Submissions Open: Carnegie Challenge for Civic Leadership

Deadline: 31-Jan-2027

The Carnegie Challenge for Civic Leadership provides seed funding, awards, training, peer feedback, and capacity-building opportunities for young changemakers aged 20 or younger in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, the United States, and U.S. territories. The Challenge supports youth-led civic projects that address community challenges, create positive change, and inspire others to take action. Eligible participants can access multiple funding opportunities, including Civic Seed Grants, Civic Promise Awards, Civic Impact Awards, and Civic Leadership Awards. Selected winners receiving awards of $500 or more may also be considered for an in-person U.S. convening, with travel and participation costs covered.

About the Carnegie Challenge for Civic Leadership

The Carnegie Challenge for Civic Leadership is designed to empower young people who are already leading or developing projects that create positive change in their schools or communities.

The Challenge encourages youth to:

- Identify challenges in their communities. - Develop practical solutions. - Collaborate with others. - Take civic action. - Inspire positive change. - Strengthen leadership skills. - Build sustainable community initiatives. The programme combines funding with training, peer learning, mentorship-style resources, and access to a community of young leaders. What Does the Carnegie Challenge Support? The Challenge supports youth-led civic initiatives designed to create positive change. Projects may focus on challenges affecting: - Schools. - Local communities. - Young people. - Civic participation. - Community development. - Social issues. - Other areas where youth-led action can create meaningful change. The key requirement is that the project must be youth-led, with the primary project lead under 20 years of age. Who Is Eligible? Applicants must meet the age, location, and project leadership requirements.

Eligible applicants must:

- Be 20 years old or younger by January 31, 2027. - Reside in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, the United States, or U.S. territories. - Be leading or envisioning a youth-led project. - Have a project designed to create positive change in a school or community. - Have the primary project lead under 20 years of age. The programme is open to young people who are already implementing civic initiatives as well as those who are developing or envisioning projects. Age and Adult Support Requirements Additional support requirements apply to younger applicants. Applicants in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa Applicants under 18 years old must have adult support to complete their application. Applicants in the United States Applicants aged 12 or younger must have adult support to complete their application. These requirements are intended to ensure that younger participants have appropriate assistance during the application process. Who Is Not Eligible? Employees of the Andrew Carnegie Foundation or Ashoka, as well as their immediate family members, are not eligible to apply. Applicants should also ensure that their proposed project meets the youth-led requirement. Funding Opportunities The Carnegie Challenge offers several levels of funding. The awards differ depending on the applicant’s country. United States Funding Early applicants in the United States may receive a: $100 Civic Seed Grant Up to 600 Civic Seed Grants are available for early applicants in the United States. The Challenge also provides larger awards for selected U.S. participants. Civic Promise Award

12 winners receive:

$500 each Civic Impact Award

10 finalists receive:

$1,000 each Civic Leadership Award

2 Grand Prize Winners receive:

$10,000 each These awards provide increasing levels of support for youth civic initiatives. Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa Funding Early applicants in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa may receive a: $50 Civic Seed Grant

There are:

25 Civic Seed Grants per country Additional awards are available for selected winners and finalists. Civic Promise Award

Each country has:

30 winners receiving $250 each This means the Civic Promise Award supports 30 winners in Kenya, 30 in Nigeria, and 30 in South Africa. Civic Impact Award

Each country has:

30 finalists receiving $1,000 each Civic Leadership Award

Each country has:

6 Grand Prize Winners receiving $5,000 each The awards provide opportunities for youth projects to progress from early-stage ideas and initiatives toward greater civic impact. Civic Seed Grants Civic Seed Grants provide early funding for young changemakers.

The available amounts are:

- United States: $100.

- Kenya: $50.

- Nigeria: $50.

- South Africa: $50.

Seed funding can help young applicants take early steps toward developing or advancing their civic projects. Civic Promise Awards The Civic Promise Award recognizes youth projects showing promise in creating positive change.

Award amounts are:

- United States: $500 for 12 winners.

- Kenya: $250 for 30 winners.

- Nigeria: $250 for 30 winners.

- South Africa: $250 for 30 winners.

Civic Impact Awards The Civic Impact Award provides larger funding to selected finalists whose projects demonstrate potential for meaningful community impact.

Award amounts are:

- United States: $1,000 for 10 finalists.

- Kenya: $1,000 for 30 finalists.

- Nigeria: $1,000 for 30 finalists.

- South Africa: $1,000 for 30 finalists.

Civic Leadership Awards The Civic Leadership Award represents the highest level of funding under the Challenge.

Award amounts are:

- United States: $10,000 for 2 Grand Prize Winners.

- Kenya: $5,000 for 6 Grand Prize Winners.

- Nigeria: $5,000 for 6 Grand Prize Winners.

- South Africa: $5,000 for 6 Grand Prize Winners.

These awards provide substantial support for youth-led initiatives with strong civic leadership and community impact. Additional Opportunity for Selected Winners Selected winners receiving $500 or more may be considered for an in-person convening in the United States.

The programme covers:

- Travel costs. - Participation