2027 ELEVATE PRIZE NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN
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2027 ELEVATE PRIZE NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN
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2027 ELEVATE PRIZE NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN
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It’s time to put changemakers
in the spotlight. That’s where the Elevate Prize comes in.
Nominations for the 2027 Elevate Prize
are open now through May 8, 2026.
YEARS OF THE
ELEVATE PRIZE
PRIZE WINNERS
SUPPORTED
invested
yearly
MEDIA
IMPRESSIONS
The Elevate Prize recognizes bold social impact LEADERS at a pivotal moment in their work, ready to expand their visibility and deepen their impact.
Far more than a one-time award, it is a tailored two-year program and powerful global community where ambitious ideas gain the visibility needed to grow, scale, and inspire broader change.
WHAT WINNERS RECEIVE
COMMUNITY
Community is at the heart of everything we do. Starting on day one and extending far beyond the program into our alumni network, we build intentional spaces for connection, renewal and lasting relationships, including our annual Winners’ Retreat—because real impact is never a solo act.
FUNDING
We believe in trust-based, unrestricted funding that invests in both the work and the leader behind it. Each winner receives $300,000 in unrestricted funds: $250,000 to their organization and $50,000 directly to the individual, recognizing the often unseen personal costs of leading meaningful change.
TAILORED SUPPORT
Over the two years, support is always tailored to each winner’s needs and deployed on priority projects—no two projects are ever the same. Each winner is supported by a dedicated team who are thought partners in the truest sense, helping to unlock what’s possible and bring their biggest ideas to life.
TAILORED SUPPORT IN ACTION
Visibility is the spark that can propel a leader’s work onto the global stage and into the cultural spotlight. Elevate helps build the brand, media strategy, and public presence that turn powerful ideas into movements.
Areas of support may include:
Brand Strategy & Visual Identity
Messaging & Narrative Development
Communications & PR
Website Strategy & Digital Presence
Content Creation
Influencer Partnerships
Video & Photography
Social Media
Public Speaking
Strategic Partnerships
Winners have appeared at convenings and global stages including:
Great ideas need strong organizations behind them. Elevate provides tailored strategic support that meets leaders and organizations where they are, helping strengthen teams, scale impact, and expand their capacity for what comes next.
Areas of support may include:
Organizational Growth Strategy
Strategic Planning
Fundraising Strategy
Investor Readiness
Funder Introductions
Pitch Development
Board Governance & Succession Planning
Executive & Team Leadership Coaching
Operational Systems & Scaling Guidance
Access to Expert Advisors & Partners
IMPACT OF OUR SUPPORT:
$10,400,000
ADDITIONAL FUNDING UNLOCKED
in the past year alone because of tailored support from the ElevatePrize.
76%
FUNDING GROWTH ON AVERAGE
by the most recent cohort of Prize winners to complete the 2-year program.
The person behind the mission matters as much as the mission itself. Elevate believes that leaders are whole beings, not systems, and invests in the resilience, growth, and wellbeing of leaders so they can stay steady, strategic, and human while doing life-changing work.
Areas of support may include:
Executive Coaching & Leadership Development
Retreats
Wellbeing & Resilience Practices
Peer Connection & Community
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
Guided Meditation
Breathwork
Creative & Reflective Writing
Enneagram
Predictive Index
The Elevate Prize was one of the first times we received unrestricted funding, which was a game-changer.
— Sam Bencheghib, 2024 Elevate Prize Winner
The Elevate team and the sense of community with the cohort have helped deepen my understanding of myself.
— Michèle Traoré, 2025 Elevate Prize Winner
Elevate brought me to places that expanded my networking and access, expanded my thinking and wellbeing, and deepened my relationships.
— Melissa Malzkuhn, 2024 Elevate Prize Winner
Meeting other cohort members and prize winners has really helped me see things completely differently.
— Sean Sherman, 2025 Elevate Prize Winner
ELIGIBILITY
We’re looking for dynamic and visionary leaders who are building bold solutions and are ready to take their ideas to the global stage.
Our Elevate Prize winners are:
Ready to expand their visibility and influence;
Driving meaningful, transformative impact while tackling the systems behind the problems they address;
Demonstrating traction and momentum with a clear vision for what comes next;
Pursuing systemic and/or cultural change through advocacy, policy, influence, or direct service;
Willing and able to engage deeply in a two-year partnership and global community.
YOU’RE ELIGIBLE IF:
At least 18 years old
Serve as Executive Director, CEO, Founder or equivalent
Your organization is a registered nonprofit in good standing and able to receive philanthropic funds (U.S. 501(c)(3) or international equivalent
Your organization has the operational and financial capacity to manage unrestricted funding and participate fully in a two-year program.
Ideally with annual budgets between $2M and $10M (though organizations outside this range may be considered based on readiness and opportunity for impact.)
SELECTION PROCESS & TIMELINE
Elevate selects leaders whose work demonstrates meaningful impact, bold vision, and the potential to influence systems and culture at scale.
Nominations are evaluated based on factors including impact, leadership, momentum, and narrative power.
The Elevate Prize follows a multi-stage selection process designed to identify leaders whose work is driving meaningful impact and ready for the next stage of growth. While exact timing may shift slightly each year, the process generally follows the rhythm outlined below.
1
Nominations
(APRIL-May)
Nominations are submitted during the public window or through trusted partner networks that help identify aligned leaders.
2
Eligibility Review
(May-June)
Our team reviews every nomination to confirm eligibility and alignment with the Elevate Prize.
3
Invitation to Apply
(July-August)
Selected nominees are invited to submit a full application.
4
Multi-Round Evaluation
(September)
Applications undergo in-depth review by internal and external experts, including Elevate Prize alumni.
5
Finalist Interviews
(October-NOVEMBER)
Finalists participate in conversations with the Elevate Prize selection committee.
6
Winner Selection & Announcement
(November- January)
Winners are selected, notified, and later publicly announced.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who can submit a nomination?
Anyone can nominate a leader during the open nomination period. Elevate reviews all eligible nominations and invites a select group of nominees to submit a full application.
Do you have to be a founder to be eligible?
No. Founders are eligible, but leaders serving as Executive Director, CEO, or an equivalent role may also be nominated if they are the primary driver of the organization’s vision and impact.
What does “international equivalent” nonprofit status mean?
Your organization should be a legally recognized charitable entity in your country, comparable to a U.S. 501(c)(3).
Our organization’s budget is outside the typical range. Can we still be considered?
The Elevate Prize has historically been a strong fit for organizations with annual budgets between $2M and $10M. However, organizations outside this range may still be considered based on readiness and opportunity for impact.
What time commitment is expected if selected?
Winners participate in a two-year program that includes regular engagement with the Elevate team, tailored strategic support, and opportunities to participate in community convenings, including an annual winners’ retreat.
What do winners receive beyond funding?
In addition to $300,000 in unrestricted funding, winners receive tailored support across Visibility, Organizational Growth, and Whole Leader development, along with access to a global community of leaders and partners.
What happens after the two-year Prize period ends?
The relationship doesn’t end when the formal Elevate Prize period does. Winners become part of the Elevate Prize alumni community, with ongoing opportunities for connection, learning, and engagement alongside a global network of peers.