$10,000 Carnegie Civic Leadership Challenge
- Organization: Ashoka
- Type: Competition
- Location: Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, United States and U.S. territories
- Deadline: January 31, 2027
- Funding: Fully Funded
Ashoka runs this challenge with the Andrew Carnegie Foundation, and it is open to anyone aged 5 to 20 living in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, or the United States and its territories. You enter either a new idea or a youth led project you are already running that tackles a problem in your school or community. Applying early can win you a small seed grant, and the awards that follow run from $250 up to $10,000 in the United States and up to $5,000 in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. **What you get:** - A $100 Civic Seed Grant for up to 600 applicants in the United States who enter a new idea by November 17, 2026, or a $50 Civic Seed Grant for 25 applicants in each of Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa who enter a new idea by October 10, 2026 - In the United States, 12 Civic Promise Awards of $500, 10 Civic Impact Awards of $1,000 and 2 Civic Leadership Awards of $10,000 - Across Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, 30 Civic Promise Awards of $250, 30 Civic Impact Awards of $1,000 and 6 Civic Leadership Awards of $5,000, split equally between the three countries - A place at a summit in July 2027 for 40 winners in total, held in the United States for the American cohort and in Kenya for the African cohort, with airfare, hotel, ground transport and meals paid by Ashoka, plus chaperone travel for anyone under 18 - On demand training, live support sessions and office hours while you are writing your application - Peer feedback on the challenge platform, and the chance to read and review other applicants' entries - The chance to be certified as an Ashoka Youth Venturer whether or not you win, with Ashoka working with you to meet the criteria if you are not there yet **What you'll do:** - Enter either a new idea or an existing youth led initiative that addresses a problem in your school or community and gets other people involved - Write the application in English, and complete it with an adult if you are 13 or under in the United States, or 18 or under in Kenya, Nigeria or South Africa - Join optional information sessions, office hours and last minute support sessions that Ashoka runs before each deadline - Read and give feedback on other applicants' entries on the challenge platform - Be judged on four things: the idea and why it matters, the people you bring together, creativity, and the change it has made or can make - If you win, sign a funding agreement, take part in the July 2027 summit, and report on how you spent the money and what it achieved **Key dates:** - Applications opened September 2, 2026 - October 10, 2026 at 11:59pm CAT: early entry deadline for Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa - November 17, 2026 at 11:59pm ET: early entry deadline for the United States - January 31, 2027 at 11:59pm ET: final entry deadline - February 1 to March 5, 2027: review period - June 1, 2027: winners announced - Week of July 12, 2027: summit in the United States - Week of July 26, 2027: summit in Kenya **More information:** - Full challenge terms and conditions: https://www.changemakers.com/en/carnegie-challenge-civic-leadership-terms-conditions - Entries already submitted are public and can be browsed: https://www.changemakers.com/en/solutions/carnegie-challenge-civic-leadership-projects - Applying needs a free Ashoka Changemakers account, created at https://www.changemakers.com/en/challenge_user/register?redirect=/form/carnegie-challenge - Questions go to the Ashoka Changemakers team by email, on Instagram at @ashokachangemakers, or by text on (571) 622-1066 from inside the United States
