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About

The Audacious Project is a collaborative approach to funding big ideas with the potential to create change at thrilling scale.


Housed at TED, which has a long track record of surfacing ideas worth spreading, and supported by The Bridgespan Group, the project is a unique partnership between some of the most respected organizations in philanthropy and the public. The Audacious Project attempts to address a major frustration faced by the world’s change-makers. Without access to venture capital or stock markets, social entrepreneurs have to pitch donors one-by-one, often a deeply inefficient process for all involved. The Audacious Project aims to: (1) encourage the world’s greatest change-agents to dream bigger than ever before (2) shape their best ideas into viable multi-year plans and (3) present those ideas in a compelling way to potential supporters. Our goal is to make philanthropy more collaborative, more inspiring — and more effective.

Launched in 2018, The Audacious Project has already shown what humanity can accomplish when bold ideas meet real resources. From the thousands of people in the US awaiting trials from home because of The Bail Project’s fast growth, to the hundreds of thousands of smallscale farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa enjoying better harvests because of One Acre Fund’s increased capacity, The Audacious Project is empowering social entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders to take on the world’s biggest and most urgent challenges.

The Process

Every year, The Audacious Project works with proven change-makers to surface their best, boldest ideas for tackling global problems.


Each candidate goes through a rigorous ideation and due diligence process, with research and vetting done by teams at both TED and The Bridgespan Group. From the initial spark of an idea to a completed project proposal, the candidates are narrowed down to a group of finalists whose ideas feel truly audacious with a clear and viable path to execution. These finalists are presented privately to groups of donors and unveiled at the annual TED conference. The goal is that each attracts a community of supporters, from both the philanthropic space and the public.

Then the hard work starts. Ideas that are part of The Audacious Project typically have a timeline of three to five years. While public supporters give meaningful donations online, donors typically commit financial support paid annually, provided project milestones are met. We offer regular updates and pass on all supporters' ideas, messages of encouragement and offers of other resources. Several years on, we will celebrate success together — or learn from failure. Either way, we will have participated in a new form of philanthropy.

Partner Organizations + Individuals

We would like to recognize the many parties who have come together to make The Audacious Project possible. They have contributed in a variety of roles: thought partners, project sourcing, project due diligence, project support, donors, recruiters, catalysts and more.

  1. TED
  2. Skoll Foundation
  3. Virgin Unite
  4. Bridgespan Group
  5. Dalio Philanthropies
  6. Elma Philanthropies
  7. Gates Foundation
  8. Science Philanthropy Alliance
  9. Scott Cook and Signe Ostby of the Valhalla Charitable Foundation
  10. Laura & John Arnold
  11. Children's Investment Fund Foundation
  12. Joe Gebbia
  13. Mike & Sukey Novogratz
  14. Steve & Genevieve Jurvetson
  15. Craig & Susan McCaw
  16. UBS Optimus Foundation
  17. James Family Charitable Foundation
  18. Robertson Foundation
  19. Clara Wu & Joe Tsai Foundation
  20. Chris Larsen & Lyna Lam
  21. Delta Philanthropies
  22. Hansjörg Wyss & Rosamund Zander
  23. Lyda Hill Philanthropies
  24. Miguel McKelvey & Jessica Hyman
  25. Overdeck Family Foundation
  26. Macarthur Foundation
  27. Ballmer Group
  28. Crankstart
  29. Stadler Family Charitable Foundation, Inc.
  30. MacKenzie Scott
  31. Sea Grape Foundation
  32. Pivotal Ventures
  33. Rippleworks Foundation

Press and Media Information

Thank you for your interest in The Audacious Project. For press information, images and media resources, please reach out to No. 29 Communications at audacious@thenumber29.com.

Connect With Us

The Audacious Project is for anyone who wants to see sparks of change in the world. Keep in touch by emailing us at audacious@ted.com! We want to hear the issues that matter to you, and about the ideas and change-making organizations that inspire you.

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