Application

Thank you for participating in the Future of Data Challenge. We recommend reading all application requirements before you begin.

Portions of your application, such as Quick Pitch and Video Presentation, may be published on this website. The remainder will be shared with others during the evaluation process. Applications must be submitted in English. This provides consistency across all entries during our review process and reduces the risk of translation error or misinterpreting an application.

Please contact us with questions or technical issues. The application saves automatically and the status of your application is available to view on your dashboard. Prior to submission, confirm all information provided on the Registration Form is correct. Be sure to review your application as it will appear after it’s submitted (View Application links at top and bottom of the page). Once you submit the application, you will no longer be able to make changes. The Application Status on your dashboard will confirm submission. You will not receive an automated email confirmation.

There are nine major sections of the application to complete:

1. Quick Pitch
2. Video Presentation
3. Your Team
4. The Problem
5. Your Solution
6. Project Location
7. Solution Impact
8. Project Plan & Budget
9. Administrative Information

You must submit your application no later than Thursday, September 15, 2022 at 3:00 PM Pacific Time.

A. QUICK PITCH

Offer a brief and compelling overview of your solution.

Solution Title (up to 10 words)

Provide the title of your solution. Choose a name that easily identifies and distinguishes the project from others.  

Solution Statement (up to 25 words)

Provide a short, one-sentence description of your solution using language that can be easily understood by non-experts, avoiding jargon and acronyms.  

Executive Summary (up to 75 words)

Provide a summary description of the project you are proposing to help change the assumptions and mental models related to data, and ensure that the data economy leads to positive and equitable value creation for all. This should be a stand-alone statement that does not require any other context to clearly explain what you propose to accomplish. Focus on delivering a compelling overview.  

Solution Area

Select one area that best describes your proposed solution for the Future of Data Challenge. While Lead Organizations may submit only one solution to this competition, proposed projects can focus on one or more of these solution areas.

• Activism & Awareness: Deliver a narrative or public campaign strategy designed to accomplish one or more of these objectives: change hearts and minds about data’s role in society; pursue justice and policy change; engage stakeholders in asserting their rights and agency; and/or present a new vision for the data economy.
• Evidence, Design & Technology: Conceptualize new models that establish greater fairness in the data value chain through: evidence, which might include qualitative, empirical research; design-oriented concepts, which might conceive new institutions, processes, consumer experiences, business models, and market conditions; and/or technology-based experiments.  
• Governance & Policy: Propose new governance models and policy interventions that can demonstrate new ways of thinking about data, with consideration of the legal, technical, ethical, and security implications of supporting greater value creation for all stakeholders in the data economy and recommend appropriate guardrails.

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Project Stage

Select one option that best describes the project stage for your proposed solution.

• Research & Ideation: In the process of developing a new approach to addressing the issue but has not tested the approach.
• Proof of Concept: Has been implementing the strategy for a small number of targeted stakeholders and/or at a small scale.
• Scaling: Has evidence of impact and is expanding and adapting the strategy, potentially across multiple legal jurisdictions, but have yet to achieve large-scale implementation.  
• Operating at Scale: Has evidence that its strategy achieves impact and is delivering the solution at scale.

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B. VIDEO PRESENTATION  

You are required to submit a video that captures your project and describes why it should be funded. The video is an opportunity to showcase your passion and pitch your story in a succinct format. We want you to share your vision in a way that is different from the written proposal format. This DOES NOT need to be a professionally produced video – a video shot on a smartphone is acceptable.

In order to complete this part of your application, upload a short digital film using YouTube. Video submissions should follow these guidelines or else it will render the application ineligible:  

• 90 seconds in length maximum.
• Must be in English, or if in another language, subtitled in English.
• Must be captioned. See instructions on how to caption YouTube videos here.
• Should not contain images of identifiable children (under age 18) without express parental consent.
• Should not include copyrighted material (including, but not limited to, music) for which you do not have a license.
• Set the Privacy Settings on your video to Public or Unlisted – do not set them to Private.

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Here are general suggestions for delivering a high-quality video pitch:

• Introduce yourself and your organization(s) and/or team.
• Explain your project and what is unique about the way it addresses the problem.
• Identify how you will know that you’ve achieved success.
• Do not simply read a slide deck – instead, make an effort to connect with your audience of Evaluation Panel judges.

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C. YOUR TEAM

Provide a basic understanding of the leadership, structure, and capabilities of those working on this proposal. Should you receive funding, you must designate a Lead Organization responsible for taking accountability for those award funds, as well as providing project direction, control, and supervision. You identified your Lead Organization during registration. If your Lead Organization has changed, please select Edit Registration Form from the Profile menu to update the Lead Organization information.

