Meet Our Winners
Lipman Family Prize winners show us what’s possible when we equip cutting-edge change-makers to build on and expand promising solutions. Our winning organizations are dedicated to a range of global causes including social justice, healthcare, education, poverty alleviation and environmental sustainability. Whether bringing a creative strategy to end gender-based violence in India to college campuses in the U.S., or expanding a sanitation project from one country to five, our winners are extending smart solutions around the world.
Since 2011
2023 Winners
For the 2022-2023 cycle, the Lipman Family Prize received applications from almost 100 organizations dedicated to a range of global causes including economic development, education, environmental sustainability, gender equality, health care, human rights, food security, legal aid, and poverty alleviation. The three winners below were chosen after rigorous phases of evaluation with committees of faculty, students, and staff spanning across the University of Pennsylvania, the Lipman Family, and key external partners of the Prize.
The three winners will be celebrated at our 12th Annual Lipman Family Prize Award Ceremony on April 20, 2023, where the grand prize winner will be announced. The grand prize winning organization will receive an unrestricted cash prize of $250,000, and the two additional winning organizations will each receive $125,000.
Build up Nepal is on a mission to replace dirty fired bricks with low-carbon, affordable bricks made by local micro-enterprises. …Read More
ADES works to preserve Madagascar’s forests and alleviate poverty with solar and energy-saving cookers, reforestation projects, and education measures that protect nature and create perspectives.…Read More
Healthy Learners brings healthcare to where children already are – their schools – by training and equipping the people children already trust – their teachers.…Read More
Previous Winners
For the 2021-2022 cycle, the Lipman Family Prize received applications from almost 100 organizations dedicated to a range of global causes including job training and skill development, health and well-being, education, small farmers economic development, clean water and sanitation, legal social justice, poverty alleviation, immigrant, asylum, and refugee rights and public service. The three winners below were chosen after rigorous evaluation by a committee of faculty, students, and staff spanning across the University. As always, we value building relationships with our winners and are passionate about getting to know these change-makers around the world.
Consortium for DEWATS™ Dissemination Society (CDD Society or CDD) exists to innovate, demonstrate, mainstream and advocate for inclusive, sustainable, and resilient nature-based solutions to tackle water and sanitation issues across various geographies.…Read More
Make A Difference (MAD) delivers an 18 year-long intervention to Children in Need of Care & Protection in India that has the proven capability to enable them to break out of poverty in a single generation.…Read More
Yamba Malawi supports caregivers to launch their own businesses, move out of extreme poverty, and invest in their children’s futures by improving access to food, health, education, protection, and care.…Read More
For the 2020-2021 cycle, the Lipman Family Prize received applications from 130 organizations dedicated to a range of global causes.
The three winners below were chosen after rigorous evaluation by a committee of faculty, students and staff spanning across the University. As always, we value building relationships with our winners and are passionate about getting to know these change-makers around the world.
The three winners were celebrated at our 10th Lipman Family Prize Award Ceremony on April 23, 2021. EarthEnable was the grand prize winner and received the cash prize of $250,000. The other two winning organizations each received $100,000.
EarthEnable provides rural families in Rwanda and Uganda with affordable and environmentally sustainable solutions to unsanitary homes with dirt floors, which continually jeopardize their health.…Read More
The Luminos Fund provides transformative education programs to thousands of out-of-school children, helping them to catch up to grade level, reintegrate into local schools, and prepare for lifelong learning.…Read More
Promoting Equality in African Schools (PEAS) exists to expand access to sustainably delivered, quality secondary education across Africa, and works towards a world where all children can unlock their full potential. …Read More
For the 2019-2020 cycle, the Lipman Family Prize received applications from over 120 organizations dedicated to a range of global causes including economic development, education, environmental sustainability, financial services, gender equality, health care, human rights, food security, legal aid, poverty alleviation, and workers rights.
The three winners were celebrated at our 9th Lipman Family Prize Award Ceremony on April 26, 2020. Sanku was the grand prize winner and received the cash prize of $250,000. The other two winning organizations each received $100,000.
