Innovation for Impact Fund (IIF)
Cornell University's Innovation for Impact Fund supports collaborative research with non-academic partners to generate actionable science addressing urgent sustainability challenges.
Funder: Cornell University
Due Dates: September 9, 2026 (EOI, TNC & Cornell Atkinson) | October 2, 2026 (LOI, TNC & Cornell Atkinson) | November 24, 2026 (Full proposal, TNC & Cornell Atkinson) | November 13, 2026 (LOI, EDF & Cornell Atkinson) | January 20, 2027 (Full proposal, EDF & Cornell Atkinson)
Funding Amounts: Up to $110,000 (TNC joint proposals, 1 year); $25,000–$100,000 (EDF research, 1 year); up to $200,000 (EDF research/impact, 2 years); $5,000–$25,000 (EDF-Cornell Fast Grants, rolling, <1 year)
Summary: Supports collaborative, use-inspired research with non-academic partners to bridge science and action on critical sustainability issues.
Key Information: Requires joint proposals between Cornell and external partners (EDF or TNC); PI eligibility restricted to Cornell-eligible PIs.
Description
The Innovation for Impact Fund (IIF), managed by Cornell Atkinson, fosters partnerships between Cornell researchers and leading non-academic organizations—including The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF)—to co-create and implement research addressing urgent sustainability challenges. The IIF supports both basic and applied research with a focus on actionable outcomes, policy relevance, and near-term impact. Funding is available through competitive calls for joint research proposals with TNC or EDF, as well as rolling fast grants for time-sensitive projects. Projects are expected to generate insights, tools, and practices that inform real-world policies and drive progress on sustainability issues.
