Large-Scale Funding for Bold Social Impact Projects – The Audacious Project

The Audacious Project, housed at TED, connects established nonprofits and changemakers with major philanthropists to fund ambitious ideas capable of tackling some of the world's biggest social and environmental challenges.

Here’s what you can expect:

• No minimum or maximum funding request

• Large-scale, multi-year philanthropic funding

• Funding amount is based on the realistic needs and scale of the proposed project

• Support developing the idea into a compelling multi-year proposal

• Due diligence and proposal-development support

• Access to a network of major philanthropic donors

• Finalists' projects are presented privately to potential funders

• Funded projects can receive exposure through TED and TED Talks

• Around 8–10 projects reach the finalist stage

• All issue areas can be considered

• Previous Audacious projects demonstrate that funding can reach tens of millions of dollars or more.

The programme is interested in areas including global health, climate change, education, social justice, science and other major global challenges, but it doesn't restrict applications to specific themes.

Who can apply?

• Nonprofit organisations

• NGOs

• Institutions

• Collaborations involving multiple organisations

• Individuals aged 18+ applying on behalf of an eligible organisation

• Organisations and initiatives with an annual operating budget of at least $2 million

• Applicants worldwide

• Organisations with an established team and infrastructure capable of managing large-scale philanthropic funding

• Projects must have a proven concept, rather than simply being an early-stage idea

• Proposals should demonstrate potential for significant, lasting and measurable impact.

This is really aimed at established organisations looking to dramatically scale something that already works, rather than small charities looking for £5K–£50K project grants.

Deadline: Rolling – no fixed deadline.