Social ShiftersCompetition

Up to $10,000 MoveNow Social Innovation Challenge

Dec 18, 2026 17:00:00 UTC

Opportunity type

Competition

Funding

Fully Funded

Location

Global

Deadline

Dec 18, 2026 17:00:00 UTC

About this opportunity

Social Shifters, a Scottish charity, runs this online challenge with Allianz to back youth-led social startups and projects. Founders aged 18 to 30, almost anywhere in the world, submit one project in one of three areas: financial confidence in the digital economy, equality in health, or community-led climate resilience. Winning projects receive a grant of $5,000 or $10,000 USD, from $90,000 in total.

What you get:

A grant of $10,000 or $5,000 USD for each winning project. Each of the three categories has one $10,000 award and four $5,000 awards ($30,000 per category, $90,000 in total)
For finalists: one-to-one pitch coaching, technical rehearsals, feedback on your pitch deck and an Allianz business mentor
For every registered entrant: guidance documents, example submissions, support webinars and live Q&As while you prepare
Consideration for follow-up support for 24 months after the deadline, such as mentorship, skills workshops, online learning and leadership programmes (not automatic)
The whole challenge runs online, so there is no travel

What you'll do:

Submit one project in English through the challenge's submissions platform, with an optional pitch video of up to 90 seconds
Your entry is scored by at least five volunteer judges from Allianz and Allianz Partners on impact, feasibility, innovation and scalability
Five to ten finalists per category are coached from March 2027 and pitch to an expert panel by video call from May 2027
Winners report on their progress and spending for 12 months after the award

Key dates:

Submissions opened 7 October 2026
Submissions close 18 December 2026 at 17:00 UTC
First scoring round ends 26 February 2027
Finalist coaching begins from 15 March 2027
Finalist pitching begins from 3 May 2027
Winners announced from 10 May 2027, grants allocated in June 2027

More information:

Competition guidelines (terms and conditions): https://www.socialshifters.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Guidelines-Allianz-x-Social-Shifters-MoveNow-Social-Innovation-Challenge.pdf
Competition FAQs: https://www.socialshifters.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/FAQS-Allianz-x-Social-Shifters-MoveNow-Social-Innovation-Challenge.pdf
Questions: hello@socialshifters.co

Who can apply

The entrant must be 18 to 30 years old at the time of submission and able to show government-issued ID
The entrant must be the founder, co-founder or primary leader of the group or startup, with clear decision-making authority
Young people aged 18 to 30 must hold a majority stake (51% or more) in the group or startup; everyone listed as a team member must be 18 to 30, and anyone older can only take part as an advisor
For-profit ventures, nonprofits and unregistered groups can all enter; a registered organisation must have been incorporated no more than five years before the deadline
Unregistered groups need at least six months of consistent work; projects still at the idea stage are not eligible
The project must have a clear social or environmental impact, align with at least one UN Sustainable Development Goal and fit one of the three award categories
Submissions must be in English, one per entrant
Not open to entrants or projects in Russia, Belarus, Syria, North Korea, Iran, Venezuela or Cuba (UK sanctions), or to Allianz employees and their families

AI Verification

✓ AI Verified

Our AI read the official sources and cross-checked the key facts. Here is what held up, and what it could not confirm.

This opportunity is run by an established organization, and we confirmed its key details against the official source. As always, never share sensitive personal or financial information until you are sure a request is genuine.

LOT Verification ScoreStrong

Cross-checked 14 of 18 key facts

Confirmed Our best read Not stated

Good to know

+Explicit no-fee statement in the guidelines: Social Shifters does NOT charge fees for participation
+Exact closing date and time stated in three places (programme timeline, guidelines 4.5 and 6.1, FAQ)
+Run by a registered Scottish charity (Charity No. SCO51121 as printed on the page) with Allianz as funder; Allianz staff judge
+Detailed 27-page terms and 21-page FAQ published for this cycle
+Previous cycle winners featured on the page, so the programme has paid out before

Worth checking yourself

!Closes at 17:00 UTC on 18 December 2026, not midnight; no extensions
!The programme page's banner still says 'SUBMISSIONS OPEN SOON!' while its timeline and guidelines say submissions opened 7 October 2026. If the entry form is not taking entries when you try, email hello@socialshifters.co
!Sanctioned countries: the guidelines list six (Russia, Syria, Iran, Venezuela, Belarus, North Korea); the FAQ lists seven, adding Cuba. Treat Cuba as excluded
!Only winners receive money: 15 grants in total, five per category. Awards are $5,000 or $10,000, never more
!Grant rules: at most 10% on travel, no personal expenses, winners pay any applicable taxes and report progress and spending for 12 months
!Not for ideas alone: unregistered groups need six months of consistent work; registered organisations must be under five years old
!Entering requires creating an account on the Award Force submissions platform

Sources checked

SOsocialshifters.coApplySOsocialshifters.coApplySOsocialshifters.coApplySOsocialshifters.coApplySOsocialshifters.coApply

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