Frequently asked questions

Which organizations are eligible to submit a proposal?

The first round of the Grand Challenge invites grant proposals from eligible organizations: global academic institutions and U.S.-based 501(c)(3) entities. In keeping with the Bezos Earth Fund’s commitment to equity and access, eligible applicants may collaborate with organizations all over the world to develop their proposals. Proposals from non-affiliated individuals are not eligible.

Are all nonprofit organizations and academic institutions eligible to receive funding?

U.S. 501(c)(3) organizations and academic institutions from around the world are eligible to receive funding so long as they are not the subject or target of sanctions. A U.S. 501(c)(3) organization or academic institution that is named on a sanctions list, or owned or controlled by an entity named on a sanctions list, is ineligible for funding. U.S. 501(c)(3) organizations and academic institutions also may not partner with entities subject to sanctions. This includes all of the sanctions lists administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Can organizations submit or contribute to more than one proposal?

Organizations can submit more than one proposal as a lead entity or as a contributing entity.

My organization is not a U.S. 501(c)(3) or an academic institution. How can we participate?

Nonprofit organizations that do not have 501(c)(3) status, private sector organizations, and government entities from all over the world that are not subject to U.S. sanctions may partner with lead entities to submit proposals.  Partnering organizations must be a legal entity organized under the laws of a state, country, or other governmental body.

In addition, individuals across the globe may support the challenge by reviewing proposals, mentoring teams during Phase 2, or contributing in-kind resources. Please visit this page to express interest in supporting the Grand Challenge.

What constitutes a global academic institution?

Academic institutions based anywhere in the world are eligible to submit a proposal to the Grand Challenge as a lead entity. Academic institutions are universities, colleges, or other post-secondary educational institutions that have a faculty, offer a curriculum and instruction, have a student body, and award academic degrees.

Will the Grand Challenge facilitate partnerships?

In Phase 1, teams are welcome to establish partnerships on their own to develop and submit a proposal. In the Phase 2 Innovation Sprint, the Grand Challenge will help teams identify needs and find partners to advance their proposals. Additional details about the Innovation Sprint will be provided at a later date.

Do all proposals require partners?

No. Lead entities are eligible to submit a proposal without a partner.

Are applicants required to sign the Grand Challenge Agreement?

Yes. Each submission requires a completed and signed Grand Challenge Agreement to be eligible for grant consideration. The lead entity and any contributing entities on the proposal must affirm at they have read and agree to the Grand Challenge Agreement, and upload a single PDF signed by an authorized representative of the lead entity as well as authorized representatives of any contributing entities. Submissions that do not include a Grand Challenge Agreement signed by all entities involved in creating the submission will be deemed ineligible.

Are the terms of the Grand Challenge Agreement negotiable?

The terms of the Grand Challenge Agreement are not negotiable. All lead entities and contributing entities must sign the Grand Challenge Agreement and include a signed PDF in their submissions, without exception.

Can you provide more information on the rationale behind the confidentiality and intellectual property terms in the Grand Challenge Agreement? 

The Earth Fund is excited about the strong level of interest in our first open and global call for grant applications via the AI for Climate and Nature Grand Challenge. Several applicants have raised questions about the confidentiality and intellectual property terms included in the application, expressing concern that those terms give the Earth Fund rights that could impede applicants’ ability to develop their ideas commercially. As explained below, this is not the intent of these provisions.  The exclusive goal of this program is to encourage development and dissemination of AI tools to help address climate and nature challenges. 

To submit, grant applicants must agree to the Grand Challenge Agreement, which includes terms regarding confidentiality and intellectual property. These terms are required and non-negotiable because the Earth Fund and its affiliates routinely are presented with, review, and make business decisions about proposals, business plans, proprietary information, and new ideas presented by many enterprises, including some that may compete directly or indirectly with ideas submitted as part of the Challenge. The confidentiality and intellectual property terms in the application are necessary in order to preserve the ability of the Earth Fund and its affiliates to continue their respective philanthropic and business endeavors.

Will awardees be required to sign an additional agreement prior to accepting an award? What are the terms of this agreement?

As noted in the Grand Challenge Agreement, successful applicants will need to execute the Earth Fund’s standard grant agreement in order to receive funding in Phase 1 and Phase 2. These grant agreement(s) do not impose any additional requirements regarding intellectual property and confidentiality beyond what’s required in the Grand Challenge Agreement. 

Can lead entities distribute awards to Contributing Entities?

Grants will be distributed to the lead entity; the lead entity may choose to distribute awards to contributing entities. Any distribution of funds to contributing entities or team members is not the responsibility of the Bezos Earth Fund or either Administrator and is at the sole discretion of the lead entity.

Are there restrictions for how the grant awards should be used? 

Phase 1 awards are intended to support teams as they refine their implementation grant proposals during the Innovation Sprint. The lead entity for each grant application selected for funding must sign a grant agreement prior to the lead entity’s receipt of any grant funds, which outlines requirements related to accepting funds. Awardees are responsible for any taxes required to be paid due to award of a grant, any reporting obligations, any applicable indirect costs, or other financial obligations of the team.

Is there indirect cost guidance on the Phase 1 awards?

There is no indirect cost guidance for the Phase 1 awards. The $50,000 seed grant is inclusive of any indirect costs.