Google.org has begun to accept applications for the Google Impact Challenge, which will award $5 million to 25 Bay Area nonprofits that come up with innovative ways to better their communities.
A panel of advisers who have committed to improving the Bay Area will review the submissions and select finalists. The panel includes former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Warriors forward Harrison Barnes and San Francisco Giants outfielder Hunter Pence. Submissions will be reviewed based on four criteria: community impact, innovation, reach and feasibility.
Nonprofits must apply or be nominated by July 23. The application can be found here.
On Sept. 29, the public will vote on the 10 finalists, and four winners will be announced Oct. 21. The four winners will each be awarded $500,000. The six finalists will each be awarded $250,000, and 15 runners-up will each receive $100,000. After the challenge, these nonprofits will continue to receive support from Google volunteers and partners to help turn their ideas into reality.
Last year, about 1,000 nonprofits applied for the challenge. Previous winners include Hack the Hood, which teaches low-income students tech skills; San Francisco Baykeeper, which has been combating pollution, erosion and sea-level rise in the San Francisco Bay; and Lava Mae, which provides mobile showers for the homeless.
Photo: Google headquarters in Mountain View. (Patrick Tehan/Mercury News)
