Ford Fund Community Challenge
A signature program of Ford Fund, Ford College Community Challenge is a global grant competition that empowers college students to envision and lead change in their communities.
Ford College Community Challenge advances innovative student-led projects that address a pressing local need around the theme of “building sustainable communities.” Winning teams receive funding from Ford Fund to implement their projects, often in partnership with organizations in their communities.
Launched in the United States in 2008, the program is now operating in 11 additional countries – Brazil, Egypt, Germany, Ghana, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Spain and the United Kingdom – and in Puerto Rico. In most countries around the world, the program is run in collaboration with Enactus – an international nonprofit dedicated to inspiring students to improve the world through entrepreneurial action.
In total, Ford Fund has distributed more than $3 million in global grants to support nearly 200 student-led social projects through the Ford College Community Challenge.
“
“Students can be a powerful force for good, and if we give them the right support, they can change the world. Throughout the past 12 years, our goal has been to create a movement that gives students more opportunities to make people’s lives better.”
-Mike Schmidt / Director, education and global community development, Ford Fund.
”
To learn about additional ways Ford Fund supports education, click here.