2024 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:

Grants Process

Two Stage Proposal and funding process

•

•

Letter of Inquiry (LOI)

Maximum two pages

Full Proposal

Maximum four pages

The full proposal covers the same topics as the LOI in greater detail.

If you want additional information please email us at:

Programmanager@imstillhere.org

Proposal Assessment Criteria

How Innovative is the program

How much does the program reflect Authentic Engagement (AE)

How does the proposed program reflect each I’m Still Here Principles

The Foundation’s Program Manager will assist the program, once funded, in meeting these Principle goals.

What outcomes and possible assessment approaches are expected

Background for Proposals

We applaud all of your efforts !!

• Nonpharmacologic program • One year of programming • Up to $10,000 • Reflects the I’m Still Here Principles • Meets the defined Assessment Criteria

• 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.

• 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 suggests measurable success outcomes

• 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 • Detail about how the program emphasizes three major elements described below o Innovation o Authentic engagement o I’m Still Here Principles • A more explicit budget,and • Data gathering approaches for both quantitative and qualitative program feedback • How your proposed program will be identified and labeled as a separate I’mStill Here Funded program

• 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.

• Authentic engagement programs provide meaning and purpose to persons living with dementia.  AE programs draw intense attention of participants, no matter participants’ cognitive ability • .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.

• Principles 1, 2, & 3 describe the person the programs are intended to engage and the level of engagement aimed at • Principles 4, 5, & 6 describe ways participants need to be treated in the program • Principle 7 specifies that funded programs need to improve relationships to care partners.

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 in 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.

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. • Please focus on expenses and real salary costs. Include time allocated to the project to gather and report on impact and outcomes. • In addition to these costs, the Foundation intends to contribute time of our Program Coordinator to assist in achieving project and Foundation goals. • Do not apply for more than the $10,000 limit of this grant program. • 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: • PLWD, family members, care partners, professionals • Numbers in each of these groups expected to participate in and benefit from the proposed program. • Underserved groups that are targeted to participate. • Diversity of participants • 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. Dates and Timeline ( all years 2024 unless noted) • Deadline for Letters of Inquiry: 27 February • Invitations to submit Full Proposal sent: 15 March • Deadline for Full Proposal: 29 March • Notification of awards: Late April • Grant agreements sent to award winners: May • Award funds disbursed: June • Final report due: 27 June 2025 Submission Instructions Please email your two page LOI in the format of your choice to programmanager@imstillhere.org. I’m Still Here Board members and staff are available to respond to your questions. We look forward to working with our grantees as we all work to enhance the lives of those living with dementia and their care partners Please e-mail programmanager@imstillhere.org with any questions.