Sanku scales technology and business solutions that put critical nutrients into the food that hundreds of millions of malnourished people eat the most.…Read More
Digital Green is a global development organization that empowers smallholder farmers to lift themselves out of poverty by harnessing the collective power of technology and grassroots-level partnerships.…Read More
Trees for the Future (TREES) provides smallholder farmers pathways out of poverty and hunger by planting trees in forest gardens around the world.…Read More
For the 2018-2019 cycle, the Lipman Family Prize received applications from over 120 organizations dedicated to a range of global causes including economic development, education, environmental sustainability, financial services, gender equality, health care, human rights, food security, legal aid, poverty alleviation, and workers rights.
The three winners were celebrated at our 8th Lipman Family Prize Award Ceremony on April 26, 2019. World Bicycle Relief was the grand prize winner and received the cash prize of $250,000. The other two winning organizations each received $50,000.
World Bicycle Relief builds and distributes specially designed, locally-assembled, rugged bicycles for people in need, improving access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities in developing regions of the world where distance is a challenge.…Read More
AÇEV’s (Mother Child Education Foundation) develops and implements evidence-based educational programs to make sure every child is safe, healthy, happy, and learning.…Read More
The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN) is an international non-profit organization working towards a hunger-free future in more than 40 countries by sustaining, uniting, and strengthening food banks.…Read More
For the 2017-2018 cycle, the Lipman Family Prize received applications from over 100 organizations dedicated to a range of global causes including economic development, education, environmental sustainability, financial services, gender equality, health care, human rights, food security, legal aid, poverty alleviation, and workers rights.
The three winners below were chosen after rigorous evaluation by a committee of faculty, students and staff spanning across the University. As always, we value building relationships with our winners and are passionate about getting to know these change-makers around the world.
We celebrated the work of all three winners at our 7th Lipman Family Prize Award Ceremony on April 20, 2018. MyAgro was the grand prize winner and received the cash prize of $250,000. The other two winning organizations each received $50,000.
myAgro is a nonprofit social enterprise that enables smallholder farmers in West Africa to use a mobile layaway model to invest their own funds in high-quality seed, fertilizer, and agricultural training to increase their harvests and income.…Read More
Operation ASHA (Op ASHA) is decentralizing tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis and care through a community-based model to improve the delivery of health care services for low-income patients in India and Cambodia, which have some of the highest burden of TB globally.…Read More
Ubuntu Pathways provides an integrated support system of health, education, and social support, from cradle to career.…Read More
For the 2016-2017 cycle, the Lipman Family Prize received applications from 115+ organizations dedicated to a range of global causes including economic development, education, environmental sustainability, gender equality, healthcare, human rights, food security, legal aid, safe water, poverty alleviation and workers rights.
The three winners below were chosen after rigorous evaluation by a committee of faculty, students and staff spanning across the University. As always, we value building relationships with our winners and are passionate about getting to know these change-makers around the world.
The work of all three winners was celebrated at our 6th Lipman Family Prize Award Ceremony on April 28, 2017. Philadelphia-based Women Against Abuse was the grand prize winner and received the grand cash prize of $250,000. The other two winning organizations each received $50,000.
Women Against Abuse is the leading domestic violence advocate and service provider in Philadelphia and among the largest domestic violence agencies in the country.…Read More
Seeding Labs harnesses the power of the scientific and philanthropic communities to unleash the potential of talented scientists in the developing world to pursue bold research and train the next generation.…Read More
We Care Solar promotes safe motherhood and reduces maternal mortality in developing countries by providing health workers with reliable lighting, mobile communication, and medical devices using solar electricity. …Read More
In its fifth year, the Lipman Family Prize received applications from 170+ organizations dedicated to a range of global causes including economic development, education, environmental sustainability, gender equality, healthcare, human rights, food security, legal aid, safe water, poverty alleviation and workers rights.
The three winners below were chosen after rigorous evaluation by a committee of faculty, students and staff spanning across the University. As always, we value building relationships with our winners and are passionate about getting to know these change-makers around the world.
The work of all three winners, as well as the announcement of the grand prize winner was celebrated on April 28, 2016. Soccer Without Borders was the grand prize winner and received the cash prize of $250,000. The other two winning organizations each received $25,000.
