F. M. Kirby Prize for Scaling Impact

Focus Areas: The Kirby Prize recognizes enterprises pursuing strategic pathways to impact at scale, who are close to the challenges at hand, who center the voice and experience of the populations they serve, who have demonstrated traction, and who embody courageous and collaborative leadership.

This prestigious prize, supported through the partnership of the F.M. Kirby Foundation, is open to any organization—regardless of legal form, location, or impact area—that demonstrates strong evidence of impact for at least three years and a clear plan to use the prize to expand that impact in the next three to five years. Applicants must also maintain a minimum operational budget of USD $250,000, with most successful applicants historically having budgets between USD $1–3 million. For tax purposes, international applicants must have a recognized U.S. presence through either a 501(c)(3) status, a U.S.-based fiscal sponsorship agreement, or another valid taxpayer identification arrangement.

The 2025 Kirby Prize application process follows a tiered format to minimize applicant burden. Phase 1 opens on October 24, 2025, and closes on December 3, 2025, at 11:59 PM EDT. Up to the first 250 applications will be reviewed, with selected applicants advancing to Phase 2 beginning January 9, 2026. Finalists will undergo virtual interviews between March 26 and April 7, 2026, with the winner notified in May and publicly announced in June 2026. Finalists will also receive a USD $1,000 honorarium for their participation.

The Kirby Prize evaluation framework focuses on three main dimensions: Impact, Readiness to Scale, and Leadership. Applicants must demonstrate a deep understanding of the social or environmental issue they address, supported by a robust theory of change and strong evidence of measurable impact. They should also outline a realistic and strategic plan for scaling their model over the coming years, incorporating partnerships, policy influence, or systemic change mechanisms. Leadership qualities such as integrity, resilience, resourcefulness, diversity, and meaningful collaboration are also key selection criteria.

Beyond the monetary award, the prize offers multiple benefits to finalists and winners. CASE provides institutional support, exposure through Duke’s network, and one-on-one feedback to applicants in later stages. Finalists are profiled to boost visibility, and the ultimate prize winner receives additional coaching and strategic connections. Duke MBA students also participate in the selection process, gaining hands-on experience in impact evaluation, bias awareness, and funding decision-making.

For more information, visit CASE at Duke.