See how to apply for the 2012-13 Changemaker Challenge run by NYU Reynolds.

NYU Reynolds Program Offers $1,000 Seed Grants and Up To $10,000 Prize for Social-Change Ventures Developed by Undergraduates

The NYU Reynolds Program invites all full-time New York University undergraduate students to participate in the 2012-13 Changemaker Challenge (CmC) for a chance to win one of ten maximum $1,000 seed grants and a grand prize of up to $10,000 for creating an original social-change venture.

Teams containing a minimum of two students are permitted to participate. Non-NYU students may join, but the team leader must be an NYU undergraduate student in good academic standing.
The types of ventures eligible to receive seed funding or the grand prize consist of any NYU student- created and -led organization, program or business that benefits a community and has a measurable, positive social impact.

Ventures may be for-profit, non-profit, or anything in between. They must be sustainable, scalable, credible, and ethical, and must contain clear and attainable goals. And ventures must be completely new initiatives or a major new initiative of an existing organization.

Any interested students should start by attending an information session in September and the kickoff workshop in October (click here for specific dates and times or to RSVP for one of the information sessions.)

In order to apply after attendance at an information session, teams will be required to submit a one-page executive summary that outlines their venture idea. Teams must adhere to executive summary guidelines to be eligible. (Please see guidelines.)` All teams that submit a valid executive summary will be invited to create an in-depth business plan.

Up to ten teams will be invited to pitch their venture idea to a selection panel. The top selected teams will receive seed grants of up to $1,000 each and will be invited to pitch the idea a second time for a chance to be awarded up to $10,000 in capital, Reynolds-sponsored resources, and the title of "The NYU Reynolds CmC Best Overall Venture."

The CmC runs from September to April and additional workshops and meetings are also required. Please refer to the 2012-13 CmC timeline.

Press Contact

Robert Polner
Robert Polner
(212) 998-2337