If your nonprofit is using technology to solve social challenges and create positive change, then you might wish to consider applying for Google’s third annual Impact Challenge. A total of $5.5 million in grants is on the table to be shared among the NFPs and social enterprises who submit winning entries.

Prior winners of the challenge include:

- Infoxchange, which uses mobile tech to improve access to food, shelter and other services for the homeless or those at risk of becoming homeless

- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, for creating an app to help parents screen for and identify signs of autism in their children

- Fred Hollows Foundation, for developing a screening system that uses a low-cost mobile camera to help detect diabetes-related blindness

Details and Eligibility

The challenge is only open to nonprofits and social enterprises that are registered in Australia. There isn’t a fee or charge to enter, but to apply, your nonprofit needs to submit their proposal online before the July 6, 2018 deadline.

Finalists will be notified in October, with voting for the People’s Choice award being open from 9 October through 30 October 2018.

Criteria and Awards

Proposals are judged in four key areas: impact, innovation, scalability and feasibility. Your NFP is limited to being able to submit only one application, so it should focus on one single idea or sole project.

Proposals are evaluated by a team from Google, as well as a panel of judges. Ten finalists will be selected and will present their proposals before the group of judges. From this pool, the judges will then choose three winners to be awarded $1 million each in grant funding.

A fourth winner is chosen by the public, with the winner of the people’s choice contest also to be awarded $1 million in grant money. $250,000 grants are awarded to each of the six runners-up. Al grant recipients will also receive support from Google to help them put their winning proposal into action.

Additional Information

Visit Impact Challenge Australia 2018 today for a complete list of the rules and all the details so that you can learn more about this fantastic opportunity to share your vision of how your nonprofit can use technology to benefit your community! You have just a month before the deadline, so submit your application today!

Nonprofits with further questions about the contest that aren’t answered in the FAQ section, or elsewhere on site, can send an email to australiachallenge@google.com.