The Sullivan Impact Prize is built for the moment when a promising idea needs a short runway and a clear test. Launching in spring 2025, the Prize invites students and young alumni across the Sullivan network to compete and turn quality ideas into practical solutions for their communities. The emphasis is on momentum: a modest infusion of capital, targeted mentorship, and visibility that shortens the distance between a pilot and proof.
Eligibility is straightforward. Applicants must be under 35 and meaningfully connected to the Sullivan ecosystem, therefore recipients of Sullivan Awards or scholarships, Fellows and Ignite participants, or individuals actively engaged in Sullivan programs on their campuses qualify. Early concepts are welcome, as are ventures already underway; the common denominator is clarity about the problem, the people affected, and a credible plan to make a measurable difference.
The Sullivan award package reflects that practical focus. The national winner receives a $1,000 and a showcase moment at a spring Sullivan gathering, along with eligibility for up to $10,000 in follow-up funding as the venture demonstrates traction. Finalists benefit from coaching by practitioners who have launched social enterprises and navigated the real-world hurdles that follow an inspiring pitch: hiring a first teammate, securing permissions, tightening a unit model, or proving demand. Exposure across the Sullivan network often proves just as valuable—introductions to campus partners, municipal allies, alumni advisors, and potential funders who can remove friction during an initial launch.
Selection centers on a few durable questions. Is the problem clearly defined and grounded? Does the approach fit the community it aims to serve? What early signals suggest it can work: prototype data, user feedback, letters of support, or a small pilot? And what near-term milestones turn a grant into measurable progress over the next year? Strong applications also show how mentoring and modest capital will accelerate learning, reduce risk, and move the work toward sustainability.
Steve McDavid, president of the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation, captures the intent simply: “The Impact Prize takes the Sullivan tradition of character and puts it to work, supporting young leaders who pair conviction with execution and are committed to making their communities tangibly better.” The Prize is less a destination than a pathway: a way to concentrate help at the moment it matters most, when a venture is ready to prove something real.
Participation is simple. Candidates can emerge from two streams. On many Sullivan campuses, existing pitch or business-plan competitions will feature an Impact Prize track; those campus winners move forward to the national stage at Ignite. There is also an open door for applicants across the network who prefer to apply directly; both routes converge in the same finalist pool and follow the same evaluation standards.
Application materials and the online portal are available at the Sullivan website at www.sullivanfdn.org, or contact the Sullivan offices at (662) 236-6335. For teams ready to turn intention into outcomes, the Impact Prize offers the structure—and the lift—to begin.
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