Wouldn’t it be awesome if you did the thing…
…opened a quiet food-and-supplies shelf in your classroom?
You noticed who came in hungry. You stocked a shelf and told families discreetly. No forms, no shame.
The expertise is already in the building.
Most efforts to fix community problems are designed by people who don’t live in those communities. You do. You’ve seen which interventions stick and which ones get politely ignored. We want your idea, not a sanitized version of it: the thing you’d actually do if someone finally said yes.
It’s the same rubric as the student track. Two trained judges score two things and confirm the idea is genuinely yours. They never judge production quality or on-camera comfort; a phone video in your empty classroom is exactly right.
A need you’ve seen firsthand, in your classroom, your hallway, or your district. Specifics are better than abstractions, and naming who benefits is better than generalities.
Logical first steps and awareness of what it would take: the costs, the partners, the first move. You know what interventions actually require; show it.
A $1,000 prize — no strings attached. A win pays $1,000 directly to you as a prize for the idea itself. It’s yours to use however you want.
Up to $10,000 more (optional). Want to take it further? Together we develop a clear set of next steps — an implementation or testing plan — and if we mutually agree on those targets, up to $10,000 more in funding becomes available.
One short video. That’s it.
We’re not asking for a grant proposal. A 1–2 minute video of you explaining your idea (what, why, who, and what you’d do first) is the submission. We give you a browser recorder. You can re-record as many times as you want; only your chosen take counts.
The whole point is to lower the activation energy. The educators we most want to hear from are the ones with the least time to spare for paperwork.
The things you’d want to know first.
Full educator FAQ →Who counts as an educator?+
It's self-defined: teachers (public, private, charter, homeschool), principals, counselors, coaches, club and community leaders. If you work with young people in North Carolina, you can submit.
Do I need administrator permission?+
To submit, no. To run your idea inside school facilities, that depends on what you're doing, and we can help you think it through.
What dates matter?+
Submissions open July 15, 2026 and close October 4, 2026. Submit any day in that window. You'll hear a response back from judging within 10 days.
How is money paid?+
Winners will receive prize money as a $1,000 check. For winners younger than 18, we will write the checks to the parents/guardian for the benefit of the minor.
What format do I submit?+
A 1–2 minute video, recorded in your browser. No editing, no slides, no script required.
Can I submit as a group?+
No. Entries are individual. A co-teacher can absolutely help you shape the idea, but each submission comes from one educator, and any award is paid to that person. If you both have ideas, submit separately.
You’ve been carrying this idea around. Put it to work.
An answer within 10 days. Winners earn a $1,000 prize, no strings attached. Up to $10,000 more if you develop next steps together. No application fee. No grant proposal.