Innovation Fund 2019 [with Laureus Sport for Good Foundation] (2019)

Global
2019-2020

In brief

Over the past 20 years, the Sport for Development sector has created a number of innovative solutions to some of society’s most challenging issues. Indeed, the use of Sport for Development as a tool for social change is itself a relatively new innovation that is only partially understood by the wider development sector. However, a great deal of the potential in this sector remains untapped – partly because, as Sport for Development is seen as more of a ‘mainstream’ solution, a greater focus has understandably been placed by funders on proven interventions following a number of similar models. This is recognition of the sector maturing, but does not necessarily create an environment that allows the ‘outside the box’ solutions that have characterised Sport for Development to flourish.

Local partner

To address this above-mentioned issue and drive on-going invention and improvement, Laureus and SOL partner again in 2019 for the second edition of the Sport for Development’s ‘Innovation Fund’ – designed to identify the most innovative work in the sector and allow it to flourish with two key objectives:

a) it will support truly innovative work and solutions (be it programming, technology, pilot projects, early-stage research, or other approaches) at a stage before traditional funders would be able to justify involvement – i.e. before traditional proof of impact has been reached and

b) it will help that work to reach the point of proving impact or, at least, testing and to some extent proving concept.

Beneficiaries

To be identified: Deadline for submission of proposals is the 28th June 2019 @ 5.00 pm GMT.

Your application

SOL’s contribution

Both partners, the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation and The SOL Foundation focus primarily on the following impacts:

a) the most innovative work in the sector will be able to use this funding to prove concept and therefore secure larger-scale or continuing funding from more traditional sources and

b) the sector as a whole will gain an increasing reputation as a hub of innovation to which other sectors can look for new solutions to traditional problems.

Project partner

Laureus Sport for Good Foundation

The SOL Foundation

Laureus is a global sports-based charity that works to improve the lives of young people. Laureus uses the power of sport to tackle violence, discrimination and disadvantage around the world, helping programmes and communities overcome challenges as diverse as gang violence, lack of education or employment, gender inequality and gender-based violence, disability, lack of facilities for post trauma mental health recovery, refugee displacement and more.

The first Patron of Laureus was Nelson Mandela.  At the inaugural Laureus World Sports Awards in 2000, President Mandela said: “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. Sport can awaken hope where there was previously only despair.” This has become the philosophy of Laureus and the driving force behind its work.

Laureus combines Laureus Sport for Good, the Laureus World Sports Academy and Ambassadors Programme and the Laureus World Sports Awards to form a unique organisation that uses the inspirational power of sport as a force for good.

Laureus was founded by its Patrons Richemont and Daimler and is supported by its Global Partners Mercedes-Benz and IWC Schaffhausen. Laureus Sport for Good has helped to improve the lives of millions of young people in over 35 countries and is proving that sport can change the world.

Laureus

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