The FINNOVATION Fellowship Program supports impact-driven entrepreneurs as they launch and lead sustainable and innovative businesses.
Donor Name: FINNOVATION Institute
State: Minnesota
County: Anoka County (MN), Carver County (MN), Dakota County (MN), Hennepin County (MN), Ramsey County (MN), Scott County (MN), Washington County (MN)
Type of Grant: Fellowship
Deadline: 06/01/2025
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year
Details:
New in 2025, the program is changing to support more social entrepreneurs, especially those in the earliest stages of exploring a business idea.
The program is changing to support more entrepreneurs and better tailor the curriculum and resources for Fellows.
For its first six years, the FINNOVATION Fellowship was an intensive nine-month initiative for a select cohort of nine social business leaders in Minnesota. For the 2025-26 cohort, the Fellowship program will be split into two distinct phases: the Discovery Module and the Fellows Module.
- Discovery Module
- Accepting up to 18 participants
- 3-month commitment
- No stipend.
- Fellows Module
- Up to 9 participants
- 6-month commitment
- $50,000+ stipend.
Uses of Funds
The stipend can be used for living and learning expenses – rent, utilities, transportation, attending conferences, research, etc. The stipend is designed to create some flexibility in your schedule so you can dedicate 20-30 hours per week on your business and fellowship activities.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible to apply you must:
- Be authorized to work in the United States
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Either currently live in or be willing to move to the Twin Cities Metro Area in Minnesota, and have an idea that will impact individuals or a community in MN
- Be dedicated to solving a social or environmental issue through entrepreneurship
- Not be a Bush Fellow during the FINN Fellowship program term
- Not be related to any members of the Bush Foundation’s staff or board of directors
- You or your spouse cannot be a government official during the program term
- Be able to participate in the program on Saturdays from September – December and to dedicate 20-30 hours from January to June, including curriculum sessions during business hours.
Evaluation Criteria
In addition to these, here are other qualities that it look for:
- Innovation – your idea represents a truly unique approach to addressing the problem.
- Impact Potential – this idea could potentially be scaled to impact many individuals lives, a community, or systems/structures.
- Financial Sustainability – your business will generate revenue by filling a need of paying customers.
- Entrepreneurial – you’re realistic about what it means to be an entrepreneur and have demonstrated such qualities as being proactive and a self-starter, resilient, and a critical thinker.
- Continuous Learner – you are curious, a great listener, reflective, and have the ability to admit mistakes and apply learning to future situations.
- Leadership – you have demonstrated leadership skills (such as empathy, inspiring/motivating others to action, strategic/forward-thinking, ability to bridge differences in opinion, and self-awareness), and have the desire to further grow as a leader.
For more information, visit FINNOVATION INSTITUTE.
