Application Process

2025 Great Charity Challenge sponsored by Fidelity Investments®

WELCOME! 

Please click on the link below to access the Application. If you would like to download the Application in Word format (automatic download), please click here.

 

2025 Great Charity Challenge Application

Reminder: The application process to participate in the 2025 Great Charity Challenge sponsored by Fidelity Investments® will ONLY be available through 5 PM on Thursday, October 31, 2024.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS and TIPS:

About the Application (organized in order of appearance on the application):

  • What do I need before I get started? You NEED our Word application form. This form will give you a list of what is needed and requested during the application, give you the opportunity to fill in the answers at your own pace AND will enable you to copy/paste when the process officially opens.
  • NEW THIS YEAR: You will be able to save your application and get back into it to finalize it. However, once you've clicked "submit", no editing will be permitted. 
  • When do I actually need to get my application in? Between Thursday, October 17, 2024 and Thursday, October 31, 2024 at 5:00 PM EST. Please note that we are unable to accept any late entries. 
  • What do I do if I don't know which non-profit category I should apply under? Do the best that you can and see which category best represents your activities. If the review board has any questions on your decision, we will be sure to reach out to you! And if you are completely stuck and unsure on how to answer, please email acv@greatcharitychallenge.com by no later than Friday, October 25, 2024 along with your organization website and we will do our very best to advise you.
  • What are we looking for with the required 2023 and 2024 financials? For 2023: auditor compilation or year-end statement signed by board treasurer. For 2024: it can be either a P&L or Balance Sheet to date, signed by your board treasurer. Uploads are PDF only, must not exceed 10MB. .
  • What if we don't have a non-discrimination clause? This requirement was instilled in 2020; our board and donors feel strongly that this should be a requirement. In the event you do not have one, we recommend you create one and get it validated by your board. IF your organization cannot stand behind this requirement, we respect your decision but will sadly be unable to consider you for funding.
  • What if we don't have employees? Please enter the number 1 in all salary requirement fields. IMPORTANT NOTE: contractors should also be considered here! If you hire contractors for specific needs (marketing, event, etc.), please list the amount you paid in 2021 for these positions.
  • Finally, IF you have tried absolutely everything and are still having issues in submitting your application, we kindly request that you send us your complete application via email to acv@greatcharitychallenge.com by no later than Friday, October 25, 2024 at 5:00 PM EST (to give us the time to enter it manually). 

Our biggest recommendation, so you don't waste any time, should you have a computer glitch, lose internet connection or have any issues once the application process opens: DOWNLOAD and fill out the World Application Form!

 

Post Application (about the drawings and event itself):

  • How do I know if I passed the vetting process? Due to the large number of applications received on a yearly basis, we only reach out to the ones that either do not qualify or are missing information. If you receive emails from us that are "business as usual", rest assured that you have passed our vetting process. 
  • How will I know if we get selected? Organizations will be selected out of a lottery drum during our selection process. The lucky drawn non-profits will be tagged on social media AND will receive an email (given during the application process). 
  • When is the drawing/selection process of the charities? The drawing process will take place on December 18, 2024. As has been done in years past, the drawing will be live-streamed via our social media channels to promote transparency of the process. Non-profits should not plan on attending this event. The lucky drawn organizations will be tagged on social media AND will receive an email (given during the application process). 
  • How does the event work? In a nutshell, up to 30 non-profits are randomly selected to participate in the event (via the drawing mentioned above). If selected through the raffle drawing, organizations are then each randomly paired with a team and corporate sponsor who will compete on their behalf on Saturday, February 1, 2025. The winning team will earn $100,000 for their paired non-profit while last place is guaranteed a minimum of $15,000.
  • Not selected to participate via the drawing in December? Don't worry, the event generally randomly draws dozens of additional grants leading up to the actual event. 
  • When is the actual event? The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, February 1, 2025 at Wellington International. Selected nonprofits will be required to have a minimum of two (2) representatives attend that night. Other non-selected non-profits are invited to join but their presence is not required.