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Innovation FAQs

This page contains links to pages with answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). If none of these pages are able to answer your questions, please do not hesitate to email innovation@cfed.org.

Click here for Innovators-in-Residence FAQs.

Click here for Innovative Ideas FAQs.

Click here for International Ideas FAQs.

Click here for Next Generation Innovators FAQs.

Click here for Innovative Entrepreneurs FAQs.

What is innovation@cfed?
innovation@cfed is a strategic initiative that helps those who traditionally struggle in our economy prosper. A national nonprofit, CFED works to expand economic opportunity so people build wealth by saving, getting an education and becoming homeowners and business owners.

innovation@cfed was launched to accelerate the next generation of strategies to expand economic opportunity. We’re looking for great ideas and policies, products and practices that will help Americans build wealth, bring about greater social equity, alleviate poverty and lead to a more sustainable economy.

What are the elements of innovation@cfed?
innovation@cfed has three components: Innovative Ideas, Innovators-in-Residence and Innovation Summits. Under Innovative Ideas we invite you to submit good solid concepts that have the potential to significantly impact economically vulnerable people. We will select ideas to showcase widely and to stimulate discussion and exchange. Innovators-in-Residence will receive financial and technical support in a virtual or onsite CFED residency to refine and grow their innovations to marketable scale or to advance them through expanded real-world application.

What is the innovation@cfed learning community?
Through innovation@cfed, persons of all backgrounds and interests are invited to engage with CFED and each other around innovative ways to expand economic opportunity. This is the innovation@cfed learning community. Community members from all sectors, backgrounds and places can sign up to receive regular updates and are encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas on the innovation@cfed website, through its blog and by e-mailing to innovation@cfed.org.

Will innovation@cfed change over time?
innovation@cfed is intended to not only support innovations in progress, but also to serve as a learning platform for CFED and the community-at-large about how to make innovation happen more effectively. As such, innovation@cfed will grow and evolve over time, as we learn together.

Who is eligible to participate?
Anyone age 18 years or older is invited to participate in the innovation@cfed learning community and to respond to online invitations. Applicants to become Innovators-in-Residence must be able to work in the United States.