5th Annual What a Great Idea! Contest

A contest to support innovation in human services

The Providers’ Council’s What a Great Idea!Contest aims to support innovation and social enterprise in Massachusetts human services by helping provider agencies bring their innovative ideas to fruition.

Social enterprises use business methods to help achievesocial missions and serve diverse clientele. Such endeavors have the potential to diversify revenue streams, provide new work opportunities for clients and consumers, increase efficiency and cost effectiveness, and create more jobs in the human services sector.

The 5th annual contest will accept applications until Friday, July 31, 2015. Winners will be announced at the Providers’ Council’s annual convention on October 19th, 2015.What a Great Idea!Contest winner(s) will receive consulting services from students at local universities, mentorship from Providers’ Council Innovation and Social Enterprise Committee and guidance from previous contest winners. Services received will depend upon the project and could include a feasibility study, marketing plan, business plan, strategic plan, etc. Proposed projects can be New Social Enterprisesor Expansions of Existing Social Enterprises.

Levels of Applications:

Although new and expansion project proposals are welcome, applications must fit into one of three levels. These levels are based on developmental stages of proposals and are meant to increase accessibility to a broad range of member organizations. All applications must have the full support of the organization CEO and/or Executive Director.

Level 1: Concept Paper

Applicants submitting proposals in Level 1 are projects in the initial stage of development. Proposals will include a skeleton outline including basic elements (idea, strategy, estimated resources needed etc). This level is ideal for an organization that has a great idea, but is unsure how to fit this idea into their existing programming or is looking for additional creative minds to brainstorm a plan for development, feasibility study and/or funding sources.

Level 2: Project Proposal

This level asks applicants to lay out a clear plan including documentation of initial steps that have been taken, potential business outlines and development stages which have been identified through internal processes. Applicants will provide detailed plans for future development while highlighting areas where student consultants and mentorship will be of particular value. This level is ideal for organizations that have been working to develop a project, but have been unable to move forward up to this point.

Level 3: Business Plan/Pilot Proposal

This level is intended for organizations that have considered details regarding infrastructure, staffing and projected outcomes of project. Organizations submitting applications at this level should have identified necessary steps to move the project into a pilot stage. Applicants will highlight specific areas where expert guidance and support will be necessary. Additionally, projects at this level should have a timeline with projected benchmarks and deadlines. This level is ideal for organizations that have been working on a project for some time but need extra support or resources to move into the pilot stage.

Contest Requirements:

Providers’ Council member organizations are invited to submit their innovative idea for a social enterprise to the What a Great Idea!Contest. In order to be considered, ideas must:

  • Be connected to a human service agency based in Massachusetts that is a Providers’ Council Member in good standing
  • Have full support of organization CEO and/or Executive Director.
  • Be innovative and creative.
  • Serve the human services community of the Commonwealth.
  • Be feasible and sustainable: the parent agency must demonstrate that they have the capacity and plans to support the project and bring this idea to fruition beyond the contest.
  • Be aligned with the parent organization’s mission as a human service provider.
  • Further self-sufficiency for the parent organization.
  • Have agency support of 8-10 hours of staff time each week that the 14 week consulting project is in progress. This will likely be spread out over multiple staff members.

*Please note, all applications will be reviewed through a blind reading process in order to protect the integrity of the contest, ISE Committee members and proposed applications.

Submission Guidelines:

Completed applications should be submitted to Liz Woodbury, Manager of Education and Partnerships at the Providers’ Council by Friday, July 31.

Applications can be submitted via email: or by fax 617.428.1533 attn: Liz Woodbury

Only complete applications, with all required components will be considered

For more information, please contact Liz Woodbury at or 617.428.3637 x125