News

Stronger Democracy Award website registration
Additional $10 Million in Funding Announced for Stronger Democracy Award
June 21, 2021
Competition Update
Today, we’re thrilled to announce an anonymous donor from the ICONIQ Impact community has contributed an additional $10 million to the Stronger Democracy Award, bringing its total to $22 million! Two finalists will receive a $10 million grant, the first from Additional Ventures and the second from the anonymous donor. A third finalist will receive a $2 million grant from philanthropists Cipora and Vlado Herman.
An image of Dr. Cecilia Conrad smiling.
Lever for Change Honored to be Included Among MacKenzie Scott's 286 Teams Empowering Voices the World Needs to Hear
By: Dr. Cecilia Conrad | June 15, 2021
Blog
Since the inception of Lever for Change in 2019, we have developed and managed nine large-scale challenges to change the world. Working tirelessly toward our goal to unlock $1 billion in philanthropic giving by 2023, we have partnered with dozens of donors and amplified the work of hundreds of people and organizations with bold solutions to address the most intractable problems of our time.
Announcing Meadows Institute as the $10 M Lone Star Prize Recipient
Lyda Hill Philanthropies Announces Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute as Recipient of the $10 Million Lone Star Prize
June 15, 2021
Press Release
Competition Update
Four Finalist Projects Receive Additional Funding to Improve the Quality of Life of Texans
Bold Solutions Network Collage
Update on Funding & Upcoming Opportunities
By: Emma Poole and Vernon Smith | May 17, 2021
Newsletter Article
Bold Solutions Network
At Lever for Change, we prioritize ensuring that our processes and approaches provide value and raise the visibility of bold solutions. While we continued to learn, evolve, and improve over the past year, we have seen strong evidence that being a member of the Bold Solutions Network proves valuable not only for teams who ultimately receive an award, but for all members.
Bold Solutions Network Collage
Celebrating the one-year anniversary of our Bold Solutions Network
By: Kristen Molyneaux Ph.D. | May 17, 2021
Newsletter Article
Bold Solutions Network
Time flies. It’s been just over a year since our team at Lever for Change launched the Bold Solutions Network. Born of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s 100&Change competition for $100 million, Lever for Change unlocks capital that might otherwise remain on the sidelines. We embolden donors to make larger grants than are typical in philanthropy—$10 million or more—through customized competitions, which provide the opportunity for donors, nonprofits, and social entrepreneurs to connect and solve global challenges together. We then amplify the top-ranked solutions in our Bold Solutions Network to catalyze investments in outstanding teams and accelerate large-scale social change.
Swift Grants Logo
Introducing our new Swift Grants
By: Vernon Smith | May 17, 2021
Blog
Newsletter Article
Lever for Change is excited to launch Swift Grants – a new funding opportunity for Bold Solutions Network members offering small grants of up to $25,000 for collaborative projects.
Young girl with her hair in braids and wearing a red, white and grey sweatshirt smiles at the camera, while running, with her mother in the background wearing a pink dress and dark headscarf, talking on the phone.
Larsen Lam ICONIQ Impact Award Grants Over $24M to Five Non-Profit Organizations to Create Long-Term Transformational Change for Refugees
May 4, 2021
Press Release
Competition Update
Resourcing Refugee Leadership Initiative Selected as $10M Award Recipient by Sponsors Chris Larsen and Lyna Lam.
Making Change
By: Dr. Cecilia Conrad | April 19, 2021
Blog
Newsletter Article
Born of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s 100&Change competition for $100 million, Lever for Change was created to unlock significant philanthropic capital that might otherwise remain on the sidelines and accelerate large-scale social change around the world. We embolden donors to make larger grants than are typical in philanthropy—$10 million or more.
Stronger Democracy Award image: Four people raise and link their arms in protest
New $12 Million Award Launched to Strengthen Democracy in the United States
March 25, 2021
Press Release
The Stronger Democracy Award Seeks to Fund Bold Solutions to Improve Political Representation and Increase Citizen Participation
An image of Dr. Cecilia Conrad smiling.
Can Competitions Be Equitable?
By: Dr. Cecilia Conrad | March 10, 2021
Media article
In this Inside Philanthropy article, our CEO, Cecilia Conrad, makes the case that competitions can be equitable and fair if they are designed with that goal in mind.

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