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Through the Google Impact Challenge, we awarded $5.5 million to Bay Area nonprofits. A panel of advisors helped us select ten nonprofits with innovative ideas for building a better Bay Area, with the top funding recipients chosen by a public vote.
The 2015 Google Impact Challenge has concluded.
Learn more about the 2021 program.
Bay Area top 10
Voting has closed. The six organizations who gathered the most votes (“People’s Choice”) receive a $500,000 grant. The remaining four receive a $250,000 grant.
Due to a virtual tie for fourth place in the public vote, six organizations were awarded the top funding amount rather than four.
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City Year
Helping East San Jose students reach graduation and beyond.
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826 Valencia
Building a creative writing center for kids in the Tenderloin.
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The Hidden Genius Project
Training black male youth to become tech entrepreneurs and leaders.
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The Reset Foundation
Reimagining the justice system for sentenced young adults.
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Kiva
Supporting Oakland’s local small businesses with 0% interest loans.
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Open Door Legal
Providing affordable legal aid to people in need.
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Essie Justice Group
Building a movement to empower women with incarcerated loved ones.
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The Big Lift
Helping all San Mateo County kids learn to read and succeed.
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Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Revitalizing San Francisco’s Market Street with inspiring public spaces.
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TalkingPoints
Building a texting platform for parents and teachers to meaningfully connect across language divides.
About the challenge
The Bay Area has always been home to changemakers and forward-thinkers who challenge the status quo. The Google Impact Challenge: Bay Area rallies the community around bold ideas to make our neighborhoods even better.
Google.org invited local nonprofits to submit their proposals. Together with a panel of advisors, we reviewed these applications and chose 25 finalists who will receive $5.5 million in funding, support from Google volunteers and access to co-working space via the Impact Hub. We looked for projects with innovative approaches, ambitious plans to improve the lives of local residents, and nimble, adventurous leadership teams to execute their vision.
The public cast their votes to help decide who received the top awards. We invite you to read about all 25 funded projects.
The 2015 Google Impact Challenge has concluded.
Learn more about the 2021 program.
15 Bay Area Finalists
The following 15 nonprofits will receive grants of $100,000, support from Google volunteers and access to coworking space at the Impact Hub to continue their inspiring work to make the Bay Area even better.
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Centro Community Partners
Creating apps and training tools for low-income entrepreneurs to build sustainable businesses
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Code for America
Helping people legally change their criminal records online under Proposition 47
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East Oakland Youth Development Center
Providing education and leadership training for youth in Oakland
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Farallon Institute
Using data and advanced sensors to better manage Bay Area fisheries
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Five Keys Charter School
Providing access to adult education with mobile high-tech classrooms in isolated neighborhoods
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The Flight Deck, an enterprise of Ragged Wing Ensemble
Supporting small arts organizations in Oakland to employ underrepresented artists
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Friends of the Urban Forest
Planting sidewalk gardens in underserved neighborhoods in San Francisco
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La Cocina
Supporting low-income food entrepreneurs to launch brick and mortar businesses
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Mother Coders
Providing a tech orientation program for moms with onsite childcare
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The Representation Project
Launching youth-driven campaigns that challenge limiting stereotypes
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San Francisco AIDS Foundation
Providing effective sexual health messaging in dating apps
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San Francisco Bicycle Coalition Education Fund
Advocating and organizing for an equitable expansion of bike sharing
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TeenForce
Preparing Santa Clara County high school foster youth for STEM jobs
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Urban Ed Academy
Building a tech training hub for youth in Bayview
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We Teach Science
Creating opportunities for youth through math and science mentoring and tutoring online
Advisors
Meet our panel of advisors. Together, we reviewed the submissions and selected the finalists.
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Harrison Barnes
Forward,
Golden State Warriors -
Fred Blackwell
Chief Executive Officer,
The San Francisco Foundation -
Mialisa Tania Bonta
Founder and Chief Executive Officer,
Literacy Lab (2014 winner) -
Honorable Willie L. Brown, Jr.
Former Mayor,
San Francisco -
Audrey Cooper
Editor-in-Chief,
San Francisco Chronicle -
David Drummond
Senior Vice President
of Corporate Development,
Alphabet -
Jacquelline Fuller
Director,
Google.org -
Hunter Pence
Outfielder,
San Francisco Giants -
Condoleezza Rice
66th US Secretary of State
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Helen Zia
Author and activist,
Board Co-Chair of Equality Now