Soccer Without Borders (SWB) uses soccer as a vehicle for positive change, providing newcomer refugee, asylee, and immigrant youth with a toolkit to overcome obstacles to growth, inclusion, and personal success.…Read More
Hope Enterprise Corporation (HEC) is a not-for-profit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) with a mission of strengthening communities, building assets, and improving lives in economically distressed parts of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.…Read More
Namati advances social and environmental justice by building a movement of people who know, use, and shape the law. …Read More
In 2015, the fourth year of the Prize, the Lipman Family Prize received applications from almost 100 organizations dedicated to global causes including disaster preparedness, economic development, education, environmental sustainability, gender equality, healthcare, human rights, food security, safe water and poverty alleviation.
The three finalists below were chosen after rigorous evaluation by a committee of faculty, students and staff spanning across the University. Riders for Health was announced as the grand prize winner on April 24, 2015 and received the cash prize of $125,000. The other two winning organizations each received $12,500.
Riders for Health enables public health care services to reach rural communities in Sub-Saharan Africa predictably, reliably and cost-effectively.…Read More
CareMessage leverages technology to bridge the needs of safety net organizations and underserved populations. …Read More
Innovation: Africa is an organization bringing Israeli innovation to African villages by engaging in top-quality, sustainable, scalable, and renewable infrastructure projects in sub-Saharan Africa.…Read More
In 2014, the third year of the Prize, the Lipman Family Prize received applications from 150+ organizations dedicated to global causes including disaster preparedness, economic development, education, environmental sustainability, gender equality, healthcare, human rights, food security, safe water and poverty alleviation.
The three finalists below were chosen after rigorous evaluation by a committee of faculty, students and staff spanning across the University. Breakthrough was announced as the grand prize winner on April 24, 2014 and received the cash prize of $125,000. The other two winning organizations each received $12,500.
Breakthrough harnesses the power of culture, media, and technology to rally individuals, communities, and organizations to stand for human rights. …Read More
Kickstart finds profitable business opportunities open to many thousands of poor people and then design, manufacture, market, and sell simple technologies that unlock these opportunities in Africa.…Read More
Not for Sale equips and empowers survivors of human trafficking and vulnerable individuals through stability and restoration services, educational tools, professional development, and opportunities for future dignified work.…Read More
In its second year, The Lipman Family Prize received applications from 115 organizations dedicated to global causes including disaster recovery, economic development, education, environmental sustainability, gender equality, healthcare, housing, hunger/safe water, and poverty alleviation.
The winners below were chosen after rigorous evaluation by a committee of faculty, students and staff spanning the University. The grand prize winner, D.Light, was announced in April 2013 and received the cash prize of $100,000.
READ Global brings together education, enterprise, and community development to create lasting social change in rural South Asia.…Read More
d.light designs, manufactures, and distributes solar light and power products throughout the developing world.…Read More
Microclinic International (MCI) seeks to revolutionize how deadly diseases are prevented and managed worldwide. …Read More
Close to 300 organizations from around the globe applied for The Prize in its inaugural year. The winners were chosen after two months of intensive research, data collection and evaluation by a committee of faculty, students and staff spanning the University. The grand prize winner, iDE, was announced at the Lipman Family Prize Un-Conference that was held in Philadelphia April 12-13, 2012 and received the cash prize of $100,000.
iDE is an international nonprofit organization unleashing the power of innovation and market forces for poor rural households in the developing world, helping them access the tools and knowledge they need to increase their income. …Read More
KOMAZA is a pioneering forestry social enterprise that works to unlock the economic potential of tree farming in drylands across Africa. …Read More
MedShare improves healthcare and the environment through an efficient recovery and redistribution of surplus medical supplies and equipment to those most in need. …Read More
The Lipman Family Prize winners are working to address 16 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
In 2015, the member states of the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as a “shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet.” This call to action outlines 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that are universal across economic, social, and environmental dimensions. The UNSDGs provides a common framework for connecting the work of the global community around global concerns.
Click on each of the 17 SDGs below to see which of our Lipman Family Prize winners are working toward each goal.
Beacon Awards
The Lipman Family Prize was thrilled to announce the 2020 Beacon Awards winners. CareMessage and HOPE Enterprise received $250,000 each in unrestricted funds. The Beacon Awards were designed to reward and support Lipman Family Prize winners who demonstrated success in growing their social impact efforts.