Frequently Asked Questions
About
What is the Google.org Impact Challenge Columbia?
The Google.org Impact Challenge Columbia is an open invitation to nonproﬁts with a material presencein the Columbia Metro Area (Calhoun, Fairﬁeld, Kershaw, Lexington, Orangeburg, Richland, Saluda, andSumter Counties) to share their vision for innovative ways to make our community stronger byincreasing economic opportunity. We call on the public to vote from among four selected projects forthe project they believe will have the greatest potential for impact in the community. Winningorganizations receive grant funding and Google training to help turn their ideas into reality.
Why is Google hosting the Google.org Impact Challenge in Columbia?
Columbia is known for its energy, rich culture, and entrepreneurial spirit. Grow with Google recently
hosted an event in Columbia and the Google.org Impact Challenge is excited to continue to help create
economic opportunity in the Columbia area.
Where can I read a full copy of the rules?
You can ﬁnd the rules here.
What if I still have questions?
Please contact us at us-impact-challenge@google.com. We will review every email and post responses
to commonly asked questions on our FAQ here to ensure that all interested applicants have access tothe same helpful information.

Criteria
What are we looking for?
Community Impact. Does the proposed project create economic opportunity in the Columbia area?
Does it improve the lives of people in our community?
Innovation. Does the project provide an unexpected solution to an unmet need? Is it a novel applicationof a time-tested idea?
Reach. Does the project have ambitious goals and embody a big idea? Does it have the potential toscale directly or to serve as a model for other communities?
Feasibility. Is the team well-equipped to execute on the project and do they have a well-developed andrealistic plan? Is the organization’s leadership nimble and inspired?

EntryIs there a registration fee?
No. Applying for the Google.org Impact Challenge Columbia is free.
How do I know if my organization is eligible to participate?
Review the criteria and the rules.
What if I am not a registered nonproﬁt or in the process of registering now? Can I still apply?
You must be registered as a 501(c)(3) nonproﬁt at the time the application is submitted. However, if you
are a ﬁscally sponsored organization, your ﬁscal sponsor can apply on your behalf, provided it is a501(c)(3) nonproﬁt at the time the application is submitted. Please see the rules for more details.
What if I have a great idea, but my nonproﬁt isn’t based in Calhoun, Fairﬁeld, Kershaw, Lexington,Orangeburg, Richland, Saluda, or Sumter Counties?
The Google.org Impact Challenge Columbia is open to 501(c)(3) nonproﬁt or ﬁscally-sponsoredorganizations with a material presence in the Columbia Metro Area (Calhoun, Fairﬁeld, Kershaw,Lexington, Orangeburg, Richland, Saluda, and Sumter Counties). If you believe your organization has amaterial presence in this area, we would encourage you to apply. Please see the rules for details.
What if we’re a local aﬃliate of a national organization? Can we still apply?
As long as you're a US 501(c)(3) nonproﬁt or ﬁscally-sponsored organization with a material presence in
the Columbia Metro Area (Calhoun, Fairﬁeld, Kershaw, Lexington, Orangeburg, Richland, Saluda, orSumter Counties) at the time you submit the application, you are eligible to apply.
What does it mean to have a material presence in Calhoun, Fairﬁeld, Kershaw, Lexington, Orangeburg,Richland, Saluda, or Sumter Counties?
It is up to your organization to determine whether you feel that your presence in the Columbia Metro
Area (Calhoun, Fairﬁeld, Kershaw, Lexington, Orangeburg, Richland, Saluda, and Sumter Counties) ismaterial. If in doubt, please apply. Per the rules, all projects will be partially evaluated based on theimpact they can have on the Columbia Metro Area.
What if we’re a nonproﬁt based in the Columbia Metro Area, but do work outside of the area? Can westill apply?
Yes, as long as your organization has a material presence in the Columbia Metro Area (Calhoun,Fairﬁeld, Kershaw, Lexington, Orangeburg, Richland, Saluda, and Sumter Counties) at the time of yourapplication.
Can we apply if we’re a for-proﬁt business with a social impact?
Unfortunately, no. The Google.org Impact Challenge is only open to qualiﬁed registered 501(c)(3)nonproﬁts (or ﬁscally-sponsored organizations) with a material presence in the Columbia Metro Area
(Calhoun, Fairﬁeld, Kershaw, Lexington, Orangeburg, Richland, Saluda, and Sumter Counties).
Can my organization submit more than one idea?
No. In general, organizations may only submit one application to the Challenge (there is an exception
for colleges and universities, below). Fiscal sponsors can submit more than one application if they areapplying on behalf of multiple sponsored groups.

