Process Requirements

Generally, the process of applying for an Arago Honor begins when a nonprofit completes the short inquiry form. After reviewing the five short questions and two attachments, the Meridian Foundation will contact your nonprofit regarding next steps. There is no deadline for submitting the short inquiry form as we are using a “rolling “ application process. We would like to receive all short inquiry forms for the current year prior to September 15.

If your nonprofit is to go further in the process of review a site visit will be held where we can discuss the details of your innovation story together.

After the site visit, a nonprofit under consideration will complete the more traditional longer application form for funding.

The longer form asks about:

  • FTE or number of employees.

  • When your innovation began. We have added more flexibility to when your innovation began than when our recognition program was originally established. However, keep in mind that innovation does have a timeline and stronger innovations are newer concepts.

  • Practices regarding your nonprofit’s inclusion and diversity policies are included to show there is a feedback loop for the clients you are serving and how your board also reflects the community.

  • We also ask nonprofits to self-select the appropriate focus area their project addresses. As many as three areas may be selected. Choices are: culture, education, environment, food insecurity, housing, health and well- being or an area of your choosing.

The first step in the application process is to complete the short inquiry form linked on the Meridian Foundation website and submit it as a Google Form with two attachments—

  • Proof of IRS 501c3 eligibility from the IRS and

  • A budget for the nominated program.

Nonprofits that seek to be recognized for innovation will find the simpler short inquiry form much less time consuming to complete. The Meridian Foundation is a small entity and its founder is pursuing nonprofit innovation as a passion. We believe the new short inquiry form will lighten the load for both the foundation and applicants.

The Process of Selection After Submitting the Short Inquiry Form

The step-by-step review process begins when an applicant submits the new short inquiry form reviewed by the Meridian Foundation to assess the strength of innovation.

  1. Successful nonprofits worthy of more discovery will be contacted for a site visit and further discussion before being invited to submit a submit a more traditional long application form (also using Google drive) for consideration by the foundation. Sometimes this step will take a month or more.

  2. Volunteer readers will assist the foundation using a uniform criteria sheet to share their own views regarding the nuances of the nonprofit’s innovative project being considered.

  3. The next review stage will involve an internal compilation of all readers’ comments and a thorough internet source review to create four or less specific questions for each finalist in the cohort. This will happen on or about October 1 of each year.

  4. Discovery continues with a scheduled zoom call with staff from the innovating nonprofit to celebrate selection. Also discussed are the confirmed funding amount from the foundation and the nonprofit’s ranking of innovation by the Meridian Foundation on or about December 1 of each year.

  5. In the new year, a case study will be prepared about the innovating nonprofit recipient that is posted on the Meridian Foundation website. This case study encourages other nonprofits to find their own creative solutions to community problems.