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Overview of Enabling Lives Initiative (ELI) Grant

Started in 2014, the Enabling Lives Initiative (ELI) Grant is funded by Tote Board and administered by SG Enable. To address current and complex challenges faced by persons with disabilities over the course of their lives, the ELI Grant was conceived to support projects that have the potential to make meaningful social impact by improving the well-being of persons with disabilities.

The ELI Grant was a strategic initiative to support the development of innovative and evidence-based projects dedicated to improving the well-being of persons with disabilities. The initiative brings together the expertise in the community such as social service agencies (SSAs), social enterprises and other organisations to create scalable, impactful innovations for persons with disabilities.

Summary of ELI Achievements:

16 Themed grant calls launched

REACHED OUT TO OVER 2,300 potential grantees through workshops and grant call engagement sessions

OVER 400 Organisations engaged

MORE THAN 70 Projects supported

COMMITED OVER $30 million to support projects

MORE THAN 20,000 Persons with disabilities and their caregivers benefited

ELI Grant Seeks to:

Support evidence-based projects, seed innovative ideas, new models, pilots as well as scale-up existing ELI Grant projects.
Proactively build collaborations between sector and non-sector players
Share good practices and learning across the disability and wider social sector
Embed an ‘outcomes-based approach’ to help shape desired outcomes within the disability sector
Facilitate deeper engagement with partners and between partners

About Enabling Lives Initiative 3 (ELI3)

Running in its third tranche (2024 – 2028), the $23 million grant now includes an Incubation Phase for shortlisted applicants to enhance their proposals through funded workshop and mentorship.

Shortlisted applicants will embark on an Incubation Phase specifically designed to nurture and elevate their innovative ideas for persons with disabilities. Shortlisted applicants will actively participate in design-thinking and innovation workshops, creating valuable opportunities to connect with fellow changemakers who share the same passion.

Shortlisted applicants will also receive personalised mentorship from an appointed incubation partner, who will provide guidance on conducting targeted needs analysis and market research.

At the conclusion of the Incubation Phase, applicants will present their change ideas to the Evaluation Panel, which will determine their eligibility for funding.

ELI3 will be focusing on empowering families and post-18 persons with disabilities to thrive and lead meaningful lives. Specifically, the Grant seeks to engender change in the following areas:

- Living and Care Support
- Livelihood & Economic Empowerment
- Community Participation & Engagement

What's Unique

What if the Grant wasn’t just about the money? How might we create a holistic grant journey experience that supports and excite the entire sector, bringing together the various expertise of social service agencies, social enterprises and other organisations?

Application Assistance

We support you by walking you through the Grant application process and providing relevant resources and learning opportunies.
Human-centric Design Grant

Designed using human-centric design principles and backed by in-depth research with other grant makers, grant applicants and other stakeholders, we aim to support your initiatives that directly impacts and meets the needs of persons with disabilities.
Access to Various Opportunities

We provide platforms for you to meet, network and exchange ideas with other sector and non-sector players' and access to other disability-related projects/programmes, so that your idea can create greater reach and impact.
Simplifying the Process

We make the process as easy and straightforward as we can, without compromising standards.

ELI Grant (2020 – 2024)

The Enabling Lives Initiative (ELI) Grant (2020 – 2024) is a $20 million grant that will bring together the best ideas from the community of non-profit organisations, social enterprises and innovators to create scalable, impactful innovations for persons with disabilities.

Grant principles

Acting as an aggregator to review the ground and sense the needs of the community
Supporting the scaling up of tested and proven solutions
Providing a platform to foster community efforts and collaborations
Catalysing innovation through pilots and non-traditional solutions

Key focus areas

Living Independently

Empower persons with disabilities to better manage life transitions and encourage greater levels of independence and self-sufficiency.
Realising Potentials

Enable persons with disabilities to thrive and have opportunities for meaningful employment and experiences by developing their skills and knowledge.
Connecting Communities

Engage the community to increase the accessibility of services, facilities and opportunities to create a more inclusive society.