What if I work for a large organization, like a university, that has many departments - can we submit
multiple applications?
Colleges and universities are permitted to submit more than one application, provided only one
application per faculty or staff member authorized to represent the university or college is submitted.
See the rules for full detail. If not a college or university, each eligible organization is only allowed tosubmit one application, so please be sure to coordinate with others in your organization who mightapply.
Can my organization submit a joint application with another organization?
Only one organization can apply per application, but it is ﬁne if that application references collaboration
with another organization. If your organization is selected as a winner, it may work with otherorganizations to complete your proposed project, as long as your organization complies with the rules
and the terms of the grant agreement.

Projects
What do you mean when you say “project”?
A project is your organization’s proposed concept and implementation plan for how you will create more
economic opportunity in your community. If selected for a grant, we’ll be supporting the implementationof this project - so we need to know exactly how the grant will help you realize your plan.
If another organization is currently implementing a similar concept, can we still submit the idea?
Yes, but please note that projects will be judged in part on their innovative approach and potential toscale. So you’ll need to tell us how and why your implementation is innovative for the community, why
your organization is uniquely suited to implement the concept in a way that will be more successful, or
how you plan to partner with other organizations to achieve success.
Does this have to be a new idea for my organization?
It need not be brand new. In fact, it may already be a work in progress. If so, we would like to hear
exactly how a grant will change the trajectory of your progress toward implementation, scale, andimpact.
Over what time period should the grant funds be spent?
We expect the grant to be spent over the course of one to two years.
Can the grant be used to fund overhead and staﬃng costs?
Yes, but the large majority of the award should be devoted to the implementation of the project.
Will details of our project idea be kept conﬁdential?
Google will not treat your project as conﬁdential or proprietary, and the details of your project will beshared with Advisors and possibly others to evaluate your proposal, so please do not submit any
proprietary or conﬁdential information in your application. Please keep in mind that if your organizationis selected as a winner, your project summary will be made available to the public on the website.
What is a ﬁscally-sponsored organization?
A ﬁscal sponsor is a 501(c)(3) organization that provides oversight for a project by another organization

or group that is not a 501(c)(3). We encourage you to reach out to your legal counsel if you havequestions about the ﬁscal sponsorship legal structure. In the case of the Google.org Impact Challenge,
the ﬁscal sponsor must apply on behalf of the sponsored project or group.

ProcessCan I get a copy of the application questions before I ﬁll out the application?
Yes, you can ﬁnd a copy of the application questions here.
Can we include appendices or additional information to the application?
The application includes an opportunity to provide links to additional resources. Unfortunately, we are
not able to accept any attachments beyond those linked as additional materials in the application form.
Can I save a draft of my application on the site if I want to edit it later?
No. Applications can’t be saved for later completion, so we recommend drafting your responses in a
separate document ﬁrst and only completing the application form when the entire application is readyfor submission.
How do I make sure my application is successfully submitted?
Make sure all required ﬁelds are populated and within the given word limits, then click the "Submit"
button. If the application has been successfully submitted, you should see a screen with a message
conﬁrming that we received your application, and you should also receive a conﬁrmation email to theemail address you provided. If you have any questions about your application submission, pleasecontact us at: us-impact-challenge@google.com.
I’ve submitted my application. What do I do now?
That’s great news. No further action is required. We’ll reach out if we require any additional information,
and will announce the ﬁnalists per the timeline on the website.
Does my submission have to be in English?
Yes, please submit your application in English.
Do I need a Google account to apply?
No, you don’t need a Google account.
How will the entries be judged?
All applications received will be reviewed by a team at Google and a panel of Advisors. Applications will
be evaluated based on the Challenge rules. A total of four nonproﬁts will be selected as winners. Thepublic will pick one People’s Choice Winner from the four winners during a public vote running in
September 2018.
Who are the Advisors?
See our panel of Advisors here. The Advisors are selected based on both their demonstrated
commitment to improving their communities and their ability to rally public support for the best ideas.
What if an advisor has an aﬃliation with an organization who applies?
We ask advisors not to be involved in scoring applications from any organization they are personallyaﬃliated with (for example, if an advisor or their family member are on the board of the organization).
The application's score will be determined only by the remaining advisors.
Will every single application be reviewed?
Yes, we will review all eligible applications received.