McNulty Prize Application & Eligibility

The 2026 McNulty Prize cycle is beginning soon.

McNulty Prize Criteria & Eligibility

Applicants are evaluated based on the following criteria:

• INSPIRING LEADERSHIP. We recognize individuals who are applying their unique talents and resources—local connections and lived experience, their expertise or organizational platform, credibility, and networks—in service of a bold and compelling vision for change.
• IMPACT. Impact looks different for every organization. We prioritize organizations that have a proven track record and can clearly illustrate through data, evidence, examples, and stories the ways in which communities or systems have been changed.
• LASTING CHANGE. We lift up organizations that understand and address the root causes of a challenge and contribute to long-term solutions—whether through expanding agency for individuals, shifting the conditions that hold the problem in place, or influencing the sector and collaborating with others.

To qualify for the John P. McNulty Prize:

• You must be a Fellow of the Aspen Institute or AGLN, with an organization or venture that is at least two years active, and poised to continue for the foreseeable future.
• You must hold a leadership role in the organization, where you have taken decisive action to address a societal challenge.
• Organizations must prioritize social impact, whether they are nonprofit, for-profit, or hybrid models.

Fellows are nominated by Aspen Initiatives. Please contact your director to express your interest.

If you are invited to participate in the submission round, you will be requested to respond to the following prompts in our application portal.

NARRATIVE

A. Problem Statement

The McNulty Prize recognizes organizations that are addressing deep, intractable challenges that negatively affect communities today. Whether local, regional, or globally scaled efforts, their approaches to making change are relevant to communities all around the world.

• What critical issue does your venture address? Which stakeholders are impacted by this issue? What are the key factors causing and contributing to this challenge? Explain why you believe this is a critical, urgent issue at the forefront of local, national, or global concerns and how your organization is addressing it.

B. Leadership Statement

The McNulty Prize celebrates breakthrough leaders who have channeled their talents and resources towards dismantling critical problems and who have stretched their leadership in daring and courageous ways.

• How are you uniquely positioned to address this issue? What lived experiences, talents, resources, or knowledge do you bring to this work in particular?
• In what way is leading this effort a stretch for you? Please describe your personal leadership journey. How have you challenged yourself to answer a call to action?
• What role did your Aspen Fellowship/Program experience play in your journey?

SHORT RESPONSE

C. Current Model & Impact

The McNulty Prize prioritizes organizations at a mid-stage in their life cycle. We define mid-stage organizations as those with a proven and established track record and general financial health or plans for sustainability that are ambitious and well-positioned to expand their impact and influence further.

• How do you do what you do? Clearly describe and break down the organizationѣs model, including key programs or focus areas, services or activities conducted, and markets and constituents served.
• Describe the reach, scale, and depth of your impact on your intended beneficiaries, whether individuals, the community, and/or ecosystems. Include key metrics and specific outcomes you have tracked over time. What evidence can you share that the venture has been accepted and embraced by the individuals and communities it aims to support?

D. Lasting Change

The Prize seeks to lift up organizations that understand and address the root causes of a challenge and contribute to permanent, long-term solutions—whether through expanding the agency of individuals, shifting the conditions, policies, or practices that hold the problem in place, influencing the sector, and collaborating with other actors, or other approaches.

• How does your venture address root causes of the challenge or otherwise create or contribute to long-term solutions? How do you work with other actors and systems to realize your vision?
• What evidence is there that shows how the venture has influenced or shaped other actors in this space, or the sector/systems at large? How replicable or scalable is your model in or beyond your context? How does your venture address root causes of the challenge or otherwise create or contribute to long-term solutions? How do you work with others to realize your vision?

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

E. Financial Information.

Please share information that explains the financial structure of your venture, how it is funded, and how it will be sustained in the long term. We suggest including the following materials (and we encourage you to share or adapt existing documents):

• Financial statements that demonstrate total annual revenue and expenses for the most recent year
• A summary of revenue sources and a sample list of your funders/supporters
• Budget, fundraising, and scaling projections for the next two years, if available

F. Impact & Supporting Materials.

Please share existing materials that demonstrate proven impact on the communities served, and that showcase your influence and record of success. We strongly recommend that you include the following (we encourage you to share or adapt existing documents):

• Annual impact reports, case studies, and stories of tangible impact
• Theory of change visuals or strategy and program area summaries
• Other reports to supporters or investors
• Your CV
• Organizational chart
• Links to press coverage or other recognition

G. Recommendation & References.

• Letter of Recommendation. Please share 1-2 letters of recommendation in support of your venture and leadership, from a funder, institutional partner, or subject-matter expert. You are welcome to use existing letters of support. If you need more time to submit this letter, please inform epark@mcnultyfound.org, and we can make an extension.
• References. Please share a list of 3-5 references (including name, title/affiliation, and email address) that we may contact during our due diligence process. Ideally, this would include a diverse set of funders, partners, and/or subject-matter experts who can speak to the organizationѣs impact and your leadership.

[Optional] Short Video. Encouraged, not required—YouTube or Vimeo links accepted

• Share a self-recorded 2-3 minute video (i.e from your phone or laptop) that responds to the following question: Why do you do this work? What drives you in your leadership?
  
• Alternatively, share an existing video that shows and tells about your venture, whether narrated personally or showing others involved or affected by the work.
  

The McNulty Foundation offers support to high-potential ventures at earlier, critical junctures on their path to impact, through the Catalyst Fund.

To qualify for the Catalyst Fund, you must be a Fellow of the Aspen Global Leadership Network, with a venture (or Action Pledge) influenced by your fellowship experience in some way.