NextGen Innovation Award
About the Award
Neighborhood Coalition for Shelter is seeking to stimulate and encourage creative solutions to the challenges of homelessness. The $5,000 NCS NextGen Innovation Award supports the work of an emerging leader who is advancing new approaches to issues related to homelessness that can be applied in New York City. The Award has been generously endowed by The Fullgraf Foundation.
This is the signature project of NCS’s NextGen Network, as it fosters the next generation of leadership in this arena.
Applications for the current award cycle were due on May 24th. Join our email list to be the first to know who won and when we launch our 2022 award cycle.
The 2021 Award was won by Rhonda-Lee Davis for her plan to promote entrepreneurship among young adults living in supportive housing. Read more about Rhonda-Lee’s plan.
The inaugural NextGen Innovation Award was awarded to Streetlives at Celebrating Innovation on January 29, 2020. Read more about this “Yelp for social services” here.
About Neighborhood Coalition for Shelter
Neighborhood Coalition for Shelter (NCS) helps New Yorkers who have a history of homelessness, often compounded by mental illness or substance use, to achieve their highest level of independence. We were established in 1982 by faith and community leaders on Manhattan’s Upper East Side who believed that homelessness is the responsibility of the entire community. Nearly 40 years later we are still guided by the principle that neighbors should help neighbors.
NCS provides New Yorkers who are homeless or at risk of homelessness with a home, a community, and access to the services that they need to thrive.
Eligibility
Candidates for the Award may study or work in a range of disciplines, as long as they can demonstrate the impact of their proposed project on homelessness in New York City.
Candidates must be an emerging leader who is advancing new approaches or methods addressing issues related to homelessness that can be applied in New York City.
NCS employees, their family members, and family members of the Selection Committee are not eligible.
Timeline
Applications for the current award cycle were due on May 24, 2021.
Finalists will be notified in late June.
The winner will be notified in early August.
Join our email list to learn who the winner is and when the 2022 application cycle opens.
Requirements
The Award recipient will be expected to provide a written report on their work or such other final end product described in their application within a 12 month period.
The Award recipient must provide quarterly interim progress reports that review the project goals and implementation plan. These reports should be no longer than 500 words.
The Award recipient will be expected to attend an NCS event at which the Award will be presented and two subsequent events to report on and discuss their findings.
The Award recipient will agree to grant NCS a non-exclusive license to use or publish the end product of their work and, where relevant, will obtain any necessary consents from any other party with an interest in the work. The Award and featured end product will be highlighted by NCS in our social media, press releases, and community outreach. NCS will also seek to apply the work within our own programs where appropriate.
Selection Process
The initiative will be administered and overseen by the NCS NextGen Award Subcommittee, who will review all submissions and designate 3-5 finalists for consideration by the Award Selection Committee. The finalists may be contacted for an interview. The Award Selection Committee will choose the recipient based on criteria including relevance, originality, feasibility, and potential for impact and replication.