INNOVATION GRANTS
The Innovation Fund is designed to foster new ideas, methods, and collaborations to address challenges in affordable housing.
Grant Focus Areas
- Community Needs Assessments: Research projects designed to investigate the housing needs of specific populations in the community.
- Examples of previously funded projects that represent this category - Restoring Dignity's Refugee Housing Planning Study; I Be Black Girl's Assessment for Housing Needs for Women Exiting York Women’s Prison
- Predevelopment: Support for planning and early project development for nonprofit-led housing development efforts.
- Examples of previously funded projects that represent this category - RISE's Campus Study; Autism Action Partnership's Housing Planning Study
- Field-Building: Projects that create resources or knowledge that will be publicly available for use by others across the housing ecosystem and encourage affordable housing development.
- Examples of previously funded projects that represent this category - MAPA's Market Value Analysis; Omaha By Design's Open Source Architectural Designs
Background and History
Front Porch’s initial grant making activities were through the Development & Preservation Fund, which was created in alignment with recommendations provided by the Omaha and Council Bluffs Area Assessment of Housing Affordability, Needs, & Priorities report (2021). In addition to investments in affordable housing development and preservation, the report recommended investments to increase housing ecosystem capacity; increase accessibility; increase housing stability; expand housing options; support equity and housing justice; support innovation and best practices; and support collaborative partnerships. From 2022-2024, the Development and Preservation Fund supported nearly $10 million in grants across the Omaha metro.
In 2025, the Innovation Fund was separated from the Development and Preservation Fund to allow the D&P Fund to focus solely on lending and to create a dedicated grantmaking fund. The Innovation Fund’s grantmaking is more narrowly focused on these three new focus areas:
- Community Needs Assessment
- Predevelopment
- Field-Building
GRANT PROCESS
The Innovation Fund is an invitation-only grant initiative designed to support innovative, high-impact projects that align with our mission to advance affordable housing solutions. Grants will be invited throughout the year, until funds are fully expended. The Innovation Fund will award up to $1 million in grants annually.
Eligibility
Organizations invited to apply for Innovation Fund grants typically meet the following criteria:
- Nonprofits, community-based organizations, or research institutions focused on affordable housing
- A proven track record of impactful projects that demonstrate innovation, equity, and community collaboration
- Alignment with one or more of the Innovation Fund’s focus areas: Community Needs Assessments, Predevelopment, and Field-Building
Invitation Process
The invitation process ensures that the Innovation Fund supports projects and organizations with the greatest alignment and potential for impact. Although applications for the Innovation Fund by invitation, we encourage organizations interested in learning more to reach out to initiate a conversation with our team. Selected organizations will receive a formal invitation.
Interested in learning more about the Innovation Fund or collaborating with us? Complete this simple Innovation Grants Interest Form to start the conversation!
