iCarol is Accepting Applications for Technology Solution Grants

Hopefully you heard the news late last year: the iCarol Technology Solution Grant is now open for applications year-round! Previously we offered grants during set grant cycles, but we’ve now updated this program to accept and consider applications at any time because we understand that our customers’ needs don’t always align with set timelines. So this is a friendly reminder to submit your application!

The History of the iCarol Technology Solutions Grant

iCarol initiated these grants in 2024 to help organizations build capacity for specific products that enable them to include self-service tools, automation of processes, closed-loop referral, coordinated intake and capacity tracking, and more. Eligible organizations can receive up to six months of iCarol’s capacity-building features at no cost.

How to Apply and Tips for a Successful Grant Application

Our grant application is available online at this link. We encourage everyone to carefully read through the terms before submitting an application. When you’re putting together your application, the most important thing is to be clear and specific. We want to understand the challenge you’re trying to solve, how the requested product will help, and what success will look like for your organization. The more thoughtfully you can connect those dots, the stronger your application will be.

A great place to start is with your use case. Tell us exactly how you plan to use the product, who will use it, and what part of your work it will support. A focused, well-defined use case is much more helpful than a broad wish list. If you can, explain how this solution fits into your current workflow and why it matters right now.

It’s also important to describe the challenge you’re facing today. What problem are you trying to solve? What’s not working as well as it should? The more you can explain your current situation, the easier it is to see why this grant would make a meaningful difference.

We also encourage applicants to think about success in measurable terms. How will you know the product is making an impact? What metrics will you track? This could include things like time saved, increased efficiency, improved follow-up, better service delivery, or other outcomes that matter to your team. Even if you’re starting small, having a clear way to measure progress helps show that you have a thoughtful plan in place.

Another important piece is explaining why this purchase isn’t possible right now without grant support. Maybe budget timing is tight, priorities have shifted, or you’re trying to prove the value of a new solution before making a larger investment. Whatever the reason, being transparent helps us better understand your situation and the role the grant could play.

Above all, we’re looking for applications that are practical, well thought out, and ready to put the technology to work. A strong application doesn’t need to be complicated — it just needs to show that you know what you need, why you need it, and how you’ll use it to create meaningful results.

Here’s a simple way to think about it: the best applications answer five questions clearly:

• What problem are you trying to solve?
• How will you use the requested product?
• What does success look like?
• What metrics will you track?
• Why do you need grant support, what barriers exist to purchasing this product today?

If you can answer those questions with clarity and confidence, you’ll be in a great position to submit a strong application.

What Happens During The Grant Period?

When a grant application is approved by the iCarol Team, the Support Team will reach out to the grant contact to start the setup and implementation process so the organization can begin using the product as they intended. The Support Team provides training documentation and other resources, and works with the contact to create forms, configure settings, go over options, and anything else needed so they can begin using the product as intended.

During the grant period, recipients will participate in monthly surveys tracking their progress, challenges and successes, and metrics. We ask that grant recipients participate in marketing activities such as providing honest feedback and testimonials about their experience with the grant, iCarol products, iCarol’s team, and more. Once the grant period draws to a close, we ask for recipients’ help creating a case study for our website, and potentially hosting a use case webinar so other iCarol customers can learn more about these products and how they are used to benefit communities.

This change to a year-round offering allows greater flexibility and ensures that support is available whenever your organization is ready. For more information, please see iCarol Technology Grant, and to apply go to iCarol Technology Grant application.