Innovation Fund
Innovation Fund supports UP Designated Organizations in planning, carrying out, and evaluating improvements to goods, services, programs, and policies that remove accessibility barriers.
Funder: Mass Cultural Council
Due Dates: October 13, 2026 (Information session) | November 17, 2026 (Application deadline) | July 15, 2027 (Final report)
Funding Amounts: $5,000 for July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027
Summary: Annual grants help UP Designated Organizations plan, implement, and evaluate accessibility improvements.
Key Information: Only organizations with current UP Designation are eligible.
Description
Mass Cultural Council’s Innovation Fund is part of its Universal Participation (UP) Initiative. It offers annual grants to UP Designated Organizations to make accessibility part of how they operate, from planning through implementation and evaluation. The fund supports accessible goods, services, programs, and policies, with an emphasis on innovative ways to identify and remove barriers beyond compliance.
Organizations can address access across programmatic, architectural, physical, attitudinal, digital, social, and communication environments. Examples include staff training, engaging people with disabilities in program and policy development, improving communication technology, and supporting artists, patrons, or staff with disabilities.
