AWS announces the 2023 AWS IMAGINE Grant funding cycle for nonprofits

Today at the IMAGINE: Nonprofit conference, Amazon Web Services (AWS) launched the 2023 AWS IMAGINE Grant cycle. Each year, the grant program provides a holistic package of resources, including unrestricted funding, to nonprofit organizations pursuing cloud technology projects for mission impact. Through the AWS IMAGINE Grant, AWS discovers nonprofits that are bringing high-impact technology projects to life. Past winners have used natural language processing (NLP) to combat transnational illicit crime, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to collect and process paper-to-digital data at scale in remote areas, and data lake and analytics to enable collaborative and open scientific research.

These are only a few examples of what nonprofits are doing with AWS, and the award categories are designed to support nonprofits at various stages of their cloud journeys. New this year, nonprofits applying for the Momentum to Modernize award may now receive up to $50,000 in funding towards their foundational cloud projects.

The 2023 AWS IMAGINE Grant guidelines and instructions are now available for download. The award categories are as follows:

Momentum to Modernize

As nonprofit organizations seek to transform and enhance their core mission operations with technology, organizations need funding for foundational technology projects, such as migrating servers to the cloud and modernizing new and existing applications. The Momentum to Modernize award provides resources for these transformational infrastructure projects, alongside AWS Promotional Credit and implementation support.

Momentum to Modernize awards packages may include:

• Up to $50,000 USD of unrestricted financial support
• Up to $20,000 USD in AWS Promotional Credit
• Project implementation guidance from AWS technical specialist(s)
• Access to AWS training and support
• An opportunity for AWS marketing promotion

Go Further, Faster

The Go Further, Faster award provides support for think big, highly innovative projects that leverage the cloud. These projects have the potential to produce scalable, repeatable solutions and may impact an entire industry or field. They are force multipliers for organizations and include the application of and/or seek integrations with advanced cloud services, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), high performance computing (HPC), internet of things (IoT), and more.

Go Further, Faster awards packages may include:

• Up to $150,000 USD of unrestricted financial support
• Up to $100,000 USD in AWS Promotional Credit
• Project implementation guidance from AWS technical specialist(s)
• Access to AWS training and support
• An opportunity for AWS marketing promotion

“The process of applying to the IMAGINE Grant has helped us ideate, challenge, and hone our strategic thinking about how to leverage data and machine learning to reduce the veteran suicide rate. We have found a true collaborator with AWS, and a huge part of our success together has been building trust and sharing ideas throughout the grant application process. I encourage any nonprofit considering applying to the grant to use it as an opportunity to define and scope how the cloud can help achieve their mission, regardless of the outcome,” said Chris Ford, chief executive officer (CEO) of Stop Soldier Suicide, a winner of the 2022 AWS IMAGINE Grant awards.

How to apply for the AWS IMAGINE Grant

The Momentum to Modernize and Go Further, Faster award categories are open to all US-based 501(c) nonprofit organizations. Application instructions are available to download today. Visit the AWS IMAGINE Grant webpage to learn more about eligibility, application details, and instructions. Please review the eligibility guidelines in the FAQ closely.

About the AWS IMAGINE Grant

Since the launch of the AWS IMAGINE Grant program in 2018, AWS has awarded over $6 million in unrestricted funding, AWS Promotional Credit, and AWS training support to 66 nonprofit organizations. Learn more about past recipients in the Powered by Purpose documentary series.

For more information about how AWS supports nonprofits, visit the AWS for Nonprofits and NGOs hub.

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