Future Forward Innovation Grant
The Future Forward Innovation Grant funds partnerships in Tennessee to create innovative, accelerated education-to-career pathways leading to high-impact credentials through mentorship and a year-long fellowship.
Funder: Tennessee SCORE
Due Dates (Anticipated): May 2027 (Full application deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: Up to $75,000 per project for a 12-month grant term; typically awarded to 7 partnerships annually.
Summary: Supports innovative education and employer partnerships in Tennessee to launch accelerated pathways to high-impact, in-demand credentials, with mentorship and a structured fellowship.
Key Information: Lead applicant must be a nonprofit; participation in three in-person Nashville convenings is required.
Description
The Future Forward Innovation Grant, offered by Tennessee SCORE, is designed to catalyze transformative, locally driven solutions that bridge the gap between education and economic opportunity in Tennessee. The program supports innovative partnerships between education providers and employers to design and launch new, accelerated pathways leading to high-impact credentials aligned with high-wage, in-demand careers. Recipients participate in the Tennessee Pathways Incubator—a year-long, cohort-based fellowship that provides expert mentorship, strategic advising, and structured convenings to foster collaboration and scale successful models. The grant emphasizes student-centered, market-driven, and innovative approaches that create faster, more seamless routes for students to earn credentials and enter the workforce.
