Ashoka Carnegie Challenge for Civic Leadership 2027 (Seed Grants for Changemakers & more) – YOA

Deadline: January 31, 2027

The Carnegie Challenge for Civic Leadership 2027 is now open! Do you might have an thought for creating constructive change in your faculty or group? Or are you already engaged on a mission for good and fascinating others to make a difference? That’s civic management: figuring out a problem in your group and dealing with others to create options, encourage motion, and make a constructive difference.

Ashoka Changemakers is looking on everybody aged 20 and underneath residing in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, the United States, and U.S. territories. Are you main a mission that’s making a difference? Are you part of a youth-led group that helps individuals get entangled of their communities? Or do you might have an thought to vary the world that you simply’d like to put into motion?

If your reply is YES to any of those questions, apply to the Carnegie Challenge for Civic Leadership! This is your likelihood to win seed funding, join with different younger changemakers, and attend an unforgettable in-particular person convening.

Benefits

All Eligible Participants Will Receive:

• Multiple pathways to funding, with alternatives for early candidates in addition to finalists and Grand Prize winners.
• Peer suggestions by way of the Challenge on-line platform, together with the OPPORTUNITY to attach with different Challenge candidates and evaluate functions from friends.
• Access to on-demand trainings to help your changemaking journey, plus stay help periods and workplace hours.
• The alternative to develop into a licensed Ashoka Youth Venturer, whether or not or not they’re chosen as a winner of the Challenge. If you’ve taken motion on an concept that creates constructive change in your faculty or group, you might be eligible to earn a Youth Venture Certificate from Ashoka, a world chief in youth social entrepreneurship. If you’re not fairly able to be licensed but, Ashoka will work with you to fulfill the certification standards. Along the best way, you’ll achieve entry to instruments, assets, and a rising group of younger changemakers who’re main change collectively.

Early Application Deadline | Seed Grants: Apply early for the chance to obtain seed funding to jumpstart your civic management journey. Eligible candidates who submit by the Early Application Deadline could also be chosen to obtain a Seed grant:

• United States: Up to 600 candidates who apply by November 17 will probably be eligible to obtain a $100 USD Civic Seed Grant.
• Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa: 25 eligible candidates from every nation who apply by October 10 will obtain a $50 USD Civic Seed Grant.

These grants are designed to assist younger changemakers take the following step in bringing their concepts to life whereas persevering with by the Challenge.

Finalist Awards: Following the evaluate course of, finalists will obtain funding to develop their impression.

United States

• 12 Winners will obtain $500 USD Civic Promise Award
• 10 Finalists will every obtain $1,000 USD Civic Impact Award
• 2 Grand Prize Winners will every obtain $10,000 USD Civic Leadership Award
• Anyone receiving a grant $500 or above will probably be thought-about for a spot at an in-particular person convening within the US in the course of the week of July 12, 2027 the place they are going to join, construct abilities, and rejoice their work alongside fellow younger civic leaders. A complete of 10 Challenge Winners will probably be invited to attend the in-particular person convening.*

*Ashoka will cowl eligible journey and participation prices, together with airfare, lodge lodging, floor transportation, and meals in the course of the convening. Chaperone journey may even be supplied for eligible contributors underneath 18, in accordance with the Challenge Rules.

Kenya, Nigeria & South Africa

Distributed equally among the many three international locations, a complete of 66 winners will probably be chosen:

• 30 Winners will every obtain $250 USD Civic Promise Award
• 30 Finalists will every obtain $1,000 USD Civic Impact Award
• 6 Grand Prize Winners will every obtain $5,000 USD Civic Leadership Award

Anyone receiving a grant $250 or above will probably be thought-about for a spot at an in-particular person convening in the course of the week of July 26, 2027, the place they are going to join, construct abilities, and rejoice their work alongside fellow younger civic leaders. A complete of 30 Challenge Winners will probably be invited to attend the in-particular person convening in Kenya.*

*Ashoka will cowl eligible journey and participation prices, together with airfare, lodge lodging, floor transportation, and meals in the course of the convening. Chaperone journey may even be supplied for eligible contributors underneath 18, in accordance with the Challenge Rules.

Eligibility

• Participants should be people aged 20 or youthful by the tip of the entry interval (January 31, 2027). Please observe: Applicants primarily based in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa who’re 17 years previous or youthful will need to have an grownup help with finishing their application. In the United States, candidates who’re 12 years previous or youthful will need to have an grownup help with finishing their application.
• Participants should be situated in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and/or the United States and U.S. Territories.
• Applications should be submitted in English.
• The submitted mission should be youth-led, with the first mission lead underneath 20 years of age.
• Employees of the Andrew Carnegie Foundation or Ashoka, together with their kids and grandchildren, will not be eligible to apply.

Evaluation Criteria

• Dream
• Team
• Creativity
• Changed World

Application

Ready to share your mission or thought? Click here to apply.

For extra data, go to Ashoka Changemakers.