Nominations open for Lipman Family Prize 2026

Nominations are now open for the prestigious Barry & Marie Lipman Family Prize at the University of Pennsylvania. This global award celebrates outstanding leadership and innovation in the social sector, with a strong focus on impact, innovation, and the transferability of practices to other contexts.

The Lipman Family Prize honors organizations that are making a meaningful difference in addressing social challenges and supports their work by connecting them to the broader Penn community. The University of Pennsylvania, with its diverse and dynamic academic ecosystem, is committed to fostering global partnerships and interdisciplinary collaboration to improve lives around the world.

The grand prize winner will receive an unrestricted cash award of $250,000, while two additional finalists will each receive $150,000. These grants are unrestricted, allowing the winners the flexibility to use the funds where they are most needed.

In addition to funding, all three winning organizations gain ongoing non-monetary benefits. This includes access to resources and relationships within the University, opportunities for scaling impact, and long-term visibility through promotion and network building within the Lipman Prize and Penn communities.

Winners also receive free access to executive education programs at Wharton Executive Education and the Center for Social Impact Strategy, worth approximately $15,000. Additionally, they can benefit from the exclusive Lipman Nonprofit Leadership Scholarship, valued at around $10,000, offered in collaboration with Penn’s School of Public Policy and Practice.

Eligible organizations can be based anywhere in the world and must focus on addressing a globally relevant issue. They do not need to operate outside their home country to qualify. Applicants must be in the nonprofit, NGO, or civil society sector, with a minimum of three years of operation, and must demonstrate impact through monitoring and evaluation.

Organizations must also maintain an average annual budget of $500,000 to $5 million USD over the past three years and have legal nonprofit status either in the U.S. or their home country. Groups involved in direct political lobbying, discriminatory practices, or religious content delivery are not eligible.

Applications are evaluated based on four key criteria:

• Leadership: Sustainable, exemplary approaches to social impact that inspire replication.

• Impact: A proven track record of effectiveness, with results ready to scale.

• Innovation: A fresh or distinct approach to solving pressing global issues.

• Transferability: Models and practices that others in the social sector can adopt and adapt across different geographies and communities.

The Lipman Family Prize is more than a grant—it’s a gateway to global recognition, partnership, and learning, offering a springboard for social change leaders to grow and amplify their impact on the world stage.