GLOBAL PITCH 2026
Are you ready to be inspired? Join us for our 9th annual Global Pitch event, and see the teams below pitching to win funding for their social impact projects!​
Youth led PROJECTS
Large vehicles consume far more gasoline than everyday cars, so electrifying only cars will not significantly reduce emissions. Vehicles such as garbage trucks and buses are perfect candidates to electrify because their fixed routes make charging predictable and efficient. Our goal is to advocate and educate the public at Bedford 2030’s annual Earth Day Festival. We’re also advocating to electrify minivans in our district, alongside the buses already required by NYS. For all of this to work smoothly, we are requesting $123 for a letter-writing campaign and poster. This funding ensures we can deliver our message clearly.
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Leaving a domestic violence relationship is statistically the most dangerous part for victims. That is why we are asking for funding to create an app disguised as a calendar to help. When victims log in to the app, they will enter their name and address, then receive a code word. When a victim is in danger or needs help and doesn't know how to receive it, they can type their code word into their “planner app,” which will alert a local shelter or domestic violence hotline to send help.
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Pawsible Access focuses on helping the visually impaired move through the world with more independence and respect. We are partnering with the Guide Dog Foundation to look at the daily experiences of Guide Dog teams and how new tools like Meta AI glasses and apps such as Be My Eyes can help. The funding for our project would help us start a fundraiser that raises money for AI glasses which would be donated to the Guide Dog Foundation and be distributed to blind users as a tool to use with a Guide Dog or as a more accessible guidance option.
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Electricity is essential for education, healthcare, and community growth. We are Limitless Learning: Carter, Ethan, Gianna, Hunter, and Zoe. We are partnering with Simon, a community leader in Uganda, to bring reliable power to his village. Each solar panel costs $1,200, and installation requires an additional $200–$300 to ensure safe, long-term use. Our goal is to raise $3,322 to purchase and properly install three solar panels. Any extra funds will go toward sewing machines for women to create school uniforms and reusable menstrual products. Join us in creating lasting change and opportunity for Simon’s community.
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Fast fashion and unsustainable clothing production contribute significantly to water waste, carbon emissions, and environmental degradation worldwide. The Forever Fashion app lets users scan a garment with a photo and learn about its environmental impact. This information is presented through relatable statistics, such as the number of showers required to produce a pair of jeans and COâ‚‚ emissions expressed in terms of miles driven in a car. The app also presents users with alternative sustainable options if their garment is deemed unsustainable. We are requesting funds to promote our application through social media and expand its reach and impact.
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Suicide is the second leading cause of death globally for teenagers due to society's stigma surrounding mental health struggles. As teenagers, we want to help combat this stigma and normalize talking about mental health. We plan to educate both teens and parents in Westchester and NYC about the hidden struggles everyone faces. In addition, we want to host a wellness basket-making event to provide resources for the kids at the Cottage School. We are requesting $252.55 for our event, to cover location, food, and basket contents. Remember, a broken mind hurts as deeply as a broken bone.
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Fast fashion has a major negative impact on the environment through high carbon emissions, water waste, and pollution. This project aims to raise awareness by creating clothing tags linked to a website that explains the carbon footprint of different clothing items. When scanned, the tags will provide accessible information about how garments are produced and their environmental impact. We plan to distribute these tags to local thrift stores to encourage more informed and sustainable shopping habits. Funds raised will support website development, tag production, and outreach efforts. By increasing transparency, this project empowers consumers to make environmentally responsible choices.
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Sports are supposed to be games cherished by our country, not a bridge to our world's greatest problems. We, Ryan and Justin, aspire to end poor mental health within athletes. Our plan is to give college teams that play in high profile games our custom headbands and arm sleeves that support mental health. In addition, we plan to spread awareness through social media and to hold sport related fundraising events to raise money.
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Hi, we’re Noah and Shannon. We are working to address healthcare access disparities in Westchester County, where many individuals and families, especially in underresourced communities, struggle to afford care or navigate the healthcare system. Our project, 914 HealthNav, tackles this issue through a multifaceted solution that includes a simple, location-based website connecting residents to free and low-cost healthcare services, educational workshops in partnership with local nonprofits like Neighbors Link, and community events focused on prevention, hygiene education, and first-aid training. Donations will directly support website costs, outreach events, and the distribution of first-aid kits to those who need them most. By supporting our project, you are helping turn information into access and access into better health outcomes for our community.
