Deadline: 14-Jun-2026
Applications are now open for the 2026 Global Citizen Waislitz Awards, recognizing individuals worldwide whose innovative work is creating measurable impact in the fight against extreme poverty. The awards are presented by the Waislitz Foundation in partnership with Global Citizen to support social innovators, changemakers, and leaders working to improve lives globally.
Now in its twelfth year, the awards celebrate projects and initiatives that demonstrate innovation, scalability, adaptability, and long-term social impact.
Award Categories
The 2026 edition includes three award categories:
- Global Citizen Waislitz Prize
- Disruptor Award
- Global Citizens’ Choice Award
Each award recipient will receive:
- $100,000 USD cash prize
- Editorial features on the Global Citizen platform
- Social media promotion and global visibility for their work
Program Objectives
The awards aim to:
- Support individuals working to end extreme poverty
- Recognize innovative and disruptive social impact solutions
- Amplify projects with measurable global or local impact
- Encourage scalable and adaptable poverty reduction initiatives
- Promote global citizenship and community engagement
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be from any country worldwide
- Demonstrate measurable impact toward ending extreme poverty
- Show at least 1–2 years of proven work or project impact
The awards are open to individuals rather than organizations, although applicants may represent initiatives, enterprises, or community projects.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications are assessed based on five main criteria:
Global Citizenship
Applicants should demonstrate commitment to creating positive social change and improving communities.
Proof of Concept
Projects must show measurable results and at least 1–2 years of demonstrated impact.
Disruption
The awards value innovative approaches that challenge systems contributing to poverty and inequality.
Scalability
Applicants should show potential for expanding impact to reach more communities or regions.
Adaptability
Projects should demonstrate flexibility and the ability to respond to changing social and economic conditions.
Special Focus: Disruptor Award
The Disruptor Award specifically recognizes individuals using bold, innovative, and system-changing approaches to tackle extreme poverty.
This category highlights:
- Creative problem-solving
- Technology-driven solutions
- Social innovation models
- New approaches to long-standing development challenges
Global Citizens’ Choice Award
The Global Citizens’ Choice Award includes participation from the Global Citizen community through online voting.
This category provides:
- Public visibility
- Community engagement opportunities
- Additional global recognition for impactful work
Why These Awards Matter
The awards help:
- Increase visibility for grassroots and global changemakers
- Provide financial support for social impact initiatives
- Encourage innovation in poverty reduction strategies
- Inspire collaboration and global action
- Amplify successful models for sustainable development
How to Apply
- Prepare details about your project, initiative, or social impact work
- Demonstrate measurable outcomes and community impact
- Highlight innovation, scalability, and adaptability
- Explain how your work contributes to ending extreme poverty
- Submit the application through the official award platform before the deadline
Tips for Strong Applications
- Use clear data and measurable results to show impact
- Highlight how your work creates lasting change
- Explain what makes your approach innovative or disruptive
- Demonstrate leadership and community engagement
- Include examples of scalability and future growth potential
- Show adaptability to social or economic challenges
FAQ
Who can apply for the Global Citizen Waislitz Awards?
Individuals aged 18 or older from any country can apply.
What is the prize amount?
Each award category provides a $100,000 USD cash prize.
Are organizations eligible?
The awards are intended for individuals, although applicants may represent projects or initiatives.
What kind of work is supported?
The awards support innovative work focused on ending extreme poverty and creating measurable social impact.
What is the Disruptor Award?
The Disruptor Award recognizes innovative and system-changing approaches to tackling poverty.
How is the Citizens’ Choice Award decided?
The Global Citizens’ Choice Award includes online voting and engagement from the Global Citizen community.
Conclusion
The Global Citizen Waislitz Awards 2026 recognize individuals creating meaningful and measurable change in the fight against extreme poverty. Through financial support, global visibility, and recognition, the awards encourage innovative, scalable, and impactful solutions that contribute to long-term social transformation worldwide.
For more information, visit Global Citizen.