StepForward Essential Innovation 2026
By MIT Solve
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Quick Answer
Six US$200,000 (about ₹1.9 crore) grants, one reserved for India, for non-profits teaching 18–24-year-olds AI literacy and job skills. The 2026 challenge closed 6 February.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Competition
- Provider
- MIT Solve
- Application deadline
- Closed
- Location
- International
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 7 February 2026. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by MIT Solve. Official links are listed under Sources below.
We update this page when results are published, and when the next round opens.
About this competition
The 2026 StepForward: Essential Innovation Challenge is closed: submissions shut at 11:59 pm Eastern Time on 6 February 2026, which was 10:29 am IST on 7 February. The official MIT Solve page does not announce a next round. The challenge is run by MIT Solve for the S&P Global Foundation, and India is its own region, with one winner reserved for it. Only non-profits can apply, so this guide is for Indian trusts, societies and Section 8 companies preparing for any future call.
What the program offers
Six winning non-profits each receive a US$200,000 grant (about ₹1.9 crore), from a total pool of US$1.2 million. Winners also join a Demo Day at one of S&P Global's global offices, where they show their funded work and get feedback from S&P Global volunteers and local colleagues to refine and stress-test it. The grant is for the programme described in the application.
One winner is chosen from each of six regions: Asia-Pacific (excluding India), Europe, India, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, and North America. This means an Indian non-profit competes with other Indian applicants for the India place, and not with applicants worldwide.
Who can apply
Only non-profits can apply: a US 501(c)(3) or a registered international equivalent. In India that means a registered trust, society or Section 8 company. Organisations not already in the Benevity database must pass Benevity vetting, and the S&P Global Foundation's grant guidelines also apply. The programme must help young people aged 18 to 24 build AI literacy, human-centred skills such as problem solving, creativity, communication and ethical reasoning, and career readiness.
The solution must be at the Pilot or Growth stage. Pilot means launched in at least one community and still iterating on its design or business model. Growth means established in one or more communities with a consistent design, ready to expand. Concept, Prototype and Scale solutions are not eligible. Priority goes to organisations based in and designing for the region they apply in, and to countries where S&P Global has offices. Applications are in English.
This suits an Indian education or skills non-profit that already runs a working programme for young adults. It does not suit a for-profit start-up, an idea still on paper, or a mature programme operating at national scale.
How to apply
Read the overview and eligibility tabs on the MIT Solve page, check your Benevity status, and submit your solution on the MIT Solve platform in English before the deadline. The page answers one challenge question: how innovative solutions and programmes can equip youth aged 18 to 24 with the knowledge, skills and confidence to navigate an AI-powered future. The individual form questions are not published on the page. MIT Solve says applicants may use generative AI for first drafts but must check that the text accurately reflects their solution, and it warns that fabricated or misleading information can lead to removal.
How applications are judged and what happens next
MIT Solve screens submissions first, and a Grant Advisory Committee scores them on challenge alignment, potential for impact, feasibility, innovative approach and human-centred design. At the finalist stage scalability, partnership potential and technical feasibility also count. Finalists have a virtual interview with the S&P Global Foundation and go through vetting. The Foundation scores them, and the leading solutions go to its board for final selection.
The 2026 timetable listed screening on 9 to 20 February, finalist interviews on 2 to 6 March, winners announced on 14 April 2026 and Demo Day on 3 June 2026. The FAQ gives different dates, so confirm timings on the page in any future round.
About MIT Solve and the S&P Global Foundation
MIT Solve is an MIT initiative that runs open calls for technology-based solutions to big problems. The S&P Global Foundation is the philanthropic arm of S&P Global, with focus areas of technology and data and environmental resilience. StepForward is a new philanthropic initiative from S&P Global and the Foundation, aimed at preparing the next generation for AI-enabled workforces.
Things to check before you apply
- Confirm your registration type counts as the Indian equivalent of a 501(c)(3) and that Benevity vetting is feasible.
- Show real delivery evidence, because ideas and prototypes are not eligible.
- Demo Day takes place at an S&P Global office, so plan for it if you win.
- Indian non-profits receiving foreign money should check FCRA and tax treatment with an adviser before applying.
Eligibility
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Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Organizers
Prizes & Awards
What You Get
Each of the six winning non-profits receives a US$200,000 grant (about ₹1.9 crore), from a total pool of US$1.2 million. Winners also join a Demo Day at an S&P Global office, where S&P Global staff with relevant expertise give feedback to strengthen and stress-test the solution.
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
MIT Solve screens submissions and a Grant Advisory Committee scores them on alignment, impact, feasibility, innovation and human-centred design. Finalists interview with the S&P Global Foundation and are vetted, and the Foundation's board makes the final selection.
Application Process
- 1
Submit solution
Apply on the MIT Solve platform.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 2
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the StepForward Essential Innovation Challenge open now?
No. Submissions closed at 11:59 pm ET on 6 February 2026. The MIT Solve page does not announce a next round.
Can an Indian non-profit apply?
Yes. India is one of six regions, with one winner picked for it. You must be a registered non-profit, such as a trust, society or Section 8 company, and pass Benevity vetting.
Can a startup or company apply?
No. Only non-profit organisations are eligible.
How much is the award?
Each of six winners receives US$200,000 (about ₹1.9 crore), from a US$1.2 million total.
What stage must my programme be at?
Pilot, meaning launched in at least one community and still iterating, or Growth, meaning established and ready to expand. Concept, Prototype and Scale stage solutions are not eligible.
Who must the programme serve?
Young people aged 18 to 24. It should build AI literacy, human skills such as problem solving and ethical reasoning, and career readiness.
What is Benevity vetting?
Benevity is a database used to vet non-profits. Organisations not already in it must be vetted, and the S&P Global Foundation's grant guidelines also apply.
Do I have to travel?
Winners join a Demo Day at one of S&P Global's global offices. The page does not say who pays for travel.
Is it free to apply?
The page states no application fee.
When were results announced?
The timeline on the page gave winners on 14 April 2026, with finalist interviews on 2 to 6 March. The FAQ lists a different date, so check the page in any future round.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
