About the Challenge
A strategic investment in innovative approaches—from technology-enabled tools to community-driven models—that transform how we support vulnerable families and strengthen communities.
Challenge Overview
The National Foster Care Innovation Challenge is an $800K competitive funding opportunity to accelerate human-centered, innovative solutions in foster care and family preservation. Part of the Flourish Fund Children & Families Initiative, this groundbreaking challenge brings together Flourish Fund and Eagle Freedom Fund II in a unique dual-track approach that supports both nonprofit organizations and for-profit social enterprises.
The challenge identifies and funds organizations developing innovative approaches—including technology-enabled tools and community-driven models—to keep families together, support foster families, and prepare youth for success. Submissions will be reviewed by a diverse panel of leaders with lived experience, subject matter experts, philanthropic leaders, and advocates working to strengthen support for vulnerable children and families.
Why This Matters:By welcoming both nonprofit and for-profit social enterprises, we recognize that impact-driven solutions can take many forms. Whether you're building digital tools, launching new service models, mobilizing community networks, or creating innovative support systems, we want to support work that strengthens vulnerable children and families.
Why This Challenge
Human-centered, innovative solutions can transform how we support families, yet many of the most promising ideas come from organizations that lack the resources to scale. This challenge helps identify and accelerate those solutions by:
Discover Innovation
Identify solutions without extensive individual due diligence
Support Emerging Leaders
Fund organizations with fresh approaches to foster care challenges
Accelerate Implementation
Move promising ideas into real-world deployment with catalytic funding
Expand Impact
Highlight solutions that can scale and strengthen families nationwide
Lived Experience Leadership Matters
We especially encourage applications from organizations whose leadership shares the lived experience of the people they serve. Organizations led by people with personal experience in foster care, family preservation systems, or similar challenges bring unique insights and deeper community trust. We actively seek these applications.
Our Supporters
Two complementary funding models united by a shared commitment to breakthrough innovation in foster care
United by Mission
Flourish Fund and Eagle Freedom Fund II combine expertise in philanthropy, venture capital, and technology to create breakthrough solutions for families.
Nonprofit Grant Track
Operated by Flourish Fund
Flourish Fund provides $700K in grant funding for nonprofit organizations developing human-centered, innovative solutions that strengthen vulnerable children and families connected to foster care. This funding is made possible through support from Google.org and other generous donors.
All grant-funded innovations must be open source, ensuring the entire field benefits from collective investments and learnings can be shared widely.
Open Source Requirements:
- Code under Apache 2.0 license
- Materials under CC-BY-4.0
- Publish implementation learnings and documentation
Social Enterprise Track
Operated by Eagle Freedom Fund II
Eagle Freedom Fund II will make a $100,000 equity investment in one scalable, for-profit technology company improving outcomes in child welfare. Award structure and any follow-on support are communicated directly by Eagle Freedom Fund II.
Eagle Freedom Fund II backs values-driven entrepreneurs pursuing impact-first models where profitable solutions create exponential and sustainable social impact. No open-source IP requirements for this track.
What Eagle Freedom Fund II Offers:
- $100,000 equity investment in one mission-driven company
- Application and review managed by Eagle Freedom Fund II
- Additional opportunities shared with finalists
Together, these funding tracks create unprecedented flexibility: We can support the best solutions regardless of organizational structure, recognizing that breakthrough innovations can emerge from nonprofits, B-Corps, and mission-driven startups alike.
Open Source Commitment
- Release code under Apache 2.0 license
- Share materials under Creative Commons CC-BY-4.0
- Make innovations searchable and accessible
- No patents on grant-funded innovations
- Publish implementation learnings and documentation
Part of the Children & Families Initiative
The National Foster Care Innovation Challenge is a key component of Flourish Fund's broader Children & Families Initiative, which seeks to strengthen vulnerable families and transform foster care systems. The challenge embodies our core values of radically generous, relationship-centered, peacemaking, faithful stewardship, and pursuing wisdom.
"We believe collaborative generosity, guided by redemptive vision and executed with venture philanthropy rigor, can unlock unprecedented Kingdom impact on the problems that break God's heart."
Flourish Fund Theory of Change
Ready to Learn More?
Explore the three strategic focus areas and eligibility requirements.