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Health For Her aims to spread awareness about the lack of funding within women’s health research, how women have been historically excluded from clinical trials, and how the medical field still has a poor understanding of how drugs and remedies work for the female body. To reach my goal, I came up with four different solutions: a blog, an Instagram account, a panel discussion with experts, and a drive with 914 Cares for period products. I need $213.10 to jumpstart the drive, and $60 to boost my Instagram posts.
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We are Siena and Tommy, and we believe no mother should feel that she has to face pregnancy alone. Our 'Change-Maker' project builds a vital support network for mothers in need by partnering with local pregnancy centers. Through community donation drives and educational outreach, we provide the essential baby items, financial aid, and reassurance mothers need to choose a life-affirming path with confidence. Join us in proving that with the right support, every mother can thrive.
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This project focuses on educating people about Jewish identity and reducing antisemitism through a book called Jews For Justice. Antisemitism often comes from misinformation and a lack of understanding. This book will include personal stories from Jewish individuals who share their everyday lives or experiences with discrimination. By sharing real stories, this project hopes to build empathy and awareness among readers. The book will be shared online and in libraries to reach more people. Money raised will help with design, publishing, and outreach. This project uses storytelling to promote understanding and stand against hate.
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This project aims to address the education crisis in Kenya, where many students lack basic learning resources, making it difficult to escape generational poverty. Through empathy interviews with educators working with Crossing Thresholds, we learned schools urgently need classroom technology and student engagement opportunities. Our team, Beyond the Books, will host an interactive school event to educate families about these challenges while raising funds for projectors through bracelet-making and letter-writing activities. We will also conduct Zoom lessons with Kenyan classrooms and record them for long-term use by teachers. Our estimated budget is $300 to run the event and mailing efforts.
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Art has many benefits, ranging from improving one's mood temporarily to keeping their brain healthy permanently. My goal is to boost arts engagement, inspire my peers, and promote charities that support art. The Add to Art project is a student-run podcast where I interview various professionals (actors, teachers, psychologists, etc.) while drawing with them and the audience. It aims to keep a low-stress environment to encourage engagement in the arts as either a career or hobby. I’m asking for $510 to support the advertising, distribution, recording and editing of this project.
Visionary Institute PROJECTS
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WeLinkA is a hybrid community project designed to reduce HIV‑related stigma in Cameroon by combining a mobile app with in‑person outreach. The app offers verified private chats, educational channels, counseling with referrals, and gamified learning in multiple languages, while the outreach side delivers workshops, radio programs, and printed materials to reach excluded populations. Anchored in four years of HIV counseling and community trust, WeLinkA uniquely integrates mental health support, digital engagement, and offline education to foster inclusion, improve psychological well‑being, and build evidence for scaling across Cameroon and Africa.
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People and Earth Law Group is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to providing legal aid to underserved communities which have been impacted by industrial animal agriculture. As an organization, we take a particular interest in strategic litigation as a tool of empowerment and welcome your support in helping us create a world with less pollution and more compassion.
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Globally, air pollution is linked to approximately 20% of premature deaths. While this crisis is deeply felt in Mexico City, many residents feel powerless to address such a massive challenge. Inspira was created to bridge this gap. Our team, composed of mindfulness experts and climate scientists, has developed a specialized environmental education curriculum for public elementary schools. By integrating low-cost sensor technology with mindful breathing techniques, we empower the children we work with weekly, fostering a sense of hope and local activism.
Mai Più per Strada / Homeless No More
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Mai Più per Strada / Homeless No More is an Italian nonprofit that supports people experiencing homelessness through continuous, hands-on accompaniment. We help people recover identity documents, access healthcare and benefits, find temporary or stable accommodation, and rebuild trust, safety, and connection with society. Our work began during Covid to help people who had been left alone on the street, and it has since grown into a community-based project that currently supports around ten people. We now aim to launch our first Housing First apartment for four residents, combining immediate housing with intensive human support. Our long-term goal is to build a replicable model that can influence policy and scale internationally.
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