AWS IMAGINE Grant Resources & FAQs

Q: Who is eligible?

• Nonprofit organizations with 501(c) status or equivalent based in the United States and United Kingdom are eligible to apply. This includes 501(c)3 organizations, as well as credit unions, public utility organizations, and other 501(c)-designated entities. AWS IMAGINE Grant is provided and administered through Amazon Web Service EMEA Sarl for EMEA-based applicants of this program.
• Organizations with annual budgets of any size may apply for this program. AWS welcomes all causes and mission areas to apply, including nonprofit healthcare providers and credit unions. Educational institutions and select healthcare institutions are excluded. These institutions are currently outside of the AWS IMAGINE Grant priority funding areas.

Q: If my country is not listed on the application page, does that mean AWS IMAGINE Grant is not available to me?

We are in the process of expanding the grant program globally, but currently the program is only available to customers headquartered in the United States and United Kingdom. Please check back soon for updates.

Q: What if my organization is based in the United States or United Kingdom with qualifying status but serves beneficiaries in other geographies?

Organizations with active 501(c) status or equivalent that serve beneficiaries outside of the United States or United Kingdom are eligible to apply. 

Q: Who is ineligible?

We are not accepting applications for the AWS IMAGINE Grant from the following types of institutions at this time:

• Primary or secondary schools;
• Colleges and universities;

AWS has programs designed specifically for the education sector. Check out AWS Educate for programs specifically designed for your sectors. 

Q: Can my organization still apply if I have submitted an IMAGINE Grant in the past?

Yes. Organizations who have applied and not been awarded an IMAGINE Grant are welcome to apply again.

Q: Can my organization submit more than one idea within a category? 

No. Each organization may only submit one application per award cycle.

Q: Can I apply for more than one award category?

No. At the time of round one application, please select which category best fits your organizational goals. 

Q: Am I required to be using AWS to apply for the IMAGINE Grant?

No. The use of AWS is not a requirement to apply for an IMAGINE Grant. As the award package includes AWS-specific resources, the AWS IMAGINE Grant is best suited for organizations who do plan to incorporate AWS technology into their project design.  

Q: When and how often are grants awarded?

We accept proposals once annually. Timeline for the 2023-2024 grant cycle is as follows:

• Guidelines and instructions available: March 14 2023
• Round one applications accepted: May 1 — June 1, 2023
• Round two applications accepted (by invitation only): August 15 — September 15, 2023 
• Awards announced and distributed: December 2023
• Grant term begins: January 1, 2024 — December 31, 2024 

Q: Who will evaluate the proposals, and when will I know the outcome of the review?

An internal AWS adjudication panel will review project proposals. We anticipate communicating the results per the application calendar. We will communicate the decision to the proposal contact listed on each submission. We expect the proposal contact to notify their organization about award decisions and administrative requirements. If your proposal contact changes throughout the application process, please communicate that change to us at awsimaginegrant@amazon.com.

Q: Are there any preferred project areas? 

We seek to fund a diverse set of projects that leverage cloud technology for mission impact across the nonprofit sector. All mission and cause areas are welcome, excluding ineligible organizations listed above.  

Q: How do I submit my proposal?

• To apply for the AWS IMAGINE Grant, please download the program guidelines and review carefully. The 2023-2024 IMAGINE Grant application cycle will occur in two rounds. First-round applications are open to any eligible nonprofit that completes the requested information within the guidelines and submits a complete application by June 1, 2023. The online submission portal will open on May 1 and close at 11:59 PM EST on June 1, 2023.
• We will extend second-round applications by invitation only, based on the evaluation of first-round applications. Organizations who are invited to the second round will be provided instructions to submit full proposals for either the Momentum to Modernize or Go Further, Faster award categories. Organizations may only submit one project for the category selected. Full proposal instructions will be provided to second-round applicants only at the time of notification.

Q: What is the selection criteria?

AWS will judge proposals based on factors that include:

• Innovative and unique nature of the project
• Impact on mission-critical goals
• Clearly defined outcomes
• Succinctly defined milestones
• Detailing and applicability of AWS services within the project scope
• Viability of proposed sustainability plan
• Comprehensiveness of applicant’s proposal and information requested
• Submission of proposal in correct format and within program deadlines

Q: What if my organization is not ready to apply for the IMAGINE Grant? Are there other AWS resources for nonprofits?

Yes. AWS Nonprofit Credit Program and AWS TechAction provides access to AWS Promotional Credit, enabling nonprofits to implement cloud-based solutions and meet their mission goals without upfront investment in physical infrastructure.

Q: Need help developing your proposal?

Visit our AWS for Nonprofits page and our Nonprofit Technical hub to learn more about getting started on AWS. Watch our office hours and read our blog for tips and best practices on developing a strong technology proposal.

Q: My organization works with a Managed Services Provider (MSP)/technology partner, are they eligible to apply on our behalf? 

While only registered 501(c) nonprofits (and UK equivalent) are eligible to apply for the IMAGINE Grant, many winning projects do utilize the support of a MSP/technology partner in implementation. For specific questions, please email us or reach out to your AWS account manager.