$100,000 Grinnell Global Prize for Social Justice Innovators

The Grinnell college is delighted to announce its annual global Prize for Social Justice Innovators. The Prize program targets leaders collaborating and co-creating solutions to pressing social justice issues. For purposes of administering the Prize, it would be up to the nominator to make the case as to how his or her nominee affects positive social change. Through thoughtful deliberation and consensus, the Prize Selection Committee will determine whether an individual is effecting positive social change in an innovative way that he or she should be recognized as a force for social justice.

Eligibility and criteria:

[1] Nominees may be nationals of any country and must be nominated by a third party.

[2] Nominees may be a single individual or a team of two people who are working together.

[3] Nominees must have earned a bachelor's degree or equivalent between 2003 and 2019. 

[4] Nominees should be a force for social justice. They should have identified a concrete social justice need, designed creative and socially just solutions to address that need, and made a substantive impact through their hard work and dedication. 

[5] Nominees should have demonstrated the essence of Grinnell College's broad liberal arts education through serving the common good and demonstrating expertise in the areas of critical thinking, innovative problem solving, and measurable systemic change making. 

[6] Nominees must not be widely known outside their immediate community or field. 

[7] All successful nominees should have some level of recognition within their community or field.

[8] Nominees must be able to provide in English any supplemental information required as part of the selection process. Failure to provide the requested information will automatically disqualify the nominee from further consideration.

The Award: 

One winner will receive a prize of $100,000. The Prize is funded with discretionary funds from the College's endowment. Targeted donations also support the Grinnell Prize program. Each year the Grinnell Prize recipients come to campus in the fall. They receive their prizes, meet with students and the wider community, and offer presentations about their work. The nominees will be required to attend an on-campus award ceremony and symposium in Grinnell, Iowa.

About Grinnell College: 

Grinnell College is a private, coed, residential liberal arts and sciences college located in Grinnell, Iowa. The college was founded in 1846, and since then it confers bachelor of arts degrees in 26 major fields and offers individualized curriculum planning and advising. Grinnell College's mission is to provide an education in the liberal arts through free inquiry and the open exchange of ideas.  With the creation of the Grinnell Prize, the College is extending its educational mission beyond the campus and alumni community to individuals anywhere who believe innovative social justice programs create a better world.