Announcing Project Innovation 2019

Program returns for a second year to recognize even more service organizations that are using innovation to address local community issues and meet the changing needs of local neighborhoods

New  Project Innovation websites in English and Spanish launch today to help bilingual non-profit organizations access the information they need to apply and be considered for a grant

NEW YORK – (December 19, 2018) – The NBCUniversal Foundation, in partnership with NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations, a division of NBCUniversal, today announced the return of “Project Innovation” in 11 communities across the country. Project Innovation is a competitive grant challenge that will award nearly $2.5 million in grants in 2019, to local non-profit organizations that are addressing local community issues through innovative solutions in the areas of storytelling, community engagement, culture of inclusion and youth education. Grant applications open on January 11, 2019 and close on February 15, 2019. Applications can be previewed at www.nbcuprojectinnovation.com. To preview the application in Spanish, visit www.nbcuproyectoinnovacion.com. Project Innovation 2019 grant winners will be announced in April 2019.

“As local broadcasters, it is part of our responsibility to empower and inspire positive change in our communities. Our 2018 Project Innovation grant winners are doing amazing things to help grow and develop our youth and overall create stronger communities.  We couldn’t be more proud of them. We look forward to announcing our new Project Innovation winners next year,” said Valari Staab, President, NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations.

“We’re excited to present Project Innovation for a second year in a row to the non-profit community to help support even more programs that are doing outstanding and innovative work to bring about real change in our communities,” added Jessica Clancy, Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility, NBCUniversal.

Last year, a total of $2.475 million in Project Innovation grants were presented to 62 non-profit organizations in 11 markets. The organizations were selected by the NBC and Telemundo stations for their outstanding programs that sought to address local community challenges.  Among last year’s grant winners include:

InnerCity Struggle (ICS) – Over the last year, the Los Angeles area non-profit organization worked to strengthen its “Relay Program” by addressing voter disengagement in government elections and extending its civic education efforts to thousands of area youth and resident adults. With the support of a Project Innovation 2018 grant, ICS helped to register hundreds of new voters, developed a bilingual voter guide that was shared on social media and in door-to-door canvassing, and hosted a civic engagement academy for the local community to analyze the November 2018 California ballot and midterm election issues. The group also used social media, text messaging technology and telephone outreach to connect with thousands of Eastside Los Angeles voters to encourage them to participate in the November 2018 elections. 

True Star Foundation – The Chicago-based non-profit media group used its 2018 Project Innovation grant to create and launch TrueStar.Life and a YouTube channel for and by Chicago youth. Nearly 100 True Star youth produce content, including articles, podcasts and videos for True Star’s digital platforms. The website is currently averaging 28,000 unique visitors per month. Through these efforts, True Star is helping to shape the next generation of storytellers who can use all types of media to drive social impact, and create a culture of inclusion through diversity in voices, talent, skills sets and perspectives.  

Community Youth Advance – Serving Prince George’s County in Maryland, Community Youth Advance is a Project Innovation 2018 grantee that equips youth from diverse and low-income backgrounds with the tools they need to succeed in areas of literacy, math and STEAM/STEM education. This year, the group launched a “Summer Academy” for more than 140 Kindergarten to 8th grade students from some of the region’s lowest performing schools. The Summer Academy program serves as an extension of the organization’s successful “Saturday School” program, which reinforces and complements the student’s regular school day, and has helped more than 160 students in 2017-2018 either meet or exceed proficiency levels in areas of foundational math skills and literacy. 

Qualified 501(c)(3) organizations located in select markets served by NBC and Telemundo owned stations can visit the new dedicated Project Innovation websites to access rules/eligibility and program information, and the official Project Innovation 2019 grant application. To access information in English visit www.nbcuprojectinnovation.com. To access information in Spanish visit www.nbcuproyectoinnovacion.com.

The participating markets include New York (WNBC, WNJU), Southern California (KNBC, KVEA), Chicago (WMAQ, WSNS), Philadelphia (WCAU, WWSI), Dallas-Fort Worth (KXAS, KXTX), Boston (WBTS, WNEU, necn), Hartford, CT (WVIT, WRDM), Washington, D.C. (WRC-TV, WZDC), Miami-Fort Lauderdale (WTVJ, WSCV), San Francisco Bay Area (KNTV, KSTS), and San Diego (KNSD, KUAN).

About NBCUniversal Foundation
NBCUniversal Foundation works to advance initiatives at the cross-section of societal needs and Comcast NBCUniversal’s priorities. The Foundation supports programs and organizations that strive to move communities forward. NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks, and a suite of leading Internet-based businesses. NBCUniversal is owned by Comcast Corporation.

About NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations
NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations is the division of NBCUniversal that includes 30 NBC and Telemundo local television stations, a regional news network and their associated websites and digital platforms, as well as a group of out-of-home properties, a production company, an in-house marketing and promotions company and two national multicast networks, COZI TV and TeleXitos. The local stations, which can be viewed in 37 percent of U.S. homes and in Puerto Rico, produce and deliver their local communities compelling and unique local news, real-time weather forecasts, consumer and investigative reports and entertainment programming across all platforms to help keep their English and Spanish-speaking audiences informed anytime and anywhere.