Ashoka Carnegie Challenge for Civic Leadership 2027

Deadline: January 31, 2027

Applications are open for the Ashoka Carnegie Challenge for Civic Leadership 2027 . Do you have an idea for creating positive change in your school or community? Or are you already working on a project for good and engaging others to make a difference? That’s civic leadership: identifying a challenge in your community and working with others to create solutions, inspire action, and make a positive difference.

They are calling on everyone between 5 and 20 and under living in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, the United States, and U.S. territories. Are you leading a project that’s making a difference? Are you part of a youth-led organization that helps people get involved in their communities? Or do you have an idea to change the world that you’d love to put into action?

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If your answer is YES to any of these questions, apply to the Carnegie Challenge for Civic Leadership! This is your chance to win seed funding, connect with other young changemakers, and attend an unforgettable in-person convening.

Benefits

All eligible participants will receive:

Multiple pathways to funding, with opportunities for early applicants as well as finalists and Grand Prize winners.

Peer feedback via the Challenge online platform, including the opportunity to connect with other Challenge applicants and review applications from peers.

Access to on-demand trainings to support your changemaking journey, plus live support sessions and office hours.

The opportunity to become a certified Ashoka Youth Venturer, whether or not they are selected as a winner of the Challenge. If you’ve taken action on an idea that creates positive change in your school or community, you may be eligible to earn a Youth Venture Certificate from Ashoka, a global leader in youth social entrepreneurship. If you’re not quite ready to be certified yet, Ashoka will work with you to meet the certification criteria. Along the way, you’ll gain access to tools, resources, and a growing community of young changemakers who are leading change together.

Early Application Deadline | Civic Seed Grants for New Ideas

Apply early for the opportunity to receive seed funding to jumpstart your civic leadership journey.

Eligible applicants who submit NEW IDEAS may be selected to receive a Civic Seed Grant:

United States: Be one of the first 600 eligible applicants to apply with a NEW IDEAS by November 17, 2026 at 11:59pm ET to receive a $100 USD Civic Seed Grant, provided all eligibility criteria is met.

Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa: In each country, 25 eligible applicants who apply with NEW IDEAS by October 10, 2026 at 11:59 CAT can be selected to receive a $50 USD Civic Seed Grant, provided all eligibility criteria is met.

These grants are designed to help young changemakers take the next step in bringing their ideas to life while continuing through the Challenge.

Finalist Awards

Following the review process, finalists will receive funding to grow their impact.

United States

12 Winners will receive $500 USD Civic Promise Award

10 Finalists will each receive $1,000 USD Civic Impact Award

2 Grand Prize Winners will each receive $10,000 USD Civic Leadership Award

Anyone receiving a grant $500 or above will be considered for a spot at an in-person convening in the US during the week of July 12, 2027 where they will connect, build skills, and celebrate their work alongside fellow young civic leaders. A total of 10 Challenge Winners will be invited to attend the in-person convening.*

Stories of inspiring young changemakers located in the United States may be spotlighted as part of the Nickelodeon Our World initiative to celebrate youth agency on Nickelodeon TV and digital channels.

*Ashoka will cover eligible travel and participation costs, including airfare, hotel accommodations, ground transportation, and meals during the convening. Chaperone travel will also be provided for eligible participants under 18, in accordance with the Challenge Rules.

Kenya, Nigeria & South Africa

Distributed equally among the three countries, a total of 66 winners will be selected:

30 Winners will each receive $250 USD Civic Promise Award

30 Finalists will each receive $1,000 USD Civic Impact Award

6 Grand Prize Winners will each receive $5,000 USD Civic Leadership Award

Anyone receiving a grant $250 or above will be considered for a spot at an in-person convening during the week of July 26, 2027, where they will connect, build skills, and celebrate their work alongside fellow young civic leaders. A total of 30 Challenge Winners will be invited to attend the in-person convening in Kenya.*

*Ashoka will cover eligible travel and participation costs, including airfare, hotel accommodations, ground transportation, and meals during the convening. Chaperone travel will also be provided for eligible participants under 18, in accordance with the Challenge Rules.

Eligibility

Applicants must be between the ages of 5 and 20 by the end of the entry period (January 31, 2027).

Note: Applicants based in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa who are 18 years or younger must have an adult support with completing their application. In the United States, applicants who are 13 years old or younger must have an adult support with completing their application.

Applicants must be located in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and/or the United States and U.S. Territories.

Applications must be submitted in English.

The submitted project must be youth-led, with applicant between the ages of 5 and 20.

Employees of the Andrew Carnegie Foundation or Ashoka, along with their children and grandchildren, are not eligible to apply.

Evaluation Criteria

Dream: Your initiative addresses a meaningful challenge or opportunity and presents a clear vision for positive change. The idea is rooted in a personal insight, experience or an “aha” moment that inspired action. The initiative showcases a strong understanding of the issue, why it matters, and the change you seek to create.

Team: The initiative mobilizes others around a shared purpose. It brings people together who help move the work forward. It inspires and enables others to contribute, collaborate, lead, and become part of your solution.

Creativity: The initiative introduced a new idea, applies a fresh perspective, or puts a unique twist on an existing challenge or solution. Creativity can be reflected in the idea itself, how it’s delivered, how people are engaged, or how resources are used. The initiative shows evidence of willingness to learn, experiment, adapt, and improve over time.

Changed World: This criterion is written with two tracks in mind, one for emerging and new ideas, and the other for existing projects.

New Idea: They want to see ideas that have the power to make a positive difference. Whether an idea is just beginning or already gaining traction to making an impact, it demonstrates commitment to turning the idea into action.

Existing Project: The initiative demonstrates progress toward creating lasting positive change and shows evidence that its impact can continue, deepen, or grow over time.

Application

Click here to apply

For more information, visit Ashoka Carnegie Challenge for Civic Leadership .