About the Challenge
A strategic investment in technology-enabled solutions that transform how we support vulnerable families and strengthen communities.
Challenge Overview
The Foster Care Innovation Challenge is a $600K competitive funding opportunity to accelerate technology solutions in foster care and family preservation. Part of the Flourish Fund Children & Families Initiative, this groundbreaking challenge brings together Flourish Fund and Eagle Ventures 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 to keep families together, support foster families, and prepare youth for success. This distinctive model enables us to discover breakthrough solutions without extensive individual due diligence, support emerging leaders with fresh approaches, and accelerate the adoption of proven innovations.
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 a mission-driven nonprofit or a values-aligned startup, if you're building technology to strengthen vulnerable families, we want to support your work.
Why This Challenge
Technology can transform how we support families, but the most innovative solutions often come from small organizations that lack resources to scale.
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 Partners
Two complementary funding models united by a shared commitment to breakthrough innovation in foster care
United by Mission
Flourish Fund and Eagle Ventures combine expertise in philanthropy, venture capital, and technology to create breakthrough solutions for families.
Nonprofit Grant Track
Operated by Flourish Fund
Flourish Fund provides $500K in grant funding for nonprofit organizations using technology and innovation to strengthen vulnerable families. Google.org is in conversation about additional support.
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 Ventures
Eagle Ventures provides $100K in prize funding for mission-driven social enterprises building sustainable, scalable solutions to foster care challenges. Award structure and any follow-on support are communicated directly by Eagle Ventures.
Eagle Ventures 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 Ventures Offers:
- Prize funding for mission-driven social enterprises
- Application and review managed by Eagle Ventures
- Additional opportunities shared with finalists
Together, these partnerships 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
This 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.