UK asset manager abrdn’s Charitable Foundation (aCF) has launched its inaugural Innovation Fund, looking to make a social and environmental impact within local communities through funding from charities, non-profits and social enterprises. The fund aims to provide resources needed by organisations to pilot new projects linked to technology and innovation in line with aCF’s ‘Tomorrow’s Generation’ strategy. The strategy features two themes – ‘People’ and ‘Planet’ – aiming to help people overcome barriers and gain access to opportunities aligned with education, employment and financial wellness – as well as protect nature and address climate change. abrdn is encouraging organisations from the Americas, Asia-Pacific, EMEA and the UK to apply, with one grant up to a maximum of £50,000 (US$65,307) to be awarded per region. The application window for the grant closes on 1 November, and will reopen in Q2 and Q4 annually. “Innovation is a core part of our giving strategy, and we believe that investing in new ideas is key to identify solutions to existing and emerging social and environmental challenges,” said Kirsty Brownlie, Senior Social Impact and Partnerships Manager at abrdn. “The introduction of our new innovation fund allows us to support a diverse range of non-profit organisations based within our regions to test their ideas and potentially find sustainable solutions of the future aligned to social mobility, climate and nature.”
