The UpPrize Social Innovation Challenge, powered by Innovation Works and funded by the BNY Mellon Foundation of Southwestern Pennsylvania, creates cross-sector partnerships to solve some of community’s most pressing problems.
Donor Name: Innovation Works
State: Pennsylvania
County: Allegheny County (PA), Armstrong County (PA), Beaver County (PA), Butler County (PA), Fayette County (PA), Greene County (PA), Indiana County (PA), Lawrence County (PA), Washington County (PA), Westmoreland County (PA)
Type of Grant: Awards and Prizes
Deadline: 07/08/2024
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The UpPrize Social Innovation Challenge, an annual competition to promote entrepreneurship that makes a lasting community impact in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Since its founding in 2015, the UpPrize Social Innovation Challenge has allocated more than $3.1 million in investments, grants, and educational assistance to local nonprofits, entrepreneurs, and other participants.
Prize Information
The top three finalists will receive a combined $300,000 in prize monies and accelerator assistance to launch or expand startups using technology to address social inequities.

First Place: $125,000.
Second Place: $100,000.
Third Place: $75,000.

Eligibility Criteria

You must be 18 years old or older
The submitting nonprofit, business, or individual must be based in one of these counties in Pennsylvania: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington, or Westmoreland. The startup’s impact must also be in one of these counties.
Must ensure that their participation does not violate their employer’s policies or procedures or any other third-party rights or obligations (e.g. non-competition agreements).
The applicant company leaders or individual and their immediate family members must not be employed by or affiliated with BNY Mellon, Innovation Works, or any of their/the parent and affiliate companies.
Have not received funding of $50,000 or more in previous UpPrize cycles.

For more information, visit UpPrize.