F. M. Kirby Prize for Scaling Impact: 2026 Call, USD 150,000 Award

The F. M. Kirby Prize for Scaling Impact is a prize for impact enterprises, run by CASE at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business. It is open to organisations from any country that meet its tax rule.

Who can apply

The prize is for organisations working in entrepreneurship and social impact that have a strategy for impact at scale. For tax reasons, international applicants must have an established presence in the US: they must be a US taxpayer with a federal taxpayer identification number, for example through US charity status or a US-based fiscal sponsorship agreement. An NGO equivalency determination does not meet this requirement, so settle this point before you invest time in an application.

What it offers

One winner receives USD 150,000 in unrestricted funding. The winner decides how best to use the money to advance its strategy for impact at scale, with the flexibility to learn, adapt and change course along the way.

Deadline

Phase 1 opens on 23 October 2026 and closes on 2 December 2026 at 11:59 pm New York time. It can close earlier: the application window ends as soon as 250 applications have been received, even before that date. Submit as early as you can.

Before you apply

Read the eligibility rules and application questions on the official page. Confirm your US tax status or fiscal sponsor arrangement first, then gather evidence of the results your work has achieved.