Erase Indifference Challenge 2026

About

A global grant challenge by the Auschwitz Pledge Foundation will award €90,000 in eight prizes to existing initiatives that demonstrate measurable impact in reducing indifference toward discrimination.

Benefits

• 💶Total award pool
  €90,000 is distributed among eight winning initiatives.
• 🏆Main award
  One winning initiative receives €20,000.
• 🥇Additional awards
  Seven winning initiatives each receive €10,000.
• 🔓Award use
  The Challenge imposes no specific requirements on how the award money must be used.
• 🤝Finalist meetings
  At least 16 finalists are invited to individual online meetings with the Erase Indifference team and external experts.
• 📣Platform feature
  Winners agree that their initiative may be featured on the Erase Indifference Platform.

Eligibility Criteria

• Mandatory: Open to NGOs, startups, companies and public institutions from all over the world.
• Mandatory: Applicants may not be financed by or in any way related to political entities.
• Mandatory: Applicants may not implement or have previously implemented activities or initiatives contrary to the mission of the Auschwitz Pledge Foundation.
• Mandatory: Projects focused exclusively on commercial profit-making without social impact, academic research without practical bystander application, or proselytizing or religious activities are not eligible.
• Mandatory: Informal groups cannot apply.
• Mandatory: Partnerships are allowed only if partners also meet the challenge criteria.
• Mandatory: The initiative must be an existing initiative with demonstrated impact, currently running or already completed, and able to show real-world results, measurable outcomes and meaningful social impact.
• Mandatory: Initiatives may be ongoing, completed, or delivered in recurring cycles; if completed, they must have ended no earlier than December 2023.
• Mandatory: The organization or entity that implemented the initiative must still exist and be operational at the time of application.
• Mandatory: One team may submit one application only.
• Mandatory: Applications must be submitted in English and participants must be able to speak and write English at least at a communicative level.
• Mandatory: The initiative must address social indifference to discrimination by engaging the wider public, not provide direct support or services only to people affected by discrimination.

Participation Commitments

• Open call runs from 30 October 2026 to 4 December 2026.
• Applications must be submitted in English through the form on the Erase Indifference Challenge section of the official website; the site states applications are submitted via Google Forms.
• Applicants are asked to read the FAQ and the Manual before applying.
• One team may submit one application only.
• At least 16 finalists are invited to individual online meetings with the Erase Indifference team and external experts held from 15 to 26 February 2027.
• Winners are announced on 28 February 2027.
• Winners must sign an award agreement with the Auschwitz Pledge Foundation.
• By submitting an application, applicants agree that their initiative may be featured on the Erase Indifference Platform.
• Beyond the award agreement and platform feature, no ongoing reporting or implementation requirements are attached to the award.

Target Region

Global; the Challenge is open to NGOs, startups, companies and public institutions from all over the world.

Target Sector

Agriculture & Food, Defense & Security, Education, Energy & Utilities, Financial Services, Government & Public Sector, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Manufacturing, Media & Entertainment, Real Estate & Construction, Retail & Consumer, Semiconductors & Electronics, Sports & Fitness, Telecommunications, Transportation & Logistics, Travel & Hospitality, Other