i2 Innovation Initiative

Opportunity for California nonprofit organizations, for-profits, and social enterprises to participate in an initiative that promotes the advancement of the health and wellness of marginalized communities in eligible locations. Participants in the program will take part in a business development workshop and have the opportunity to work with a mentor, receive technical assistance and coaching, and receive funding. The project must initially benefit the most vulnerable populations in San Diego and/or Imperial County.

With the i2 Challenge Grant, Alliance Healthcare Foundation seeks promising innovation to transform the current health paradigm of high cost and poor outcomes to improve quality, increase capacity, and reduce costs for the most vulnerable populations in San Diego and/or Imperial counties. The i2 Challenge Grant represents a 12-month demonstration and workshop cycle that allows eligible i2 applicants to hone their business plan and grant proposal with the aid of experts provided by Alliance and its Innovation Partners. The 12-months also allows the Program and Evaluation Committees time to get to know the finalists and develop a deeper understanding of their innovation solution.

i2 is a milestone-based challenge grant which includes a 12-month mentorship journey culminating in a final pitch session to a panel of judges. ACF's overarching goal is to support the winner of the i2 Challenge Grant as they go on to secure additional funding; scale their solution for maximum benefit for their focus population, and become self-sustainable.

ACF is seeking sustainable market-based innovations and/or systems-change transformations aimed at closing gaps in health equity and wellness, which have been dramatically exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Examples of Closing Gaps (purely for illustration; not an exhaustive list): 

• Chronic condition prevention and/or management (diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular)
• Access to health and wellness for those without broadband connectivity, transportation, health literacy, language fluency
• Opportunity for wealth building at lowest income levels
• Access to mental and behavioral health care for the under- and uninsured

Eligible proposals must address one of the following:

• Systemic Problems in the healthcare system, such as:
• Expanding access to quality healthcare resources to all (i.e., navigation, care coordination, cultural competency or removing barriers such as transportation, health literacy, language fluency, remote monitoring, telehealth)
• Elimination of bias within health systems (i.e., integrated care, fair financing, incorporating social determinants of health, cultural competency, language accessibility)
• Wholistic Chronic Condition Prevention & Management, such as:
• Leveraging technology to improve outcomes; reduce re-admission; improve adherence, etc.
• Eliminating environmental hazards that exasperate health disparities
• Improving access to quality and effective behavioral health services