – at that moment.
How does the proposed program reflect each I’m Still Here Principle
•
The more faithful proposed programs are to each of the following principles, and to all taken together, the greater chance it has of being selected for funding.
o
Principles 1,2, & 3 describe the person the programs are intended to engage and the level of engagement aimed at
o
Principles 4,5, & 6 describe ways participants need to be treated in the program.
o
Principle 7 specifies that funded programs need to improve relationships to care partners.
o
Principles 8, 9,& 10 uncover how the community needs to be included in engagement opportunities.
•
The Foundation’s Project Coordinator will assist the program, once funded, in meeting these Principle goals.
What outcomes and possible assessment approaches are expected
I’m Still Here is committed to creating a collective nonpharmacologic dementia programs evidence base for programs we fund, through collecting data and
feedback on each
project. Are expected to gather qualitative feedback and outcomes data, making these available to ISH in the final report.
•
What do you see as your proposed program’s measurable impacts and outcomes – such as emotional or attitudinal changes, improved mood or focus, health
outcomes,
symptomatic changes.
•
How might you measure these impacts quantitatively. If you can, please identify tools you might use to collect basic quantitative data on activities,
participation, and
duration. Do not be concerned if you do not have such tools available; the I’m Still Here team will assist you with this task.
•
How might you gather qualitative information about your program’s impact – such as descriptions, participants’ comments, and behavioral
indicators.
•
Do not be concerned with becoming social science researchers, the ISH Research Group will assist and advise on outcomes measurement.
Background for Proposals
•
The more detailed is the 12-month schedule for your proposed program, the
better.
•
The project budget, in a simple budget table, needs to communicate how you intend to spend the funds you receive from the I’m Still Here
foundation.
o
Please focus on expenses and real salary costs. Include time allocated to the project to gather and report on impact and
outcomes.
o
In addition to these costs, the Foundation intends to contribute time of our Program Coordinator to assist in achieving project and
Foundation goals.
o
Do not apply for more than the $10,000 limit of this grant program.
o
Do not apply for funding to augment another grant you already have or are applying for. For example, if the project requires $60,000,
please do not
apply for a grant for $10,000 to make up the total grant requirement.
•
The more the target audience group for the program is defined, the better,
including:
o
PLWD, family members, care partners, professionals
o
Numbers in each of these groups expected to participate in and benefit from the proposed program.
o
Underserved groups that are targeted to participate.
o
Diversity of participants
o
Audience needs the program is intended to meet.
•Sustainability and Replicability: While sustainability is not a critical selection criterion for funding, please describe your thinking regarding sustainability and replicability of the
Innovation Grants program you propose. As part of the final report, grantees are requested to share their experiences in ways that may inspire other innovators in other
communities.
Award winners are expected to:
•
Sign a contract agreement with ISH, stating funding conditions, deliverables, and timelines.
•
Produce a formal Press Release and Social Media posting prior to receiving ISH funds.
•
Meet virtually each quarter with the ISH Program Manager to problem solve, provide status updates, and information exchange.
•
Share their photos, quotes, and stories with releases, for posting on the ISH website.
•
Gather and submit agreed-to outcomes data to serve as an evidence base for programs.
•
Submit a final report at the end of the funded year.
•
Include in the final report a description of their process and program to be included in a “Guidebook” format for others who would like to replicate the
program in
another setting.
I’m Still Here Board members and staff are available to respond to your questions. We look forward to working with all our grantees as
we all work to enhance the lives of those
living with dementia and their care partners.
We applaud all of your efforts !!
Contact Programmanager@Imstillhere.org for more information
CLICK ON LINK BELOW TO CONTACT PROGRAM MANAGER with QUESTIONS ETC.
NOTE: The 2023 Deadline Has Passed. Please Check Back in the Fall for Information on 2024
Contact: executive director@imstillherer.org PHONE: 781-816-5151
EMAIL: info@imstillhere.org
I’m Still Here 7 Wainwright Road #35 Winchester, MA 01890
A life fulfilling approach to living with dementia
2023 Innovation Programs Grants
T
The Foundation’s Innovation Grants Program seeks, supports, and
sponsors authentically engaging community programs and activities
exemplifying the I’m Still Here Principles
The Innovation Grants Program will work with grantees to gather
data on program success to add to the growing evidence base
demonstrating the positive outcomes associated with non-
pharmacological programs for persons with living with dementia.
Basic grant award guidelines:
•
Nonpharmacologic program.
•
One year of programming
•
Up to $10,000.
•
Reflects the I’m Still Here Principles
•
Meets the defined Assessment Criteria
GRANTS PROCESS
Two Stage Proposal and funding process
•
•
Stage One: Letter of Inquiry
Stage Two: A subset of proposers will be invited to submit a Full Proposal.
Letter of Inquiry (LOI)
Maximum two pages
•
Basic information about the proposing organization.
•
A brief overview of the proposed program for persons living with
dementia and their care partners.
•
The amount of financing being requested from I’m Still Here.
•
Brief Statement of how these funds will be used.
•
Describe how the proposed program:
Will innovate and be innovative.
Will authentically engage persons living with dementia.
Meets the I’m Still Here Principles,
Aims at underserved populations (if possible), and suggest
measurable success outcomes
Dates and Timeline
•
RFP publicized
1 February
•
Deadline for Letters of Inquiry
20 February
•
Deadline for final grant application:
20 March
•
Notification of awards:
15 April
•
Grant agreements sent to award winners:
1 May
•
Award funds disbursed
1 June
•
Final report due
30 May 2024
FOR MORE COMPLETE DESCRIPTION AND
INFORMATION VISIT THE DESKTOP VERSION OF THE
WEBPAGE AT:
www.imstillhere.org