Schedule of Grant Calls

Date	Grant Call	Theme
Apr 2021	1	Connecting Communities: Changing Times, Changing Needs
Oct 2021	2	Realising Potentials: Creating Meaningful Experiences, Enhancing Learning and Well-being
Mar 2022	3	Living Independently: Stepping into the Future, Now.
Sep 2022	4	Living Independently: Stepping into the Future, Now. (Note: Theme and Problem Statement are the same as that for Grant Call 3.)
Apr 2023	5	Connecting Communities: Accessibility – A community of the people, by the people, for the people.
Aug 2023	6	Realising Potential, Enriching Lives

How to apply

Step
1

Before you apply

Applicant checks Grant eligibility criteria, and application guidelines

Take note of current Grant Call theme and closing date of application

Attend briefing/ networking session to meet other like-minded individuals
Step
2

Application

Read details of the Grant on Enabling Lives Initiative (ELI) Grant website carefully and ensure your project/programme fulfills all criteria listed

Submit application form (and supporting documentation) to the ELI Team at SG Enable
Step
3

After you apply

Upon receipt of your completed application form, the ELI Team will send you an acknowledgement email

We may get in touch with you to better understand your project/programme idea

You may also be requested to provide more information where necessary, and to further develop and refine your project/programme idea

If shortlisted, you will have to pitch your proposal to the Evaluation Panel
Step
4

Result of application

If your application is successful, you will be informed and a letter of offer will be sent to you via email

All unsuccessful applicants will be informed accordingly

Desired Outcomes

As part of Enabling Lives Initiative (ELI) Grant’s strategic initiative, projects/programmes funded under this grant must work towards meeting at least one of the desired outcomes listed in the table below.

A Social Impact Measurement Toolkit has been developed to collect information about the projects/programmes funded by ELI Grant so that an understanding about the impact of these projects/programmes for the desired outcomes can be obtained and measured. The ELI Team will walk through the Toolkit with successful grantees.

Areas	Persons with Disabilities
Well-being	Persons with disabilities experience increased psychological and emotional well-being.
Empowerment / Support	Persons with disabilities improve in their life skills (i.e. independent living skills, functional skills etc.) as much as their potential allows.
Empowerment / Support	Persons with disabilities (or their proxies) are able to make informed decisions and planning via better support and access to information, programme and product navigation.
Integration with Society	Persons with disabilities have more opportunities to participate in social, family, economic and community life.

What the ELI Grant funds

The Grant funds new innovative ideas and supports scaling up of existing projects/programmes such as development and adaptation of products, prototypes and toolkits, online platforms and applications, and programmes/new service models.

The Grant funds new innovative ideas as well as the scaling up of existing projects/programmes.

Product and Prototype Development/ Adaptation
Online Platform and Application
Toolkit Development/ Adaptation
Programme/ New service model

Eligible Applicants

Social Service Agency
Non-Private Hospital
Research Institute
Commercial Entity*
Institute of Higher Learning
Social Enterprise*

* Social Enterprises are to be registered under Singapore Centre for Social Enterprise (raiSE). Commercial entities are to partner with at least one of the other entities to be eligible for the Grant.

Funding Guidelines

The Grant covers between 50% and 90% of the eligible expenses of the project/programme. All projects/programmes must commit to a minimum of one year and a maximum of three years.

Proposals are evaluated by an independent Evaluation Panel based on merits of the proposal and the type of organisation.

Eligible expenses for claims include costs directly related to project/programme development such as manpower, marketing and outreach, equipment, software and consumables, third-party research and consultancy.

The Grant does not cover daily operation costs such as rental of office spaces, utilities, and manpower costs not related to the project/programme.

The final funding quantum and funding components are decided by the Evaluation Panel, and in some situations, Tote Board. Grant applicants are expected to co-fund, or seek other funding sources to cover the remaining expenses not covered by the Grant.

To find out more about Grant and the eligibility and funding guidelines, click here for ELI Grant (2020 -2024) FAQs

What we require of you and your projects

A project/programme focus

Projects must aim at improving the well-being of persons with disabilities. They must have well-defined goals and objectives to meet the desired outcomes of the Enabling Lives Initiative (ELI) Grant.
Open access

Your project/programme must be open for all to access. It should not be limited to an organisation-specific membership.

Subject to approval, applicants are allowed to charge a nominal fee for their project/programme. The fees collected are to go into cost-recovery of the remaining expenses that are not funded by the Grant. Details of the pricing model and what the fees collection will be used for will have to be declared.
Intellectual property rights

Grant applicants own any intellectual property (IP) rights, but they shall give access to use of this IP at no cost to the ELI Team bearers (i.e. SG Enable and Tote Board).

For projects/programmes that terminate prematurely, IP rights will reside with the ELI Team for recycling purposes.
Reporting and impact measurement

The applicant must be willing to comply with the monitoring and reporting guidelines of the Grant. You must adhere to the minimum standards of service established for the project/programme.

Successful grantees will be required to carry out impact measurement of the project/programme using the Social Impact Measurement Toolkit prescribed by SG Enable.

Click here to find out more about Social Impact Measurement.
Shared learning

The applicant must be willing to share the findings and/or recommendations arising from the funded projects/programmes for shared learning purposes when necessary.

How are projects/programmes evaluated?

