Today, Google announced the launch of the Google.org Pittsburgh Impact Challenge, inviting local nonprofits to submit proposals for “bold ideas to grow economic opportunity in the local community.”
Charlie Batch will serve as a local advisor to the initiative. “Google’s new Pittsburgh Impact Challenge is a game changer for local nonprofit organizations that are striving to strengthen our neighborhoods and communities,” said Charlie. “I’m honored to have the opportunity to play a small role in Google’s effort to help bring Pittsburgh’s immense wealth of creativity and innovation to the forefront, and to continue our collective mission of providing skill-based opportunities that will lead to economic growth and will have a lasting impact on the future of our communities.”
Read the full press release below:
Pittsburgh Impact Challenge to Help Local Nonprofits Strengthen Communities
Google.org will provide $250K in grants to Pittsburgh area nonprofit organizations to bring innovative ideas to life
PITTSBURGH (November 7, 2017) – Today, Google launched the Google.org Pittsburgh Impact Challenge inviting local nonprofits to submit proposals for bold ideas to grow economic opportunity in the local community. This announcement follows Google CEO Sundar Pichai’s announcement in Pittsburgh last month of the new Grow with Google initiative aimed at helping Americans get the skills they need to prepare for a job, find a job, or grow their business.
Through Grow with Google, the company’s aim is to help everyone across America – those who make up the workforce of today, the students who will drive the workforce of tomorrow and the small business that keep our economy strong – access the best of Google’s training and tools to grow their skills, careers, and businesses.
Additionally, over the next five years Google will give $1 billion in grants to nonprofits around the globe working to create economic opportunity, starting with a $10 million grant to Goodwill – the largest workforce development nonprofit in the US – to bring digital skills programs to all 156 Goodwill locations across the country. During Pichai’s visit, Google also outlined the Pittsburgh Impact Challenge calling for fresh ideas from area nonprofits to help Pittsburgh neighborhoods thrive.
Here’s how it works: Qualifying local nonprofits are invited to submit their proposals for their most creative and innovative ideas to grow economic opportunity in their community. Together with a panel of expert advisors, Google will review these applications and will chose four winners who will receive $50,000 in grant funding and training from Google. After the four winners are announced, the Pittsburgh community will be invited to vote on which project they believe will have the greatest impact in the community. The winner of that public vote will receive an additional $50,000 in funding.
The panel of local advisors who have been selected to review the applications, includes: Mary Frances Cooper, President and Director of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh; Grant Oliphant, President of the Heinz Endowments; Charlie Batch, Former NFL quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Founder of Best of the Batch Foundation and Co-Founder of Impellia; and Kamal Nigam, Site Lead and Engineering Director, Google Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh-area nonprofit organizations can find more information on the Impact Challenge and submit their applications by visiting http://g.co/pittsburghchallenge. The deadline for submissions is December 31, 2017 at 11:59pm ET. The four finalists are expected to be named in the spring of 2018.
Pittsburgh Impact Challenge Advisor Quotes for Attribution:
“Great ideas are happening in Pittsburgh. And many of those ideas are complementing the great work of our local nonprofits, making our neighborhoods strong and empowering individuals to make a global difference. I am delighted Google has recognized the quality and diversity of our region’s nonprofits through Impact Challenge Pittsburgh. As a hub for literacy, community engagement and economic development, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh helps members of our community reach their fullest potential. I am excited about our region’s future and can’t wait to see the creative and innovative proposals that will come from this challenge.” – Mary Frances Cooper, President & Director, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
“Effective workforce development and economic opportunity is essential in helping Pittsburgh to fulfill its potential as a global leader in technical innovation. The Endowments congratulates Google for an outstanding initiative that has been purposefully designed to maximize impact at a grassroots community level.” – Grant Oliphant, President of the Heinz Endowments
“Google’s new Pittsburgh Impact Challenge is a game changer for local nonprofit organizations that are striving to strengthen our neighborhoods and communities. I’m honored to have the opportunity to play a small role in Google’s effort to help bring Pittsburgh’s immense wealth of creativity and innovation to the forefront, and to continue our collective mission of providing skill-based opportunities that will lead to economic growth and will have a lasting impact on the future of our communities.” – Charlie Batch, Founder of Best of the Batch Foundation and Co-Founder of Impellia
“The Pittsburgh Impact Challenge is live now. We’re asking nonprofits working in Pittsburgh to submit their best ideas. We want these funds to be transformative for local communities and can’t wait to hear the ideas Pittsburghers have for their neighborhoods. Special thanks to all our advisors for offering their deep knowledge and understanding of the Pittsburgh community to this challenge.” – Kamal Nigam, Site Lead and Engineering Director, Google Pittsburgh
