Job Overview
Lipman Family Prize: A Global Award for Social Innovation
The application period for the 2026 Lipman Family Prize is now open! Consequently, we invite organizations to apply for this annual global prize. It celebrates outstanding leadership and innovation in the social sector. The University of Pennsylvania presents this award. Therefore, it champions impactful, transferable models. Ultimately, the prize connects impressive changemakers with the broader Penn community.
Lipman Family Prize: Award Details
Each year, we select three winning organizations. This process provides a combination of significant financial awards and non-monetary benefits designed to support their growth.
- The grand prize winner receives a $250,000 unrestricted cash award.
- The two additional winning organizations each receive a $150,000 unrestricted cash award.
In addition to the cash prizes, all three winners receive the following non-monetary benefits:
- University Partnership: We provide an ongoing partnership with the University of Pennsylvania, offering access to resources and relationships to help scale your work.
- Visibility & Networking: We promote their work and accomplishments to a large audience. Furthermore, all winners gain exclusive access to a network of past prize recipients and the wider Penn community.
- Executive Education: We give winners tuition-free access to executive education programs at Wharton and the Center for Social Impact Strategy. The value of this benefit is approximately $15,000.
- Nonprofit Leadership Scholarship: We offer an exclusive scholarship to the University’s School of Public Policy and Practice. This scholarship is valued at approximately $10,000.
The 2026 Lipman Family Prize
Evaluation Criteria for the Lipman Family Prize
The application process focuses on four key qualities. Therefore, successful applicants must align with these criteria and present a cohesive story about their impact.
- Leadership: We look for organizations with sustainable, exemplary models. These models should provide solutions to global problems.
- Impact: Applicants must show a proof of concept for their models. Moreover, they should be prepared to use the prize as a catalyst for future growth.
- Innovation: We seek organizations that offer a unique approach to solving a pressing social challenge, addressing it in a differentiated way.
- Transferability: Winners offer models or insights that others in the social impact sector can learn from and adapt. Thus, their work contributes to broader learning and progress across the field.
Consequently, the most successful applicants also demonstrate deep community roots, a strong track record of success, and a desire to become an active peer-learning partner within the Lipman Prize community.
How to Apply
Organizations from any geographic region can apply, and they may tackle any globally relevant social challenge. Thus, this social innovation award accepts applications from organizations working anywhere in the world.
- Typical Applicants: Over the past five years, semi-finalist organizations have had a median budget of $1.9 million USD and a median age of 13 years. We provide these statistics to give prospective applicants a sense of the types of organizations that perform well in our selection process.
- Deadline: The application window is open from July 1 to July 31, 2025. Subsequently, we will notify all applicants in September whether or not they will proceed to the next phase.
- Confidentiality: We will keep all materials confidential.
Interested in applying? Click here to begin your application.
[ https://lipmanfamilyprize.wharton.upenn.edu/about-the-prize/#nonprofit_leadership ]