Submission open for Lipman Family Prize 2027

The Barry & Marie Lipman Family Prize at the University of Pennsylvania recognizes nonprofit organizations demonstrating exceptional leadership, innovation, and measurable social impact in addressing global challenges. Each year, three nonprofit organizations receive unrestricted funding of up to USD 300,000, executive education opportunities, leadership scholarships, and long-term collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania.

Program Overview: Global Prize for High-Impact Nonprofit Organizations

The Barry & Marie Lipman Family Prize is an annual international award that honors nonprofit organizations creating sustainable, innovative, and scalable solutions to significant social challenges.

Beyond financial support, the programme strengthens nonprofit leadership by connecting winners with the University of Pennsylvania’s academic community, executive education programmes, and global social impact networks.

Key Objectives of the Prize

Recognize outstanding nonprofit leadership
Reward innovative solutions to social challenges
Support measurable and sustainable social impact
Promote organizational excellence
Encourage replication of successful nonprofit models
Strengthen nonprofit capacity and long-term sustainability
Foster global collaboration and knowledge sharing

Priority Focus Areas

Leadership Excellence

Visionary nonprofit leadership
Organizational effectiveness
Strategic management
Sustainable governance

Innovation

Creative solutions to social challenges
New service delivery models
Scalable interventions
Social innovation

Social Impact

Demonstrated measurable outcomes
Long-term community benefits
Evidence-based programming
Monitoring and evaluation

Transferability

Replicable nonprofit models
Adaptable best practices
Knowledge sharing
Global learning opportunities

Organizational Sustainability

Financial stability
Institutional growth
Capacity building
Long-term organizational resilience

Prize Structure

Grand Prize

USD 300,000 unrestricted funding

Additional Winners

Two prizes of USD 150,000 each in unrestricted funding

Additional Benefits for All Winners

All three winning organizations receive:

Partnership opportunities with the University of Pennsylvania
Promotion through the Lipman Prize and Penn networks
Tuition-free executive education through Wharton Executive Education and the Center for Social Impact Strategy (valued at approximately USD 15,000)
Lipman Nonprofit Leadership Scholarship through the University’s School of Social Policy and Practice (valued at approximately USD 10,000)
Long-term networking and collaboration opportunities

Who is Eligible?

Eligible organizations must:

Hold nonprofit status in the United States or an equivalent legal status in their home country
Have operated as a nonprofit organization for at least three years
Monitor and evaluate their programmes
Have at least three years of documented impact results
Maintain a three-year average annual operating budget between USD 500,000 and USD 5 million

Ineligible Organizations

Organizations are not eligible if they:

Primarily redistribute grant funds
Engage mainly in direct lobbying to influence legislation or elections
Deliver programmes with religious content as the primary focus
Discriminate based on:
- Race
- Religion
- National origin
- Sexual orientation
- Age
- Disability

Selection Criteria

Applications are evaluated based on:

Leadership

Strong organizational leadership
Strategic vision
Effective governance

Impact

Measurable outcomes
Sustainable social change
Evidence-based results

Innovation

Original approaches
Creative problem-solving
New models of service delivery

Transferability

Ability to replicate or adapt successful practices
Potential for wider adoption
Contribution to the global social impact sector

How to Apply (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Verify Eligibility

Confirm that your organization meets all nonprofit status, operational history, budget, and impact measurement requirements.

Step 2: Document Organizational Impact

Compile evidence demonstrating:

Measurable results
Monitoring and evaluation data
Long-term outcomes
Organizational achievements

Step 3: Prepare the Application

Include:

Organizational background
Leadership information
Programme description
Innovation approach
Impact evidence
Financial information
Sustainability strategy

Step 4: Submit the Application

Complete and submit the application with all required supporting documentation.

Step 5: Review and Evaluation

Applications are assessed based on:

Leadership
Innovation
Measurable impact
Transferability
Organizational sustainability

Step 6: Winner Selection

Three nonprofit organizations are selected annually to receive awards and participate in the Lipman Prize network.

Importance of the Prize (Why It Matters)

The Barry & Marie Lipman Family Prize helps:

Recognize outstanding nonprofit organizations
Increase global visibility for social innovators
Strengthen nonprofit leadership
Expand organizational capacity
Promote evidence-based social impact
Encourage replication of successful solutions
Build international partnerships through academic collaboration

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applying without sufficient impact data
Failing to demonstrate measurable outcomes
Providing unclear evidence of innovation
Not explaining how the model can be replicated
Submitting incomplete financial information
Ignoring organizational sustainability
Applying despite not meeting eligibility requirements

Tips for a Strong Application

Present clear evidence of measurable impact
Highlight innovative approaches to solving social challenges
Demonstrate strong organizational leadership
Explain how your model can be adapted in other settings
Include robust monitoring and evaluation data
Show financial sustainability and organizational stability
Emphasize long-term community impact

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the Barry & Marie Lipman Family Prize?

It is an annual international award recognizing nonprofit organizations that demonstrate leadership, innovation, measurable impact, and sustainable solutions to global social challenges.

2. How much funding is available?

The grand prize winner receives USD 300,000, while two additional winners each receive USD 150,000 in unrestricted funding.

3. Who can apply?

Eligible nonprofit organizations operating for at least three years, with documented impact results and a three-year average annual operating budget between USD 500,000 and USD 5 million.

4. Are organizations outside the United States eligible?

Yes. Organizations with nonprofit status in the United States or an equivalent legal status in their home country may apply.

5. What additional benefits do winners receive?

Winners receive executive education, leadership scholarships, promotion through University of Pennsylvania networks, and long-term partnership opportunities.

6. How are applications evaluated?

Applications are assessed based on leadership, measurable impact, innovation, and the ability to transfer successful practices to other contexts.

7. Which organizations are not eligible?

Organizations that primarily redistribute funds, engage in direct lobbying, deliver primarily religious programmes, or discriminate based on protected characteristics are not eligible.

Conclusion

The Barry & Marie Lipman Family Prize recognizes nonprofit organizations that combine visionary leadership, innovative solutions, measurable impact, and sustainable organizational practices to address global social challenges. Through substantial unrestricted funding, executive education, leadership development, and long-term collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania, the programme helps exceptional nonprofits expand their impact and inspire transformative change worldwide.