Partners

If your team consists of two or more organizations, list them using the legal name of each partner. If your team does not consist of two or more organizations, please enter “Not Applicable.”

Capabilities (up to 150 words)

Describe your team’s skills, capacity, and experience to deliver the proposed solution. Be sure to include core competencies and how they apply to your solution, any relevant past solutions or experience, and any other additional details that support your ability to deliver impact.  

Biographies (up to 200 words)

Introduce us to up to three managers responsible for the success of the project. For each of the top three managers, provide a first/last name, name of organization the manager is affiliated with, title of manager, and a brief biographical statement of up to 50 words. Emphasize those credentials and experiences which are most relevant to the project.

D. THE PROBLEM

Today’s mental models about data emphasize on data as property of the data collectors thereby limiting data’s full societal value and slowing innovation across the economy. Here is your opportunity to more fully explain the problem you intend to solve and show your understanding of its nuances that have informed your strategy.

Problem Statement (up to 200 words)

Set the stage for your solution and explain why you have committed to help solve this problem through the Solution Area you selected above. Describe the specific problem your project will address as it relates to reimagining how we think and talk about data. Identify real and potential challenges, and describe specific needs that your solution will address.  

Existing Landscape (up to 150 words)

Briefly describe other efforts aimed to address this problem and other similar organizations or projects that are most similar to your work. Explain how your team and proposed project fit into this landscape.  

E. YOUR SOLUTION

We seek solutions aimed to imagine entirely alternate data realities and find a healthy relationship with data - one that creates opportunities and advantages for all. Illustrate your strategic approach toward a fundamentally different data future that supports safety and equity. Be sure to emphasize how your project aligns with the four criteria used to assess each valid application (see Scoring Rubric).

Solution Description (up to 250 words)

Let’s reimagine the data economy, rethinking what data means to society and the value it holds, who makes decisions and who benefits, and how we infuse fairness across institutions, technology, policies, social and economic frameworks, and cultural norms. Describe how your solution can change the mindsets related to the nature of data, and ensure the data economy leads to positive and equitable value creation for all.

• What are the outcomes and who are the key stakeholders and audience(s) for your project?
• How does your project contribute to resolving the problem described above?  
• What is the impact of your project over a two-year project period? Will it have broad impact on a large population or geography, or deep, intense impact on a small population or geography?

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Project Visual

Upload a single PDF that includes a visual representation of your project. The PDF should not exceed 10MB and a total of two pages, and should not contain additional text explanations or be used to circumvent word counts in this application. Some brief labels and/or basic text descriptions are permitted. Any pages beyond the two-page limit, as well as unrelated content to this specific question, will render the application ineligible.  

Population Description (up to 200 words)

We expect teams to be thoughtful about working with a range of stakeholders, and how to actively plan for and include the most marginalized and/or vulnerable from within those populations in project design, planning and ongoing work. Describe your priority population(s), as well as any secondary or other populations who may engage with and/or benefit from the project. While proposed solutions may benefit everyone, describe how your project might impact traditionally underserved / underrepresented / disadvantaged populations including Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC); rural, urban and other geographically-diverse populations; populations with lower- to middle-socioeconomic status; and/or populations with differing political backgrounds / ideologies. Explain how the project design and plans authentically embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion across all aspects, including persons with disabilities, religious or ethnic minorities, BIPOC, women, gender identity and sexual orientation.  

Innovative Strategy & Approach (up to 200 words)

We are looking for proposed approaches that seek to shift the value of data towards benefit for all. Describe your overarching approach to addressing the problem you described for your priority population(s). Include your key messages, core philosophy or strategic approach in order to illustrate any guiding principles or other considerations which would clearly differentiate your approach from competing strategies. Ground your strategy with a description of the tactical or operational plans you’ve chosen to adopt. This is an opportunity to explain why you adopted a particular approach and how your strategy will translate into meaningful, widespread engagement and impact. Include how your solution differs from, improves upon and/or bolsters existing methods/practices. Highlight any unique features and other information demonstrating creativity and innovation in your approach and solution.  

Community & Stakeholder Engagement (up to 150 words)

In order to be effective, projects may need support from stakeholders and the impacted community including funders, local leaders, government agencies, decision-makers, and others. Exhibit understanding of the community and key stakeholders, and share plans to engage and work with them throughout the process to ensure long-term success. Articulate any negative externalities or costs/burdens absorbed by stakeholders. If this is not required for your solution, enter “Not applicable.”  

Intellectual Property (up to 100 words)

Explain any and all issues related to the intellectual property (IP) that underlies your solution. Identify owner(s) of the IP. If you are building on existing or off-the-shelf technology, detail the permissions you have secured to utilize that technology. Describe how you will make the use of any IP for the purposes of scaling, replication, and/or expansion of your proposed solution during the two-year project period.

