We believe that New York City’s best and biggest resource is its people. We fund individuals with ideas, projects, products, and passions that are making (or will make) New York City a better place for more of us. As long as you have a clear idea of how your work improves our city and what you need to get it done, we’ll consider it. Individuals that win The David Prize can be affiliated with organizations or companies, but the focus is on great people doing great things outside of established pathways and projects. The David Prize provides $200,000 to five New Yorkers each year.
You might be a David Prize winner if you can say yes to the following:
You’re a New Yorker.
You love and live in New York’s five boroughs. Your work is focused on this special place, even if you have a vision to scale beyond it someday. (We can be a tiny bit flexible on this — if you live in the tri-state area but you’re all about the Big Apple, you can still submit an idea, as long as it’s NYC-specific.)
You have an audacious vision and plans to make it a reality.
Your ideas are urgent and additive to New York, and when they are a success, the city will be better off because of them.
You’re a visionary.
You take risks and have the grit to make something out of nothing. You see long-term benefits where others see short-term obstacles.
You get things done.
You’re already a contributor. You have demonstrated capacity and have a track record of extraordinary work, but you haven’t done it all… yet.
The David Prize will make a difference.
Funding and visibility could change the trajectory of your work and life, not to mention your block, your borough, and maybe even our city.