Social Impact Grant Challenge

The Social Impact Grant Challenge is a national funding initiative administered by the T.D. Jakes Foundation in partnership with Wells Fargo. The program is designed to expand access to funding and strategic opportunities for nonprofit organizations that are working to address pressing social issues across the United States. Historically, access to the foundation’s ecosystem of partnerships and funding opportunities was limited, but this challenge represents a shift toward open access, allowing a broader range of mission aligned organizations to participate. The initiative is closely tied to the Thriving Seven Summit, a national convening focused on innovation, leadership, and scalable community impact. The primary purpose of the grant challenge is to identify and support nonprofit organizations that demonstrate measurable impact and the ability to scale sustainable solutions. The program is centered on three key pillars: educational access and workforce readiness, financial inclusion, and community transformation and well being. Applicants are expected to propose programs that address critical community needs and demonstrate clear outcomes supported by performance metrics. The funding is intended to amplify organizations that already have operational capacity and a track record of delivering results, rather than early stage or unproven initiatives. A total of one million five hundred thousand dollars in grant funding is anticipated to be distributed across fifteen awards. The funding structure includes one top award of five hundred thousand dollars, one award of two hundred fifty thousand dollars, two awards of one hundred thousand dollars each, and eleven awards of fifty thousand dollars each. Grant funds must be used strictly for charitable and programmatic purposes aligned with the organization’s mission and the approved proposal. Prohibited uses include political activities, personal expenses, and any activities inconsistent with nonprofit tax exempt status. Funds are distributed in phases, with fifty percent disbursed in 2026, followed by two additional disbursements of twenty five percent each in the second and third quarters of 2027. Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations that are recognized as tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and are in good standing. Organizations must be headquartered and operating within the United States, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico. Applicants must demonstrate measurable impact, organizational capacity, and compliance with applicable laws and nondiscrimination requirements. Additional expectations include the ability to provide audited financial statements, maintain strong governance structures, and manage large scale funding responsibly. Only one application per organization is permitted. The application process requires submission through an official online portal during the designated challenge period. Applicants must complete all required questions and provide supporting documentation such as organizational information, program descriptions, financial data, and evidence of impact. Applications cannot be modified after submission. Following the initial review, selected organizations may be invited to submit additional materials and advance through semi finalist and finalist stages. Finalists are required to present their programs in person at the Thriving Seven Summit in Atlanta, Georgia. Applications are evaluated based on four equally weighted criteria: organizational impact and results to date, alignment with social impact goals, feasibility of the proposed use of funds, and organizational capacity and sustainability. The review process includes multiple stages, including initial screening, semi finalist review, and final judging. Finalists present their work to a judging panel, and award decisions are final. Participation in the challenge does not guarantee funding, and all awards are contingent upon compliance with program rules and execution of grant agreements. The application window opens on July 23, 2026 and closes on August 23, 2026. Semi finalists are expected to be notified in late September, with additional application requirements due in early October. Finalists are selected in mid October and must present at the summit held November 12 through November 14, 2026. Grant recipients are announced at the summit. The program does not specify a recurring cycle, indicating that future rounds are not guaranteed. Organizations must be prepared to comply with reporting requirements, monitoring activities, and potential audits throughout the grant period.

Emphasize measurable outcomes alignment with stated pillars and demonstrate organizational capacity and sustainability