A Social Innovation Competition to Highlight and Award Ideas in Central Maryland
United Way of Central Maryland’s Changemaker Challenge helps spark social innovation to address our communities’ challenges.
“The Changemaker Challenge isn’t a competition among applicants or ideas. Instead, it’s the challenge of addressing inequity. This platform gives more people a seat at the table and allows changemakers to share fresh ideas that will help close service and resource gaps so that united, we can help even more people and drive positive, meaningful change in our region.”
– Franklyn Baker,
President & CEO, United Way of Central Maryland
Changemaker Challenge 2024
We’re looking for progressive thinkers who are ready to elevate, accelerate and activate their big ideas to make their communities even better!
Through the Changemaker Challenge, we support innovative ideas developed by community members to benefit our region.
Finalists will receive group and one-on-one coaching and mentorship and promotion through United Way of Central Maryland’s networks and owned platforms. Selection, coaching, pitching, and awards will take place throughout Fall 2024.
In 2021, United Way of Central Maryland invested $500,000 in 28 individuals and groups who were invited to submit ideas for sustainable action to help residents and communities recover from the pandemic and the inequities it exposed.
The Changemaker Challenge began in Howard County in 2017 as a partnership between United Way of Central Maryland and the Horizon Foundation.
Now hosted by United Way of Central Maryland in Baltimore City and the surrounding counties, the Changemaker Challenge is focused on sparking innovation and fresh thinking to address the area’s most pressing issues, like access to healthy food, mental health, digital access, stable housing, expanding equity, education, and more.
6 challenge locations
Up to $500,000 in awards
1:1 coaching and mentorship
“I want others to know how encouraged and empowered I was by the process of the Changemaker Challenge. There was a real community spirit that also fed into helping each of hone and clarify our ideas, which, in the end, likely helped us create even better individual projects.”
– Pamela Wolford,
Changemaker Challenge award recipient
Changemaker Challenge 2024
