The Truist Foundation Inspire Awards Year 4 is a Truist Foundation and MIT Solve challenge for nonprofit career-pathway programs serving adult workers in the age of AI. It seeks direct services, training and upskilling, AI readiness, wraparound support, or career navigation linked to employment pathways.
The 2026 application cycle is closed. Fifteen semifinalists receive grants and capacity-building support; six finalists continue into a six-month program that includes an in-person visit to Charlotte and Greensboro, North Carolina, before a final pitch.
Benefits & funding
- Each of 15 semifinalists receives a $10,000 capacity-building grant plus access to consultants, subject-matter experts, workshops, and no-cost program support.
- Six finalists enter a six-month tailored support program with a needs assessment, monthly check-ins, learning modules, peer exchange, workshops, pitch consultation, and an in-person visit to Truist sites in Charlotte and Greensboro.
- Final awards are $250,000 for first place, $150,000 for second place, $75,000 for the Community Favorite, and $25,000 for each runner-up; the Community Favorite award may be combined with another finalist result.
Eligibility
- The applicant must be a registered IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit at the Growth or Scale organizational stage, with an established model, a track record, and an annual operating budget.
- The organization must be headquartered in and directly serve at least one location in Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, D.C., or West Virginia.
- The proposed solution may be at the Concept, Prototype, Pilot, Growth, or Scale stage and must provide innovative direct services, training, career navigation, or related support for adult workers in the age of AI.
- The Team Lead must be at least 18 and should be the CEO, Executive Director, Primary Investigator, or another key leader; a secondary delegate is also expected to join most capacity-building activities.
- Typical degree programs and purely educational solutions without a clear connection to career pathways are not targeted.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Residence required
USA
Age requirement
≥ 18 yrs
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Application process
- 1Confirm the organization, geographic footprint, leadership, and solution meet the published eligibility requirements.
- 2Prepare a solution submission showing alignment with the challenge dimensions and the implementing organization’s stage and track record.
- 3Submit through MIT Solve before the cycle deadline; the 2026 form closed on August 10, 2026.
- 4A 509(a)(3) supporting organization must upload the specified legal-status letter, while a fiscal agent must attach a memorandum of understanding describing the relationship.
- 5MIT Solve and community reviewers screen submissions, after which the Advisory Council chooses 15 semifinalists for interviews and then six finalists for the support program and pitch.
Program timeline
Applications opened
June 10, 2026
Information session
July 16, 2026
Application deadline
August 10, 2026
Semifinalists announced
October 14–21, 2026
Semifinalist interviews
November 9–10, 2026
Finalists announced and support program begins
December 2026
Finalist support program ends
June 2027