The Audacious Project Grant Program

The Audacious Project Grant Program

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: TED
Last Updated: December 31, 2025

Summary

The Audacious Project Grant Program, supported by TED, aims to catalyze social impact by funding bold solutions to pressing global challenges. This initiative encourages changemakers to develop transformative ideas into actionable plans, with a focus on various issues, including health and education. The program operates on a rolling basis, welcoming applications from individuals and organizations with a proven track record and a budget of at least $2 million. Join us in creating lasting change for a better world.

Overview

NOTE: Surveys received after the LOI deadline will be considered in future application cycles. As of June 15, 2025, we are no longer setting a deadline for upcoming cycles. Idea submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis. About The Audacious Project is a collaborative funding initiative catalyzing social impact on a grand scale. Every year we select and nurture a group of big, bold solutions to the world’s most urgent challenges, and with the support of an inspiring group of donors and supporters, come together to get them launched. Housed at TED, the nonprofit with a long track record of surfacing ideas worth spreading, and with support from leading social impact advisor The Bridgespan Group, the funding collective is comprised of several respected organizations and individuals in philanthropy. Our goal is to match bold ideas with catalytic resources. We encourage the world’s inspirational changemakers to dream bigger than ever before.Help shape their best ideas into viable multi-year plans.Present those solutions in a compelling way to potential supporters. The Process Every year, The Audacious Project works with proven change-makers to surface their best, boldest ideas for tackling global problems. Sourcing & review Projects are sourced from public applications and a global network of partners and donors. They are narrowed down to a group of finalists whose ideas are representative of a broad range of geographies and issue areas while elevating leaders with proximity to the communities they serve. Idea shaping & investment support Each finalist project goes through a rigorous ideation, due diligence, and investment support process, to ensure their proposal is achievable and compelling. Funding & launch Finalist projects are presented privately to groups of donors and are then publicly unveiled at TED. Funded projects then pursue their plans and share regular updates on key milestones reached with donors and the public. Is Your Idea Audacious? Are you a changemaker with a bold vision? Are you a non-profit with an experienced team equipped to receive large scale philanthropic support? Is your idea a proven concept that aspires to create a better world?We look for ideas that cover a wide range of issues, from global health and climate change, to social justice and education. What Makes An Idea Audacious? Inspire Transformative visionYour idea should capture a bold vision for tackling one of the world's most urgent topics.Creating a better worldIt is your opportunity to take a giant leap forward; you may be tempted to think incrementally, but remember for it to be bold, your idea should offer significant, enduring impact. This vision should bring us much closer to your version of an ideal world in a matter of years rather than generations.Innovative and originalThere should be a unique aspect or creative element to your approach that challenges convention or status quo or changes the narrative for the greater good. Convince Proven concept There should be evidence that the idea will have impact based on a track record of past success, a demand from those that would be affected, and justified confidence that results can be sustained in the future.A bold vision that has clear outcomesThere should be a sense of where you will be at the end of a multi-year funding term and the strategy, resources and timeline required to achieve it. We want to hear about the changes that would take place because of your idea, not just the components that go into implementing it. Established supportYou and your capable and confident team have the backing of a nonprofit, NGO, or institution (or is part of a collaboration between multiple such entities). This organization should be able to receive philanthropic funds and have the core infrastructure necessary to support the work. (Note: Past projects have had an annual operating budget of $1 million or more.) Please refer to FAQ for additional guidelines.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Individuals, ages 18 and up, may apply on behalf of themselves, a nonprofit, NGO, institution or collaboration between multiple entities.  Organizations and initiatives should have an annual budget of at least $2M.