The Caplow Children’s Prize is a novel humanitarian contest to save children’s lives under age 5. It was created by Ted Caplow, who feels that the death of a child is a special tragedy, considering the potential years of life lost, the innocence of the victims, and the impact on families. A $1 million prize will be awarded to the best plan for preserving the lives of children who would otherwise die before the age of five. All prize finalists will be showcased on their website.
The project is structured as an open web-based contest, with eligibility extending to everyone, both individuals and organizations, across the world. Proposals will be evaluated on the basis of the number of potential lives saved, the probability of success, and the ease of verification. The winner will receive funding to directly execute the life-saving interventions outlined in their submitted proposal.
Is the Children’s Prize a reward or a grant?
The Prize is not a reward recognizing past work or achievements. Instead, it is a grant for future work to directly implement the life-saving intervention that is outlined in the submitted proposal.
Who can apply?
The Children’s Prize is available to anyone. Proposals will be accepted from non-profits (charities), for profits (companies), government programs, academic institutions, and individuals aged 18 years or older. However, the prize funds may only be used for charitable purposes, as specified in the contest goals.
Why should I apply?
You may win! Even if you don’t win, the five finalists will be showcased, drawing attention and other funders to your project.
Are there restrictions on who applies?
Generally speaking, no. However, the prize funds may only be used for charitable purposes, subject to expenditure responsibility.
Are joint proposals and partnerships acceptable?
Yes, provided that it’s clear where the funds would go and who would administer them. Also, submitting a proposal as a partnership does not necessarily improve the quality of an application.
Is the Prize open worldwide?
Yes, you can be from anywhere in the world and enter the Children’s Prize.
When does the contest start?
The Prize opens to the public on January 14, 2013.
When can I apply?
Anytime between January 14, 2013 and May 31, 2013.
How does entering the Prize work?
It is basically a two-step process. The first step is to submit an ENTRY FORM detailing your project. This is reviewed and if your entry is selected for the next round, then an email invitation will be sent to you to complete a full PRIZE PLAN submission.
Where do we Apply?
Go to the website http://childrensprize.org and click ‘APPLY NOW’ to start the process.
What are the criteria for picking the winner of the prize?
Proposals will be judged according to how many lives they propose to save, how credible the plan and the proposer are, how directly the funds can be applied, the probability of success and the ease of verification.
Who will judge the Prize?
The prize will be judged by the Children’s Prize administrators and their partners, including the Whole New World Foundation, Foundation Source, and possibly an independent judging committee. All decisions of the Prize administrators are final and their authority over the Prize is absolute.
Is this a business plan contest?
No, the Children’s Prize is not a business plan contest. The winning proposal will include a sound plan to directly execute life-saving interventions with a high likelihood of success based on the experience and track record of the applicant. Most (but not all) business plans involve elements of risk and potential delay that do not align with the Prize mission.
How much money will be awarded?
The winner will receive $1 million US dollars to spend on saving children’s lives.
Will there be runner up prizes?
Probably not, but it’s possible.
Are there requirements on how the money is spent?
Yes. The prize money must be spent to save children’s lives as described in the winning plan.
Why does the Prize focus on children 0 to 5 years old?
There is abundant data and research that is centered around children under five, so it is convenient to select this bracket. For example, the United Nations Millenium Development Goal 4 seeks to reduce by two-thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the under-five mortality rate.
Please refer to this link for some more information:http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/childhealth.shtml
Which children’s lives is the prize intended to save?
As many children as possible between the ages of 0 and 5 years old, anywhere in the world.
What does it mean to save a child’s life?
For the purposes of the Prize, a saved child is a child who will live to the age of 5 years old and would have died before that age without the intervention of the prize funds.
How long can it take to save the children’s lives?
The Prize does not require a specific timeline, but the intention is to directly spend the money to save children’s lives as immediately as possible. A year or two seems reasonable to achieve this goal in most cases.
Must the exact children who will be saved be identified by name?
Yes and no. The children need not be named during the contest itself, but it is strongly suggested that the proposed plan include a method to specifically identify by name the children affected by the applicant’s proposed plan, and remit this list to the Children’s Prize after the prize has been awarded and the winning plan is put into motion. For example, if your plan involved a vaccine, you could not identify the exact children saved, but you could identify the children vaccinated, and present that information together with a credible estimate as to what fraction of these children would have died without the vaccine.
When will the prize be awarded?
After the December 2013 Award Ceremony.
Will the winner be asked to sign an agreement laying out the terms, schedule, and reporting requirements for spending the prize funds?
Yes.
Will the prize be awarded all at once?
There is no pre-determined schedule for awarding the prize. Applicants who are invited to the second round of the Prize are strongly encouraged to include a detailed budget and timeline.
Does the Prize operate in English only?
Yes. Please make sure that all material you include is in English.
Is this prize targeted at developing countries?
Not necessarily. Keep in mind that the critical consideration is that these funds must be used to preserve the lives of children who would otherwise die before the age of five.
Why is this in a prize format?
The contest format allows the maximum exposure for all the participants involved, while increasing the probability of finding the best ideas for saving children with the prize funds available. The Prize format empowers the donor to specify, and hopefully achieve, the exact goals of the donation.
Why is it Internet based?
The Prize promotes connections between donors and recipients, encouraging modern networking technology while trying to add a new technique to the landscape of global philanthropy.
Are there additional Eligibility Criteria?
An applicant’s eligibility is established by a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire prior to starting the Entry Form.
Are there are tips for applicants?
Sure. Here are several tips we’d strongly recommend to applicants:
- We encourage all applicants to take the time to learn about our project’s priorities as discussed here before submitting an ENTRY FORM.
- It is in the best interest and benefit of the applicant to be as thorough and convincing as possible regarding the information provided to the Prize.
- The Prize is purposely vague to allow entrants to creatively and convincingly express their unique vision to save the greatest number of children’s lives possible.
- Applicants are encouraged to use or set up online accounts that may be very helpful to us in the judging of Prize entries. Some of these accounts could include (but are not limited to) YouTube, Vimeo, Flickr, Twitter, FaceBook, G+, Blogs, Instagram, Pinterest, Slideshare, Tumblr, etc.
- Applicants should consistently check www.childrensprize.org for updates.
What materials must be included with the full Prize Plan?
The applicant should include a resume, a budget, references or support letters, photographs, videos, news articles, etc., as detailed in the application forms at each round of the Prize.
How do applicants demonstrate reliability?
There is no pre-determined criteria for demonstrating reliability. This requirement is one of the more experimental areas of the Prize, as networking technology is rapidly expanding the means by which we tell our stories online and through digital media across great distances.
How should the use of prize funds be verified?
There is no pre-determined criteria for verifying the use of funds, but at the second round of the Prize, proposals must include a section detailing how the donor may verify the use of funds.
What happens to the Intellectual Property rights of the projects submitted?
The Caplow Children’s Prize is only interested in what can be achieved with the $1 million dollar prize. The Prize will not take ownership of your Intellectual Property rights; however, you are granting us a license to publicly share most of the material in your Prize entry when you apply. Please see the Guidelines and Privacy Policy for more details.
Who do we contact about technical difficulties?
Direct all these questions to support@foundationsource.com
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