F. PROJECT LOCATION

Tell us more about where your project will have impact.

Location of Current Work

Select up to three locations where you are currently implementing your project. If your work is national or regional, select locations that best represent the work your organization does. If you are not currently implementing your project, you may select NOT APPLICABLE.

Location of Future Work

Select up to three locations where you plan to implement your project if awarded this grant. These locations may or may not be the same as the locations where you are currently implementing your project.  

Location Description (up to 75 words)

Provide any additional context that may be helpful in understanding the locations in which you are working or plan to work. If not applicable, enter “Not applicable.”

Integration & Regulatory Engagement (up to 150 words)

Illustrate your understanding of the current environment where you have chosen to implement your solution, including currently relevant systems and local conditions which affect your plans. If you foresee needing to engage with or depend on governmental authorities in the location(s) above to implement your solution, describe whether contact has been established and level of support currently provided. If applicable, explain how you’ll build upon and integrate within existing systems, infrastructure, and/or technologies. If this is not relevant for your solution, enter “Not applicable.”

G. SOLUTION IMPACT

Demonstrate how your project will drive change, including evidence that supports your approach.  

Metrics & Results (up to 250 words)

Identify the projected goals and objectives, and describe your methodology for measuring overall performance of the proposed strategy, including the means through which you will track results or milestones to indicate success. Show how precisely your methodologies will track meaningful outcomes and how closely your metrics are linked to a meaningful assessment of your performance. If appropriate, explain how you will tailor and adapt your project for scaling and/or amplifying impact.  

Evidence of Effectiveness (up to 150 words)

Provide evidence to show the solution will work, and share evidence or reasons your results could be replicated and/or scaled. Present any internal (e.g., informal studies, observations, or other indicators of change) or formal academic evidence, including any results from complementary or previous work.  

Communications (up to 150 words)

Briefly describe your plans to promote your solution and/or share your results, key findings, lessons learned, and other helpful information with others. If applicable, explain how your solution could serve as a model for other communities/populations around the world.  

Other Considerations (up to 150 words)

This is your final opportunity to raise any other considerations. Here, you may emphasize or expand upon a previous point or provide new information, as necessary.

H. PROJECT PLAN & BUDGET

Describe the plan and resources required to successfully implement your project.

Project Plan & Timeline (up to 250 words)

State the expected timeline for up to a two-year project period to implement your solution. Include key dates and/or milestones you will track to indicate success.  

Barrier Assessment & Risk Mitigation (up to 200 words)

Explain how you will ensure your solution is feasible. Describe any barriers to success, as well as any unintended consequences, and your plan to address them. Discuss your experience and capacity to manage technical or logistical barriers.  

Budget Narrative (up to 150 words)

Offer a general overview for how you will use the $100,000 award, including projected needs by category. You may include any explanations of existing resources you have already secured.  

Budget

To help us understand your priorities, provide a detailed budget and specific line items for how the $100,000 award would be spent. Make sure that any funds identified in this table reflect and clarify your general explanations provided in the Budget Narrative above.

Total Projected Costs (up to 100 words)

Share and explain the total cost to implement your project in US dollars (USD). This can include costs beyond the total $100,000 Future of Data Challenge award.  

Other Resources (up to 100 words)

If total cost to implement your project exceeds $100,000, explain how you plan to fund the remaining costs. This may include in-kind support and other resources. Otherwise, enter “Not Applicable.”  

I. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Provide additional information about the Lead Organization.

Lead Organization Identification Number

Provide any identification number provided by the Applicant’s taxing authority (e.g., the Internal Revenue Service). If this is in progress, insert “Pending approval.”  

Annual Operating Budget

What is the annual operating budget (USD) of the Lead Organization?

• Less than $1 Million
• $1.0 to 5.0 Million
• $5.1 to 10 Million
• $10.1 to 25 Million
• $25.1 to 50 Million
• $50.1 to 100 Million
• $100.1 to 250 Million
• $250.1 to 500 Million
• $500.1 to 750 Million
• $750.1 Million to $1 Billion
• $1 Billion +

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J. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

If your team is invited to participate in any future phases of this competition, you may be required to provide additional information (refer to the Rules and Timeline), including but not limited to:

• A separate award agreement with the Competition Sponsor.
• A more detailed budget, project plan, and evaluation plan.
• Fully executed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with any partners
• Tax Determination Letter
• Audited Financial Statements  
• Articles of Incorporation, Charter, or similar documentation
• Evidence of additional funding and resources secured to implement the proposed technology.  
• Existing policies, if any, addressing conflicts of interest, whistleblower, internal controls, anti-money laundering, intellectual property, code of conduct, ethics, gifts, and any similar policies governing the Lead Organization and/or partners.