Proposals are evaluated based on the following criteria:

Innovation
- The proposed idea is new in the disability sector, or it is differentiated from existing solutions in the sector.
Collaboration
- Applicants are highly encouraged to collaborate with at least one partner for the project/programme. It can be a Social Service Agency, Non-Profit Hospital, Institute of Higher Learning, Research Institute, Social Enterprise, or Commercial entity.
- Commercial Entity applicants are to partner with at least one of the other entities above to be eligible for the Grant.
- The collaboration model should aim to leverage on partners’ strengths to bring about greater impact for the project/programme.
Feasibility
- Resources - Project team comprises members of relevant qualifications and skillsets to ensure the project/programme can be delivered as planned.
- Evidence-based research - Proposal and the needs or gap assessment is supported by evidence-based studies/ research/ market research.
- Expected Reach (during project/programme duration) - Proposal is supported by adequate demand from ground and has specific plans to outreach to the beneficiaries.
- Scalability or Adaptability (beyond project/programme duration) – Proposal has the potential to be scaled and/or adapted.
Sustainability
- Evidence to show for the long-term sustainability of the proposal.

I am a past grantee of TBELI Grant. Can I re-apply for funding for my completed project/programme?

Yes! In recognition that some projects/ programmes may require a longer germination period before they achieve longer-term sustainability, the ELI Grant supports a stepped-down funding (up to 70% co-funding) for projects/programmes that have performed well and require a second round of funding.

For repeat applicants, while all the 4 key evaluation criteria are still applicable, applicants should place more emphasis on:
- Scalability and Adaptability
  — Ensure project/programme is able to scale up further from its phase 1
- Sustainability
  — Greater need to ensure that the project/programme will be sustainable after the second funding
Projects/programmes seeking scale-up funding will be evaluated alongside all other applications. Only one repeat application is allowed per project/programme.

TBELI Grant (2015 – 2020)

The Tote Board Enabling Lives Initiative (TBELI) Grant (2015 – 2020) is a $23 million grant that brought together the best ideas from the community of non-profit organisations, social enterprises and innovators to create scalable, impactful innovations for persons with disabilities.

The Grant supported new, innovative and evidence-based projects/programmes in the following areas:

Caregiver & Natural Support

Natural Support refers to resources inherent in the community environment that can be tapped for rehabilitation and support purposes.

Natural Support can take the form of personal relationships and associations from the community that can enhance the support network of persons with disabilities and their caregivers and can occur in the workplace, neighbourhood and community, classrooms, clubs, organisations, and through other civic activities.

Caregivers are people who provide assistance with daily activities. It often requires attention to the physical, mental, social and psychological needs and wellbeing of the care recipients.

Caregivers are integral members of the disability landscape and their role and wellbeing cannot be ignored. Caregivers can be empowered and supported through a comprehensive range of support mechanisms that addresses areas such as caregiving, financial, socio-emotional and training needs etc.

Data & Technology

Data and Technology is an enabler for persons with disabilities and their caregivers. As a platform that creates more opportunities, persons with disabilities and their caregivers can benefit largely from the use of data and technology. For example, Assistive Technology can enhance and enable persons with disabilities and caregivers in areas such as information and resources, mobility and navigation, communication, work productivity and daily living etc.

Transition Management

In the disability landscape, transitions are defined as points of change in services, and in the personnel and organisations that coordinate and provide services to children and families. Transitions can be in the form of movement from one life phase to another, or movements from one service to another. As such, Transition Management refers to a coordinated set of activities that takes into account the client’s needs, preferences and interests and supports them across these transitions points.

The first grant call of TBELI Grant (2015 – 2020) was launched in 2015. Since then, 10 grant calls have been launched (two thematic grant calls each year), and a total of 43 projects/programmes have been supported.

SCHEDULE OF GRANT CALLS

Date	Grant Call	Theme
Jan 2015	1	Data and Tech: Information & Resources
Jul 2015	2	Caregiver Support: Caregiver Psycho-social Support
Jan 2016	3	Transition Management: Transition to Post School
Jul 2016	4	Data & Tech: (a) Accessibility and Mobility & (b) Transition to Work
Jan 2017	5	Data & Tech: Independent Living and Future Care
Sep 2017	6	Data & Tech: Enriching Social Life and Expanding Work Opportunities
Mar 2018	7	Caregiver Support: Emergent Daily Needs
Sep 2018	8	Work and Community Integration
Mar 2019	9	Caregiver Support: (a) Transition & Changing Needs (b) Social Network & Support
Sep 2019	10	Data & Tech: Social Innovation & Transformation

Overview of Enabling Lives Initiative (ELI) Grant

Summary of ELI Achievements:

ELI Grant Seeks to:

About Enabling Lives Initiative 3 (ELI3)

What's Unique

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