Community Type
Delineating rural, nonrural, and other distinctions across community types in the U.S. is complex given that there are many definitions that could apply. Given this context, we are sharing several resources it may be helpful to refer to in choosing the definition of community type that most closely applies to an applicant’s proposed project area:
- Defining Rural at the U.S. Census Bureau
- Frontier and Remote Area Codes developed by USDA
Scalability
- Article: Emerging Pathways to Transformative Scale Stanford SOCIAL INNOVATION Review (SSIR) 2014
- Article: The Four Pathways to Impact at Scale The Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE) at Duke University 2023
Solution Stage
Proposals from organizations operating in a range of stages will be encouraged to apply. From start-up or early-stage organizations with a new idea, to existing organizations and partnerships with strong proofs of concepts or proven solutions ready to scale.
Research & Ideation: Developing a new approach but has not tested the approach.
- Start-up / early-stage organization or new partnership with a new idea or approach
- Start-up / early-stage organization or new partnership with a proof of concept
- Existing organization / partnership with a new idea or approach
Proof of Concept: Implementing the strategy for a small number of target beneficiaries.
- Existing organization / partnership with a proof of concept
Scaling: Has evidence of impact and is expanding and adapting the strategy to a greater number of beneficiaries, potentially in new geographies, but has yet to achieve large-scale implementation.
- Existing organization / partnership with a proven solution that is ready to scale
Operating at Scale: Has evidence that strategy achieves impact and is delivering the solution at scale.
- Existing organization / partnership with a solution operating at scale
Research & Tools
- Article: Melinda French Gates commits $150 Million to Help Women Thrive at Work Pivotal 2024
- Article: Explore the data: Tracking Women’s Power The Economist and Pivotal 2024
- Report: Women in the Workplace 2024: The 10th-anniversary report McKinsey & Company 2024
