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Catalyst - UWCI Logo

Catalyst Design Lab Application

Application

Thank you for your interest in exploring participation in United Way of Central Indiana's Catalyst Design Lab.


This application is designed to identify nonprofit and community leaders with strong problem clarity, learning readiness, leadership capacity, and commitment to participate fully in the Catalyst Design Lab.

Anticipated Program Dates: April 23 – June 25
Meeting Format: Weekly, in-person 3-hour session, 9:00am – 12:00pm








Self-Assessment: Is Catalyst Design Lab Right for You?

Prior to completing the application, please complete this brief self-assessment which is designed to help potential applicants determine whether the Catalyst Design Lab (Catalyst) is the right fit for their current stage, goals, and capacity. Catalyst is a start-up lab, learning-driven, in-person design and validation experience — not a traditional grant program or accelerator.


Select all that apply.

Select all that apply.
Applicants are encouraged to proceed if most of the first set of statements apply. If you are unsure, we recommend attending an information session or reaching out to catalyst@uwci.org with questions before applying.

Applicant Acknowledgement



Application Questions

Each question must be answered for consideration.


300 Word Limit

300 Word Limit

300 Word Limit

300 Word Limit

300 Word Limit


300 Word Limit

300 Word Limit

300 Word Limit

300 Word Limit

300 Word Limit

Eligibility and Disqualification Thresholds

The Catalyst Design Lab is a high touch, in‑person design and validation experience. Applications that do not meet the minimum thresholds below may be removed from consideration prior to full scoring to protect cohort quality and reviewer capacity.

  • Attendance & Time Commitment: Applicant must confirm availability for all weekly in‑person sessions (April 23–June 25) and commit sufficient time between sessions. Inability to meet this requirement is disqualifying.
  • Problem Readiness: Applications must articulate a clearly defined human services or basic‑needs problem. Submissions focused primarily on scaling an existing, well‑established program without openness to redesign or learning may be deemed out of scope.
  • Learning Orientation: Applicants must demonstrate willingness to test assumptions, receive feedback, and adapt or abandon ideas based on evidence. Applications seeking guaranteed funding or validation only may be disqualified.
  • Leadership Authority: At least one weekly participant must have decision‑making authority (or direct access to decision‑makers) to implement changes during the Lab.
  • Stage Alignment: Catalyst is not a traditional accelerator or grant program. Applications that are either too early (no articulated problem) or too late (fully built, scaled solutions seeking expansion capital only) may be excluded.
  • Values & Conduct: Applicants must demonstrate a record of professional conduct consistent with UWCI's commitment to respectful collaboration, legal compliance, and ethical operations. UWCI may disqualify applicants with substantiated, unresolved legal, regulatory, ethical, or compliance issues that pose a material risk to program delivery or partnership.
  • Funding Eligibility: Applicants must be eligible to receive philanthropic funds directly or through a fiscal agent or fiscal sponsor if selected for seed funding.

Note: Meeting minimum eligibility or scoring thresholds does not guarantee selection. Final cohort decisions will consider application scores along with cohort composition factors such as the variety of problem statements, organizational contexts, and approaches represented, to support a strong learning environment.



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