Think You’re Not Innovative? Think Again.

Have you ever stared down at a grant solicitation thinking, “Is my project innovative enough?”

You're not alone. "Innovation" can feel like a high bar reserved for Nobel prize-winning scientific breakthroughs or Silicon Valley moonshots. But the truth is that most funders define innovation far more broadly and accessibly than you may think.

In fact, some of the most fundable ideas aren’t flashy at all. They’re smart adaptations, unexpected partnerships, or simple shifts in how we solve persistent problems. And often, the most compelling proposals are the ones that clearly explain why this approach is different and why it could work.

Read on to unpack what innovation actually means in grant funding, how to spot it in your own work (even if it seems standard), and how to write about it in a way that makes reviewers say heck yes.

What Funders Really Mean by Innovation

When it comes to grants, the term innovation doesn’t exist in a vacuum; it’s always in response to a problem, gap, or unmet need. Funders are not simply asking, “What’s new?”…they’re also asking, ‘What’s missing from existing solutions, and how is your approach a better way to solve it?”

The key to positioning your project as innovative is to start with the problem, then clearly show:

1. Why existing solutions fall short

2. What’s still unresolved or overlooked

3. How your idea meaningfully advances the field

Different Ways a Project can be Innovative

Once you’ve framed the problem, your innovation can show up in different forms. These are the patterns that funders (and reviewers) often recognize as “innovative”:

Common Myths About Innovation  (And What to Do Instead)

Like it or not, innovation grants are becoming increasingly popular with funders of all types. But before you pack it up and close the browser tab for your application, read through a few common myths that might be holding you back from telling a stronger innovation story:

❌ Myth #1: “We’re just doing direct service, we’re not inventing anything.”

✅ Innovation isn’t about what you deliver, it’s about how and why.
If you’re adapting services to reach a new group, increase equity, or reduce barriers, you’re innovating. Many funders care more about outcome innovation (solving a problem more effectively) than technical novelty.

Example: A nonprofit restructured its maternal care program to include doulas from the same cultural background as participants. The service wasn't new, but the model led to better outcomes and higher trust.

❌ Myth #2: “Someone else already tried this idea.”

✅ Innovation can mean doing what’s been done elsewhere but better, smarter, or in a new setting. Funders value thoughtful adaptation, especially if you’re improving on prior models or applying them in a context they haven’t reached.

Example: You’re taking a successful food pharmacy model from urban hospitals and piloting it in rural tribal communities. If the new population or delivery mechanism changes the outcome, that is your innovation.

❌ Myth #3: “We’re using existing tools, so there’s nothing new here.”

✅ Combining existing elements in a new way is often the most fundable kind of innovation. Think remix, not reinvention. Especially in public health and biotech, pairing clinical approaches with social, behavioral, or digital tools can be powerful.

Example: Pairing wearable glucose sensors with financial coaching to improve diabetes control in low-income populations. Two established tools, but a novel integration.

❌ Myth #4: “We’re not using AI or high-tech tools.”

✅ Technology is just one form of innovation. Systems change, policy shifts, culturally grounded models, and community-designed interventions are equally (and sometimes more) compelling.

Example: A grant reviewer may be more impressed by a peer-led, trauma-informed housing navigation model for formerly incarcerated people than by a chatbot if the former model shows better promise for scale and impact.

❌ Myth #5: “It’s not risky enough.”

✅ Risk is relative. Most funders want smart bets, and rarely do they want moonshots (although some grants specifically ask for this). A lower-risk project that’s unusually well-timed, fills a critical gap, or can be rapidly deployed can be just as innovative as a blue-sky idea.

A Quick Word of Caution

Caveat #1: Not all innovation is right for all grants.

Some funders are laser-focused on high-risk, high-reward breakthroughs. Some are really looking for paradigm-shifting projects, novel platforms, or ideas that could radically transform a field. These programs want bold bets. They are looking to fund ideas that may take a while to develop and gain enough traction for investors/philanthropists (think deep tech).

Others (especially private foundations or public health-oriented funders) often care more about practical, community-rooted innovation. They want to fund smart, achievable solutions that address systemic inequities, reach overlooked groups, or scale what works in a new context.

So while not every project will be a fit for every innovation grant, chances are there’s one out there that is a fit for you. The key is to understand which flavor of innovation the funder is looking for and tailor your framing accordingly.

Caveat #2: Not all reviewers have the same definition of innovation.

Even within a single grant program, you might get reviewers from different backgrounds. One person’s “transformative” might be another’s “incremental.” That’s why it’s critical to clearly explain how and why your approach is innovative.

You need to spell it out:

• What makes your idea stand out from the status quo?

• Why is this the right moment for it?

• How does it build on (or challenge) what’s been done before?

• Why are you the right person/team/organization for the job?

That leads us to the next key section:
How to sell your innovation in a way that reviewers can see and believe.

How to Write Your Innovation Statement

Once you’ve clarified what makes your work innovative, it’s time to make that case on paper. Reviewers want to understand what is special about your innovation quickly and clearly. That’s where a good innovation statement comes in.

I’ve created a simple tool to help.

Introducing the Innovation Statement Builder

This quick worksheet helps you craft a funder-ready innovation statement grounded in need, not just buzzwords.

Use it to:

• Frame your innovation in the context of a clear problem

• Differentiate your approach from the status quo

• Cut the jargon and explain your idea in plain, persuasive language

Innovation doesn’t need to be complicated, but it does need to be clear.

When reviewers are reading dozens of applications, they’re scanning for two things:

1. What makes this different?

2. Why should I believe it could work?

That means your innovation should:

• It should be stated early in the proposal (not buried on page 6)

• Use plain language that a smart outsider can understand

• Explain not just what you’re doing, but why it’s better

If your idea is truly new, help the reader connect the dots.

Innovation isn’t reserved for cutting-edge startups or billion-dollar budgets.
It’s about better solutions to real problems, fresh thinking applied with intention, and community-rooted ideas that challenge the status quo.

You’ve probably already got something innovative in the works. Now it’s just about framing it so funders see it too.

Need help identifying the innovation in your next proposal?

I help health and health-focused teams plan, fund, and launch projects that get results. Reach out to discuss how we can work together to expand your impact.