the 2gen Best Practices accelerator fund

Ascend at the Aspen Institute is inviting approximately 100 leading organizations from across the US that are advancing two-generation (2Gen) or whole-family approaches to apply to the 2Gen Best Practices Accelerator Fund. Ascend is launching this $3 million-dollar investment to codify, accelerate, and scale 2Gen best practices, influence systems change, and to transform outcomes for families with low incomes.

submit a proposal

Program GOALS & ACTIVITIES

Ascend seeks to partner with organizations poised to scale and deepen best practices in key places that will lead to county, state, or federal systems change – moving more families, especially young parents with young children, toward educational success, economic security, and health and well-being. The 2Gen Best Practices Accelerator Fund will include a portfolio of action grants; convenings; rapid-cycle learning and evaluation; and a storytelling strategy, which will result in strengthened and more effective practices and policies when supporting families with low incomes.

A cohort of up to 15 partner organizations – each with grants between $130,000 – $170,000 – will be selected and will comprise the 2Gen Accelerator Community. This Community will surface the best practices that blend innovation and evidence – building on existing programs and resources – to codify what works for families and leads other practitioners and state and community systems leaders to reimagine their services and produce stronger child and family outcomes.

Proposal resources & Materials

We invite you to review the 2Gen Best Practices Accelerator Fund Request for Proposal (RFP). This RFP outlines the full funding opportunity, our goals, priorities, and the proposal guidelines. Please familiarize yourself with the Fund vision, proposal requirements, and the grantmaking timeline.

Completed proposals must be submitted via the 2Gen Best Practices Accelerator Fund Portal. Please prepare the following materials to complete your submission, referencing all details within the full RFP:

1. Proposal Cover Sheet
2. Proposal Narrative
3. Results Chart & Budget Documentation
- Please refrerence this Proposal Budget Template. You can use this document to develop your project budget. Please include a budget narrative with details of each line item in your project budget and how the costs were calculated.
- Please reference this Proposal Results Chart Template. You can use this document to outline targeted short-term outcomes as a result of your proposed activities.
4. Organizational Profile

The 2Gen Best Practices Accelerator Fund Request for Proposal (RFP)

DOWNLOAD THE full rfp

Key Dates & timelines

Tuesday, July 11, 2023 – RFP released
Friday, August 18, 2023 – Complete proposals due to Ascend by 5pm ET
August through September 2023 – Ascend reviews proposals and material follow-up
Wednesday, October 18, 2023 – All organizations notified of proposal status
November 2023 – Grant funds disbursed to selected Partner organizations

The application window is now open! Organizations must review the Request for Proposal (RFP) and submit their application by Friday, August 18, 2023.

submit a proposal

Frequently Asked Questions

Which institutions are eligible to apply?

To be eligible for a 2Gen Best Practices Accelerator Fund grant, applicant organizations must be:

● Invited to apply by Ascend;

● Implementing practices and policies that benefit families with incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty level;

● Applying the five 2Gen principles, demonstrating improved and aligned practices and resources to produce better outcomes for children and parents;

● Committed to participating in and contributing to the 2024 Aspen ThinkXChange and the 2Gen Best Practices Accelerator Fund objectives;

● Committed to documenting and sharing results, learning, and tools with the field;

● A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (Note: Public and for-profit entities should identify 501(c)3 nonprofit partners with whom to submit proposals);

● Governed by a board of directors; and

● Located within the United States.

How many organizations will receive funding and of what amounts?

Ascend will convene a cohort of up to 15 organizations and provide grants between $130,000 – $170,000. We aim to support organizations that have a demonstrated capability to move families with low incomes toward economic mobility and prosperity.

What are Ascend’s criteria for funding consideration?

Please refer to the full RFP for guidelines and key criteria. Ascend will make selections of grantees on a number of factors including but not limited to:

● Identification of target outcomes for children and the adults in their lives;

● Application of 2Gen principles, with a focus on outcomes for child, adult, and family outcomes (as noted above); integration of family voice and expertise; and blending and braiding of funding streams;

● Identification of key systems and/or policies the organization has the capacity to influence or shift as a result of their innovation/project (this could include efforts to transform TANF in several key states to better support working student parents; innovations around incentivizing early childhood and community college partnerships; policies and best practices emerging from 2Gen programs with regards to healthcare access and financial services integration; among others);

● Identification of how the COVID-19 pandemic and recent increase in federal funding has impacted the organization, including but not limited to strategic focus, leadership, population served, and capacity;

● Recognition of and a strategy for an equity, inclusion, and intersectional approach;

● Commitment to participating in and contributing actively to a learning agenda and the broader Ascend Network;

● Identification of a strategy to engage parent(s) in project;

● Commitment to documenting and sharing results, learning, and tools with the field;

● Identification of codification and scale through a results chart; and

● Engagement with colleagues and partners from diverse perspectives.

Can the lead applicant and project director ?

Yes, a senior institutional leader can serve as both the lead applicant and project director.

What other funding opportunities are available from Ascend?

Ascend is currently accepting proposals for our Parent-Powered Solutions Fund. This public fund supports nonprofit organizations and institutions focused on increasing parents’ completion of postsecondary programs, including workforce development, career and technical education, and baccalaureate degree programs. Visit this webpage to download the full RFP, reference informational webinar details, and to submit a proposal.

Is there any specific budget proposal guidance on the October 2024 ThinkXChange convening in Aspen?

Organizations should budget travel for two leaders from the organization. This could include a senior staff person and other staff, two senior staff, and/or a senior staff person and parent leader.

Who should I contact if I have technical difficulties with the submission or further questions?

Please feel free to submit the below form. Or you can reach out to Sama Sabihi, our Program Manager, at sama.sabihi@aspeninstitute.or g. We are happy to answer your questions over email, but we are not scheduling any one on one calls so that we can maintain an equitable and transparent process for all applicants.

the 2gen Best Practices accelerator fund

Program GOALS & ACTIVITIES

Proposal resources & Materials

The 2Gen Best Practices Accelerator Fund Request for Proposal (RFP)

Key Dates & timelines

Frequently Asked Questions

Have any questions?

more funding stories from Ascend

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the 2gen Best Practices accelerator fund

Program GOALS & ACTIVITIES

Proposal resources & Materials

The 2Gen Best Practices Accelerator Fund Request for Proposal (RFP)

Key Dates & timelines

Frequently Asked Questions

Have any questions?

more funding stories from Ascend

Ascend’s 2023 Parent-Powered Solutions Fund Centers Student Parent Expertise, Advances Postsecondary Success

Announcing Ascend Fellowship Impact Fund Awardees

8 Higher Education Institutions Partner to Support Black and Native Student Parents

Ascend’s New Family Futures Fund Focuses on Black and Native Student Parent Success

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