Google.org announced yesterday a new “impact challenge” to find and fund projects that aim to create pathways to prosperity for women and girls or help them find economic potential.
The tech giant has $25 million for selected projects and each initiative could receive between $300,000 and $2 million, plus mentoring along the way.
According to Jacquelline Fuller, president of Google.org and present in the philanthropy business for over 20 years, this is an opportunity to show its interest in the best ideas on how to capitalize on economic opportunities, especially for women.
“We’ve done some challenges before and this structure is very open. We want to see ideas, understand what they think can be the real growth point of these avenues. Google will stand by these winners and offer the necessary resources, which we know is what organizations need most for their ideas,” she explains.
Applications for the Google Impact Challenge end April 9, and the company accepts proposals from any charity or non-profit organization that meets the stated objectives. In a second phase, the organizations with the most potential will have to submit more information about their project.
Jacquelline Fuller lists some of the characteristics of the projects Google is looking for: innovation, ability to scale and also ensuring equality.
“We want to know how we can help women and girls who are most disadvantaged, how we can use this fusion of technology and funding, and how the winners will achieve local prominence that will then help them tell their story and catalyze even more investment,” Jacquelline Fuller adds, stressing that Google is looking for “realistic projects that have a solid track record, but are innovative and scalable ideas.”
To select the winning projects there is a jury panel with female personalities from more than 15 countries and several areas, from politics to technology and research.
Among them is Portugal’s Minister of Culture, Graça Fonseca, and also personalities such as Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Susan Wojcicki, president of YouTube, and singer Shakira. The selected organizations will be announced later this year.
The idea of this challenge, emphasizes the head of Google.org, was already thought of last year, but was postponed due to Covid-19. The crisis caused by the pandemic, she adds, has also increased the disparities between men and women.
“Overall, women are almost twice as likely to lose their jobs as a result of Covid-19. In the United States alone, women have lost more than 5.4 million jobs, accounting for 55% of all net job losses in 2020,” Jacquelline Fuller exemplifies. The greatest inequalities stand out in employment and access to education.
In addition to funding, Google is also available to accompany the projects and offer technological and team support.
