{"id":26,"date":"2023-02-03T00:21:16","date_gmt":"2023-02-03T00:21:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/globalfutures.asu.edu\/we-empower\/?page_id=26"},"modified":"2026-03-10T13:57:05","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T13:57:05","slug":"apply","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/globalfutures.asu.edu\/we-empower\/apply\/","title":{"rendered":"Apply"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div id=\"unityblocks-hero\" class=\"wp-block-unityblocks-hero hide-content\" data-herotype=\"heading-hero\" data-image=\"{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/globalfutures.asu.edu\/we-empower\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/01\/Apply_Header.png&quot;,&quot;altText&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;cssClass&quot;:[],&quot;size&quot;:&quot;medium&quot;}\" data-subtitle=\"{&quot;text&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;highlightColor&quot;:&quot;white&quot;,&quot;maxWidth&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;cssClass&quot;:[]}\" data-title=\"{&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Apply&quot;,&quot;highlightColor&quot;:&quot;white&quot;,&quot;maxWidth&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;cssClass&quot;:[]}\" data-contents=\"[{&quot;text&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;maxWidth&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;cssClass&quot;:[],&quot;highlightColor&quot;:&quot;white&quot;}]\" data-contentscolor=\"white\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-bootstrap-blocks-container container mb-0 my-6 my-xl-10\">\n\t\n<div class=\"wp-bootstrap-blocks-row row\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-7\">\n\t\t\t\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Applications Closed for the 2026 WE Empower Challenge<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The WE Empower UN SDG Challenge is a first-of-its-kind global competition recognizing innovative women social entrepreneurs who are advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and mobilizing communities toward a more sustainable and equitable world by 2030.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-5 justify-content-between\">\n\t\t\t\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"450\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/globalfutures.asu.edu\/we-empower\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2023\/02\/Apply-page.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-86\" srcset=\"https:\/\/globalfutures.asu.edu\/we-empower\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2023\/02\/Apply-page.png 450w, https:\/\/globalfutures.asu.edu\/we-empower\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2023\/02\/Apply-page-300x200.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<section class=\"uds-section bg-color bg-gray-2 \" ><div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n<div class=\"wp-bootstrap-blocks-container container mb-0 bg-white p-4 border\">\n\t\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"highlight-gold\">Application Form and Deadline<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><strong>Applications for the 2026&nbsp;WE Empower UN SDG Challenge officially closed on Sunday, March 8, 2026.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"highlight-gold\">Eligibility<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Applicants must meet ALL the following criteria to be considered. Finalists are also required to provide audited financial records as part of the vetting process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"uds-list wp-block-list\">\n<li>You must be at least 21 years old by August 1, 2026.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You must identify as a woman entrepreneur.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You must lead decision-making within your entity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your business or organization must have been in operation for at least three years as of August 1, 2026.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You must employ at least three full-time employees or full-time equivalents.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your business or organization must generate a minimum of USD $75,000 in annual revenue. For nonprofit organizations, revenue may comprise donations, grants, and funds raised through various fundraising activities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You must be professionally proficient in English.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You must be at least 21 years old by August 1, 2026.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"highlight-gold\">What to Expect in the Application<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Applicants are asked to provide:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"uds-list wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Basic identifying information<\/strong> about themselves and their business, including the region that best reflects their primary country of operation:\n<ul class=\"uds-list wp-block-list\">\n<li>Asia\u2013Pacific<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Europe and North America<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Latin America and the Caribbean<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Middle East and North Africa&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sub\u2011Saharan Africa<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Responses describing how their work relates to the <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/sdgs.un.org\/goals\"><strong>United Nations Sustainable Development Goals<\/strong><\/a><strong> (SDGs)<\/strong> and their vision for contributing to a sustainable future.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Information on how they foster gender equality<\/strong> within their business or organization and in the broader community.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Security questions, social media information<\/strong> (if applicable), and agreement to the contest\u2019s terms and conditions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>A two\u2011minute video<\/strong>, submitted according to the guidelines below and provided in the application itself.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"highlight-gold\">Judging Considerations<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Applicants are assessed on a range of factors, including the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"uds-list wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Geographic and sectoral diversity<\/strong>, ensuring broad representation across regions and industries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Demonstrated impact on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)<\/strong> and a clear, actionable vision for how their business or organization contributes to the future we want by 2030.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Commitment to advancing women\u2019s leadership<\/strong> within their business or organization and supporting gender equity in the broader community.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Willingness and ability to shape community dialogue<\/strong> on women\u2019s economic and social advancement, and to use their influence to drive meaningful change.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Commitment to full participation<\/strong> in all components of the program, including the in\u2011person events and the virtual programming held from August through October 2026.\n<ul class=\"uds-list wp-block-list\">\n<li>Due to evolving U.S. visa restrictions, the team is also considering convening the 2026 WE Empower Challenge in Geneva\u2014the UN\u2019s second headquarters\u2014during the week of June 14\u201320 as an alternate option. Applicants should be prepared and willing to travel to either location during either timeframe.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><em><em>Have questions about eligibility or the application for future programs, please contact Liz A. Dorn at&nbsp;<\/em><a href=\"mailto:edorn123@asu.edu\"><em>edorn123@asu.edu<\/em><\/a><em>&nbsp;with the subject line \u201cWE Empower UN SDG Challenge Application Inquiry\u201d.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n<div class=\"wp-bootstrap-blocks-container container-fluid mb-0 bg topo-black py-0\">\n\t\n<div class=\"wp-bootstrap-blocks-container container mb-0\">\n\t\n<div class=\"wp-bootstrap-blocks-row row\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-6\">\n\t\t\t\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"635\" height=\"248\" src=\"https:\/\/globalfutures.asu.edu\/we-empower\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2023\/04\/WEEmpower_PrimaryLogo.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-473\" srcset=\"https:\/\/globalfutures.asu.edu\/we-empower\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2023\/04\/WEEmpower_PrimaryLogo.png 635w, https:\/\/globalfutures.asu.edu\/we-empower\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2023\/04\/WEEmpower_PrimaryLogo-300x117.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 635px) 100vw, 635px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-12\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-26","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"uds_featured_image":null,"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - 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