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A new model to inspire change

Housed at TED, The Audacious Project is a collaborative funding initiative that is unlocking social impact on a grand scale. Every year we select and nurture a group of big, bold solutions to the world’s most urgent challenges, and with the support of an inspiring group of donors and supporters come together to get them launched.

Latest news

Our pandemic relief and recovery support expands

In the second round of our COVID-19 Response funding, we’re proud to support the work of Fast Grants, GiveDirectly, and Harlem Children's Zone. Learn more about them.

The Big Ideas

Each year, The Audacious Project identifies jaw-dropping ideas for global change. Learn more about our latest projects or view all Audacious Projects.

  1. What if we built a global surveillance network to stop the next pandemic before it starts?

    ACEGID + Broad Institute

    In 2018 and 2019, 42% of all deaths from outbreaks reported by the WHO were in West and Central Africa. Sentinel, an early-warning outbreak system, will save thousands of lives each year—and help us to avert future pandemics.

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  2. What if we could lift millions of the world’s poorest people out of ultra-poverty?

    BRAC

    Nearly half of the world’s poorest people live in the most extreme form of poverty. BRAC developed the Graduation approach to tackle the multidimensional needs of the ultra-poor, helping them to build sustainable livelihoods.

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  3. What if we could harness AI to tackle the looming antibiotic resistance crisis?

    Collins Lab

    The Collins Lab at MIT will harness the power of artificial intelligence to dramatically expand our antibiotic arsenal, helping us to fight deadly infections that threaten millions of lives.

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  4. What if we could deliver mental health support to anyone, anywhere via text message?

    Crisis Text Line

    1-in-4 people will be affected by mental disorders at one point in their lives and 300M+ are currently living with depression. Crisis Text Line is using technology to help people in crisis via text anywhere.

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  5. What if we could map one billion people currently missing from the world’s maps?

    Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team

    There are currently one billion people who live in places that are not on the map. HOT will engage one million volunteers to map places home to one billion people living in poverty or at high risk of disaster.

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  6. What if African farmers could end global extreme poverty in our lifetime?

    One Acre Fund

    One Acre Fund has a bold plan to empower 20% of all farm families in Africa’s eight “breadbasket” countries, home to some of the world’s most poor.

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  7. What if we could have meaningful communication with another species and reshape our relationship with life on Earth?

    Project CETI

    Humanity is at a critical turning point. To survive, we must reshape our relationship with nature. Project CETI aims to deepen our ties to animals by seeking to understand sperm whale communication – and eventually talk back

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  8. What if life-saving prescriptions could be affordable for all Americans?

    SIRUM

    SIRUM has a bold plan to expand access to affordable medicine through drug recycling. They will deploy $770M in life-saving medicine to the 10 million low-income adults in America most in need.

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Partner Organizations

The Audacious Project brings together some of the most trusted names in philanthropy.

  • TED
  • Skoll Foundation
  • Virgin Unite
  • Bridgespan Group
  • Dalio Philanthropies
  • Elma Philanthropies
  • Gates Foundation
  • Science Philanthropy Alliance
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