Now in its eleventh year, the Global Citizen Waislitz Global Awards, presented by the Waislitz Foundation and Global Citizen, will once again honor and support the excellence of extraordinary individuals working to end extreme poverty. 

The Waislitz Foundation exists to create a positive social impact locally and globally through innovative projects that empower individuals to meet their full potential and make a measurable difference to the world.

Last year, hundreds of applicants applied for the Waislitz Awards, all with a deep commitment to ending the injustice of poverty and improving the living conditions of people globally. The three winners – Dysmus Kisilu from Kenya (2024 Waislitz Global Citizen Grand Award winner), Isabelle Kamariza from Rwanda (Waislitz Global Citizen Disruptor Award winner), and Farhana Rashid from Bangladesh (Waislitz Global Citizen Choice Award winner) – received cash prizes totalling $250,000, along with networking support to scale their impact.

This year, the Global Citizen Waislitz Awards will reward three changemakers with $100,000 cash prizes each, totaling $300,000. Applications for the 2025 Global Citizen Waislitz  Awards opens on May 13, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. EDT, and closes June 8, 2025, at 13:00 p.m. EDT. Here’s everything you need to know about how to apply.

Criteria and Categories

Applications to the 2025 Global Citizen Waislitz  Awards will be evaluated based on these criteria:

• Global Citizenship: Demonstrating alignment with the values outlined in the Global Citizen Manifesto.
• Proof of Concept: Providing evidence of impactful efforts towards ending extreme poverty within the past one to two years.
• Disruption: Showcasing innovative approaches that challenge existing systems and norms.
• Scalability: Outlining plans for scaling or expanding their initiatives to reach more people and create lasting change.
• Adaptability: Demonstrating the ability to effectively respond to changing conditions and challenges.

And just like the previous year, the 2025  Global Citizen Waislitz Awards will have three distinct categories to honor the exceptional contributions from the applicants in the fight against extreme poverty.

• The Global Citizen Waislitz Grand Prize Award: Awarded to an applicant based on the five criteria listed above;
• The Global Citizen Waislitz Disruptor Award: Recognizes innovators who challenge the status quo and disrupt systems that perpetuate poverty; and 
• The  Global Citizens’ Waislitz Choice Award: determined by public online voting.

Application Process 
To apply, you need to submit an application outlining your initiatives, impact, and plans for the future. A distinguished panel of judges will evaluate the submissions based on the outlined criteria, selecting the most deserving recipients of the awards.

The Global Citizen Waislitz Awards have recognized remarkable individuals leading bold initiatives  that tackle critical issues in their communities, all with the goal of ending extreme poverty. If this sounds like you, apply now for the 2025 Global Citizen Waislitz Awards and stamp your place in this defining moment for change.