Westly Prize

The Westly Foundation is currently accepting applications for the Westly Prize, which is awarded annually to early-stage young social innovators in California who present novel solutions to community challenges. This initiative aims to honor the talent, creativity, and humanitarian spirit of aspiring social entrepreneurs. The prize is open to innovations across various categories, including artificial intelligence, arts, civic engagement, education, energy, environment, food production and distribution, health, safety, technology for good, transportation, and youth development. The primary purpose of the Westly Prize is to recognize and support young innovators who are addressing significant social challenges through their creative solutions. The foundation seeks to empower these individuals or teams by providing financial resources that can help them further develop and implement their innovations. The award not only acknowledges the social impact of the innovations but also encourages the ongoing sustainability and scaling of these ventures. The funding scope includes up to three Grand Prizes of $40,000 each, which can be awarded to individuals or teams of up to four members. If awarded to a team, the prize amount will be divided among the members. Additionally, Honorable Mention winners will receive $5,000, also to be split among team members if applicable. The prize awards are unrestricted, meaning that recipients can use the funds as they see fit, which may have tax implications for the individuals or organizations receiving the funds. Eligibility for the Westly Prize is limited to individuals or teams where at least half of the founding members are residents of California at the time of application and throughout the selection process. Out-of-state residents enrolled in a California school and California residents attending school in another state are also eligible. Applicants must be under the age of 28 during the calendar year in which they apply, and a team may not exceed four founding members. The innovation must be the original idea of the applying individual or individuals, and only one application may be submitted for each innovation. Submission requirements include a completed application form, which will likely involve answering specific questions about the innovation and its impact. The evaluation criteria focus on the quality of the innovation, its potential impact, the applicant's capacity for sustainability, and the leadership qualities demonstrated by the applicant. The foundation is looking for solutions that are not only creative and original but also have been tested with some success and show potential for scaling. The application deadline for the Westly Prize is October 7, 2024. Interested applicants should ensure that they meet all eligibility criteria and prepare their submissions in advance of this date. For more information about the application process and specific requirements, applicants can visit the Westly Foundation's website. This opportunity represents a significant chance for young innovators in California to gain recognition and financial support for their impactful ideas.