Global Citizen Waislitz Awards 2026

The 2026 round of the Global Citizen Waislitz Awards is closed: applications ran from 19 May to 14 June 2026, and the official page does not announce a next round. The awards give three prizes of US$100,000 each (about ₹95 lakh), US$300,000 in all, to individuals working to end extreme poverty. They are open to applicants from any country, including India, and everything is done online, so this guide will help you prepare for a future cycle.

What the program offers

There are three awards of US$100,000 each:

• Global Citizen Waislitz Prize, the grand prize, judged on all five criteria.
• Disruptor Award, judged mainly on the disruption criterion.
• Global Citizens' Choice Award, chosen by the Waislitz Foundation using a public online vote together with the five criteria.

The prize is given to a person, but the cash goes to the organisation that person works for. The funds are unconditional, meaning there is no spending plan to follow, but winners agree to send regular written updates on how the money is used. The page lists the 2026 winners as Smart Israel (Smartel Agri Tech, Nigeria; solar-powered hydroponic systems), Diana Yousef (change:WATER Labs; a waterless toilet) and Oghenekevwe William Emadago (Girlified, Nigeria; sanitary pads from agricultural waste).

Who can apply

You must be 18 or older and apply yourself; nominations are not accepted. Individuals and representatives of a registered legal entity can apply, and the entity can be a non-profit, a for-profit, a B-Corp or a social enterprise. You need at least one to two years of impact towards ending extreme poverty, and early-stage ideas are not eligible. Applications must be in English, although you may translate drafts.

This suits Indian founders and NGO leaders with a running programme and measurable results, for example in sanitation, waste, health or livelihoods. It does not suit pre-launch ideas. Indian winners include Anoop Jain of Humanure Power (2014), Wilma Rodrigues of Saahas Zero Waste (2017) and Kristin Kagetsu of Saathi (2022).

How to apply

Apply through the Global Citizen page while the round is open. Describe your work, your results over the past one to two years and how the award would help you scale. Write the answers in English. A practical tip: gather your impact numbers (people reached, systems deployed, change over time) before the round opens, since the judges score proof of concept.

How applications are judged and what happens next

Applications are scored on five criteria:

1. Global citizenship: living the values of the Global Citizen Manifesto.
2. Proof of concept: a track record of at least one to two years of impact.
3. Disruption: measurable impact through approaches that challenge the systems that keep extreme poverty in place.
4. Scalability: how the award would help you grow or improve your work.
5. Adaptability: evidence that you have adapted to changing conditions.

In 2026, semi-finalists were notified by 3 July and sent a headshot and bio for the public vote, and they could be asked for extra financial information. After the public vote and final judging, the Waislitz Foundation chose the winners and notified them by 3 August.

About the organisers

The Waislitz Foundation is a Melbourne-based foundation founded by Alex Waislitz that aims to create social impact locally and globally by empowering individuals. Global Citizen is a movement and advocacy platform that works with artists, influencers and sports figures, and says its work has affected more than one billion lives. Global Citizen co-presents the awards, which in 2026 reached their twelfth year.

Things to check before you apply

• The money goes to an organisation, so the entity you name must be able to receive an international transfer. Indian recipients of foreign money should check FCRA, FEMA and tax treatment with an adviser before applying.
• Plan for the public vote if you reach the semi-final stage, as the Choice Award uses it.
• The page gives no payout schedule or method, so ask the organisers before you apply.
• The page says questions can be sent to the organisers; it lists no other support.