Innovation for Impact Fund (IIF)
Internal — Cornell University only
Cornell University's Innovation for Impact Fund supports collaborative, interdisciplinary research with external partners to develop actionable solutions to urgent sustainability challenges.
Funder: Cornell University
Due Dates: September 25, 2026 (EOI, TNC & Cornell Atkinson) | October 2, 2026 (LOI, TNC & Cornell Atkinson) | November 13, 2026 (LOI, EDF & Cornell Atkinson) | November 24, 2026 (Full, TNC & Cornell Atkinson) | January 20, 2027 (Full, EDF & Cornell Atkinson)
Funding Amounts: Up to $110,000 for TNC-Cornell Atkinson projects (1 year); $25,000–$100,000 (1 year) or up to $200,000 (2 years) for EDF-Cornell Atkinson research/impact projects; Fast Grants: $5,000–$25,000 (rolling, <12 months).
Summary: Supports collaborative, actionable sustainability research co-created by Cornell faculty and external partners (EDF, TNC) to address urgent environmental challenges and enable near-term impact.
Key Information: Most calls require joint Cornell–partner teams; PI eligibility is restricted to Cornell-eligible PIs; optional EOI and LOI processes are strongly recommended.
Description
The Innovation for Impact Fund (IIF), administered by Cornell Atkinson, accelerates use-inspired, interdisciplinary research that is co-developed with non-academic partners to solve urgent sustainability challenges. The fund supports both basic and applied research through competitive calls in partnership with organizations such as the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC). Projects must demonstrate clear pathways to real-world impact, focusing on actionable results that can influence policy, practice, or stakeholder outcomes.
IIF supports a range of activities, from foundational research and tool development to direct implementation and policy engagement. Teams are expected to be collaborative, blending Cornell research expertise with the applied experience and networks of external partners. Priority is given to projects addressing climate risk, food security, energy transitions, biodiversity, environmental justice, and related sustainability themes.
