Open for applications: F. M. Kirby Prize for Scaling Impact
Deadline 3 December 2025
The Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE) at Duke University has opened applications for the 2025 F. M. Kirby Prize for Scaling Impact, offering an annual global award of USD $150,000 in unrestricted funds to amplify and accelerate enterprises working to scale solutions to social or environmental problems worldwide.
Focus Areas
>>The Kirby Prize recognizes enterprises pursuing strategic pathways to impact at scale,
>>Who are close to the challenges at hand, who center the voice and experience of the populations they serve,
>>Who have demonstrated traction, and who embody courageous and collaborative leadership.
This prestigious prize, supported through the partnership of the F.M. Kirby Foundation, is open to any organization—regardless of legal form, location, or impact area—that demonstrates strong evidence of impact for at least three years and a clear plan to use the prize to expand that impact in the next three to five years.
Applicants must also maintain a minimum operational budget of USD $250,000, with most successful applicants historically having budgets between USD $1–3 million. For tax purposes, international applicants must have a recognized U.S. presence through either a 501(c)(3) status, a U.S.-based fiscal sponsorship agreement, or another valid taxpayer identification arrangement.
The 2025 Kirby Prize application process follows a tiered format to minimize applicant burden. Phase 1 opens on 24 October 2025, and closes on 3 December 2025, at 11:59 PM EDT. Up to the first 250 applications will be reviewed, with selected applicants advancing to Phase 2 beginning 9 January 2026. Finalists will undergo virtual interviews between 26 March and 7 April 2026, with the winner notified in May and publicly announced in June 2026. Finalists will also receive a USD $1,000 honorarium for their participation.
The Kirby Prize evaluation framework focuses on three main dimensions:
>>Impact, Readiness to Scale, and Leadership. Applicants must demonstrate a deep understanding of the social or environmental issue they address, supported by a robust theory of change and strong evidence of measurable impact.
>>They should also outline a realistic and strategic plan for scaling their model over the coming years, incorporating partnerships, policy influence, or systemic change mechanisms.
>>Leadership qualities such as integrity, resilience, resourcefulness, diversity, and meaningful collaboration are also key selection criteria.
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Open for applications: F. M. Kirby Prize for Scaling Impact
