The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation today unveiled CARE’s PowerUp program as one of the highest-scoring proposals, designated as the Top 100, in its 100&Change competition for a single $100 million grant to help solve one of the world's most critical social challenges.

Progress toward gender equality remains painfully slow. Worldwide, it’s estimated that one in three women will be sexually or physically abused in her lifetime. CARE’s PowerUp program has the proven potential to change this. After cutting rates of domestic violence in half in Rwanda, CARE’s top-scoring proposal aims to expand PowerUp across Africa’s Great Lakes region – Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda – where women face some of the highest rates of domestic violence in the world. Experiencing gender-based violence has lifelong consequences and prevents women and girls from reaching their full potential in life.

The Top 100 represent the top 21 percent of competition submissions. The proposals were rigorously vetted, undergoing MacArthur’s initial administrative review, a Peer-to-Peer review, an evaluation by an external panel of judges, and a technical review by specialists whose expertise was matched to the project.

By combining economic empowerment with community and household engagement, CARE’s PowerUp approach drives change at every level of society. Working with world-class partners including the Grameen Foundation, Search for Common Ground and Raising Voices, PowerUp will mobilize CARE’s existing network of two million savings group members across the region and partner networks reaching thousands of communities, if selected as the $100 million winner.

“CARE and our partners have shown that lasting, transformational change is possible,” said Michelle Nunn, President and CEO of CARE. “Significant research has proven that by engaging individuals, households and communities, we can dramatically reduce violence against women and girls. And so, the challenge today is no longer determining what works, but focusing on how to take proven practices to scale. With support from the MacArthur Foundation we hope to do just that.”

Each proposal was evaluated using four criteria: impactful, evidence-based, feasible, and durable. MacArthur’s Board of Directors will select up to 10 finalists from among these high-scoring proposals this spring.

“MacArthur seeks to generate increased recognition, exposure, and support for the high-impact ideas designated as the Top 100,” said Cecilia Conrad, CEO of Lever for Change and MacArthur Managing Director, 100&Change. “Based on our experience in the first round of 100&Change, we know the competition will produce multiple compelling and fundable ideas. We are committed to matching philanthropists with powerful solutions and problem solvers to accelerate social change.” 

Since the inaugural competition, other funders and philanthropists have committed an additional $419 million to date to support bold solutions by 100&Change applicants. Building on the success of 100&Change, MacArthur created Lever for Change to unlock significant philanthropic capital by helping donors find and fund vetted, high-impact opportunities through the design and management of customized competitions. In addition to 100&Change, Lever for Change is managing the Chicago Prize, the Economic Opportunity Challenge, and the Larsen Lam ICONIQ Impact Award. 

Bold Solutions Network Launches

The Bold Solutions Network launched today, featuring CARE as one of the Top 100 from100&Change. The searchable online collection of submissions contains a project overview, 90-second video, and two-page factsheet for each proposal. Visitors can sort by subject, location, Sustainable Development Goal, or beneficiary population to view proposals based on area of interest. 

The Bold Solutions Network will showcase the highest-rated proposals that emerge from the competitions Lever for Change manages. Proposals in the Bold Solutions Network undergo extensive evaluation and due diligence to ensure each solution promises real and measurable progress to accelerate social change. 

The Bold Solutions Network was designed to provide an innovative approach to identifying the most effective, enduring solutions aligned with donors’ philanthropic goals and to help top applicants gain visibility and funding from a wide array of funders. Organizations that are part of the network will have continued access to a variety of technical support and learning opportunities focused on strengthening their proposals and increasing the impact of their work.

More About 100&Change 

100&Change is a distinctive competition that is open to organizations and collaborations working in any field, anywhere in the world. Proposals must identify a problem and offer a solution that promises significant and durable change.

The second round of the competition had a promising start: 3,690 competition registrants submitted 755 proposals. Of those, 475 passed an initial administrative review.100&Change was designed to be fair, open, and transparent. The identity of the judges and the methodology used to assess initial proposals are public. Applicants received comments and feedback from the peers, judges, and technical reviewers. Key issues in the competition are discussed in a blog on MacArthur's website.

Media Contact:

Vanessa Parra, vanessa.parra@care.org, +1 917-525-0590 (NYC)

CARE

CARE

CARE works to save lives, defeat poverty, achieve social justice, and fight for women and girls. For 78 years, CARE has led the way to a better life for the world’s most vulnerable people. This year, CARE and partners worked in 109 countries, reaching 167 million people through more than 1,600 projects.

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