when you are in the earliest stage…

First, don’t quit your day job just yet.  If you have employment income, it’s typically best to fully research, prototype, refine and test your idea while staying employed.  For additional funding to develop their idea, innovators often apply to the UU Funding Panel for small grants up to $20k, use Faithify for UU crowdfunding, and ask members of their congregations for support.  At this early stage, innovators typically create a patchwork of support from myriad sources including: smaller grants like The Awesome Foundation, local private foundations, friends, and relatives. In this design phase, look carefully for partnership opportunities with existing institutions or organizations that might share an aspect of your mission and could provide key resources you need at no or low cost.