Type of project: The Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize is the world’s largest annual humanitarian award presented to nonprofit organizations judged to have made extraordinary contributions toward alleviating human suffering. Following are elements to consider in describing your nominee’s work: Extraordinary contributions toward alleviating human suffering; Significance of the issue(s) the organization is addressing; Established record of achievement in significantly contributing to solution; Demonstration of a compelling programmatic approach to make a lasting impact; Organizational capacity and administrative efficiency to address the issue(s) at hand; Prioritization of diversity, equity and inclusion in strategies, programs and operation; Demonstration of effective partnerships to leverage further impact; Prioritization of evaluating programmatic approach for continual improvement; Impact the Prize would have on the organization and the issue(s) on which the organization focuses.
Nominations are considered year round. For the 2026 prize, nominations can be made until April 2025. Nominations received after April will be considered for the 2027 Prize.
Location: LMICs
Eligibility: Nominees must:
- Be organizations, not individuals.
- Be established, nongovernmental, publicly supported charitable organizations. U.S. Internal Revenue Service tax-exempt status—or the equivalent for international organizations—will determine eligibility. (International nominees will be contacted by the Foundation for appropriate documentation.)
- Be legally established for at least five years.
- Have their own audited financial statements for at least five years.
- Have expenditures greater than U.S. $750,000 in their most recent audited fiscal year of operation.
- Not be a Hilton Humanitarian Prize Laureate or a local office or member organization of a Prize Laureate.
- Not be local offices or member organizations of parent organizations or fiscally sponsored organizations.
- Not be specific programs within organizations or university-based projects.
- Not be academic institutions, such as colleges or universities that provide educational degrees, however, nominees may be an affiliate of academic institutions so long as they maintain an independent tax-exempt status, or equivalent for international organizations, and produce their own audited financials.
Prize: $2.5m Apply: https://hilton.givingdata.com/portal/campaign/2026HiltonHumanitarianPrize