Ashoka Changemakers’ Carnegie Challenge for Civic Leadership funds youth-led civic projects by people aged 5 to 20 in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and the US. Applicants must be 5 to 20, so the call mainly serves NGO staff and educators who mentor young people. Entries close on 31 January 2027, with awards up to $10,000.
At a glance
| Deadline | Final deadline 31 January 2027 (the page gives no time zone). US early entry for new ideas closes 17 November 2026, 11:59 pm ET |
| Who can apply | Young people aged 5 to 20 (by 31 January 2027) with a youth-led civic project, located in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa or the United States |
| Awards | Up to $10,000 in the US and up to $5,000 in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. Early seed grants of $50 to $100 for new ideas |
| Cost to apply | No fee is mentioned on the challenge page |
| Official link | Ashoka Changemakers: Carnegie Challenge for Civic Leadership |
Who can apply
Applicants must be between 5 and 20 by the end of the entry period on 31 January 2027, and located in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa or the United States and its territories. The project must be youth-led and submitted in English.
Applicants aged 18 or younger in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, and aged 13 or younger in the US, need adult support to complete the application.
What you get
- Every eligible participant gets peer feedback, on-demand trainings and live support sessions, plus the chance to become a certified Ashoka Youth Venturer.
- Early Civic Seed Grants go to new ideas only: $100 for the first 600 eligible US applicants, and $50 for 25 applicants in each of Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa.
- Finalist awards follow the table below. The 66 awards in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa are split equally among the three countries.
- Winners may be invited to in-person convenings, in the US the week of 12 July 2027 and in Kenya the week of 26 July 2027.
| Award | United States | Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Civic Promise Awards | 12 awards of $500 | 30 awards of $250 |
| Civic Impact Awards | 10 awards of $1,000 | 30 awards of $1,000 |
| Civic Leadership Awards | 2 awards of $10,000 (Grand Prize) | 6 awards of $5,000 |
How to apply
- Open the challenge page and select Apply Now. The link leads to account registration, then the application form.
- Read the Application Guide, which explains account creation and submission.
- Submit the youth-led project in English before 31 January 2027. New ideas from the US that want a seed grant must apply by 17 November 2026, 11:59 pm ET.
Early entry in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa closed on 10 October 2026.
Advice from the Impact DOTS team
- Mentors, start with the age rule. If you lead a youth programme at an NGO or school, check each young person’s age against the 31 January 2027 cutoff and their country before anything else. The project itself must stay youth-led, with adults supporting the application.
- Decide whether the idea is new. Early seed grants are for new ideas only, and the US ones go to the first 600 eligible applicants before 17 November 2026.
- Use the support sessions. The page offers info sessions, office hours and reviewer sessions, so a team can ask questions before submitting.
- Do not wait for the last day. The page gives no time zone for the 31 January 2027 deadline, so submit well before it.
FAQ
The challenge page mentions none.
No. Applicants must be between 5 and 20 by the end of the entry period on 31 January 2027. Adults can support younger applicants.
Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and the United States, including US territories. Applicants must be located there.
Winners may be invited to an in-person convening. Ashoka covers eligible travel, lodging, ground transport and meals.
