Frequently Asked Questions

Site Terminology

• What is a collaborative competition?
  A collaborative competition is an interactive solicitation to identify and develop innovative, workable solutions to the world's most entrenched social problems. Competition entries are posted online and made available for anyone to view and collaborate with by providing new ideas, asking insightful questions, and providing connections to new resources.

  
  

• What is a discovery framework (previously called mosaic of solutions)?
  The competition takes place within a Discovery Framework that serves as an intellectual framework to compare, contrast and think about the ideas being presented. Each Framework maps the principles represented by the innovation against the underlying factors driving a particular problem. Here is an example of a Framework .

  
  

• How do I actually participate in the competition?
  You can collaborate on Changemakers by submitting your own entry, commenting on other entrants' innovations through online review, and/or voting for what you view as the most innovative entries.

  
  

• Why would I want to compete?
  By submitting an entry, you can showcase and share the work you are doing and demonstrate why you think you may have an effective solution to the problem. By commenting on other entries, you can share your experience and expertise to help refine what may be promising models. Finally, you can learn what other entrepreneurs are doing, what the field views as the most innovative and successful work being done, and where the field may be moving.

Using the Site

• What is the purpose of this site?
  In one word, action. Changemakers is building the world's first global online "open source" community that competes to surface the best social solutions, and then collaborates to refine, enrich, and implement those solutions. What does this mean for you, the social innovator? It means register on Changemakers, compete, collaborate, and learn.

  
  

• Forget your username or password?
  Click on join/log-in and "request a new password." If you have forgotten your user name, enter your email address and you will receive an email message with a link. When you click on that link, it will give you a web page with a message that includes your username in italics. If you have forgotten your password, it gives you a new password (which you can change).

  
  

• Why should I create a profile? What are the benefits to this?
  Registering on Changemakers allows you to not only submit an entry, but to create a user profile that reflects your work, interests, and contributions.
  Creating a profile allows you to build a representative identity on the site; one that more easily allows you and like-minded peers to connect and collaborate. In addition, your profile easily allows you to track your entries across competitions, helping you build a collaborative presence over time.

  
  

• Who will have access to my profile once I upload it?
  Your profile is published on the web site where everyone can read it. You are the only person who can edit your profile.

  
  

• How do I update my profile?
  Your profile will appear whenever you log-in, or you can access your profile at other times by clicking on "my profile" at the top of the page. You can update your profile by clicking on the "edit" tab.

  
  

• Who should I contact if I am having problems with the website?
  Please use the contact form for any questions regarding the Changemakers website.

Submitting an Innovation

• How do I submit an innovation?
  Click on a competition name that has a green explanation mark icon (which means the competition is in "enter" status), and click on the "Enter the competition" link.

  
  

• I'm having trouble submitting my entry, what can I do?
  Email webmaster@changemakers.net and we will help you.

  
  

• Where do I submit photos?
  On each competition entry form, you will see an icon that looks like a green "plus" sign and a small photograph beneath most of the questions. Click on this icon to upload a photo to your entry.

  
  

• May I submit more then one innovation entry per competition?
  Yes, you may submit more then entry per competition, as long as the innovation is different.

  
  

• May I submit an entry for more than one competition?
  Yes, as long as you meet the eligibility requirements outlined in the competition guidelines.

  
  

• Can I win more than one competition?
  Yes, as long as you meet the criteria and eligibility requirements for the competition, you are eligible to win.

Competition Process

• Why a "collaborative competition"?
  Because it answered our first question: How do you open-source social innovation in order to collectively tackle the world's biggest social problems?
  The Changemakers collaborative competitions are about you-the social innovator-and creating a community that rewards action, collaboration, and learning. Please visit our about section to learn more.

  
  

• Who chooses the theme of the collaborative competitions?
  Changemakers Collaborative Competition themes are developed in partnership with the sponsor and Changemakers. Visit our sponsorship page to learn more.

  
  

• Who is eligible to submit an innovation entry?
  The competition is open to all types of organizations (charitable organizations, private companies, or public entities) from all countries. We consider all entries that:
  • Reflect the theme of the competition.

  • Are beyond the stage of idea, concept, or research, and, at a minimum, are at the demonstration stage and indicate success.
  • Are submitted in English, Spanish, and are complete.

  
  

• What are the criteria for winning?
  The winners of this Changemakers Collaborative Competition will be those entries that best meet the following criteria: Innovation, Social Impact, and Sustainability. Visit the competitions section to learn more about the criteria and guidelines.

  
  

• Is geography a consideration in the competition judging?
  Changemakers promotes participation from innovators around the world but country of origin is not an assessment criterion. Changemakers evaluates each entry on its ability to demonstrate innovation, social impact and sustainability.

  
  

• When is the deadline for submission?
  The deadline for submission of your innovation entry is roughly 11 weeks after the start of each competition. Updated information about deadlines is available on the competitions page.

  
  

• How are the winners selected?
  A panel of judges consisting of 3-5 experts, selected by the Changemakers Team, will select 12 to 15 finalists. The finalists are posted on the Changemakers website, and the online community has two weeks to vote for its choices.

  
  

• What is the prize for the winners?
  The three winners each receive $5,000. More importantly, all entrants gain great exposure on our website and have their entry read by a global community of innovators and investors. The finalists receive media attention and are showcased on the Changemakers website.

Questions About Sponsors/Partners, and Judges

• Who are the competition sponsors/partners?
  Competition sponsors/partners are leading organizations and individuals with interest and commitment to addressing the issues each competition presents. In some instances these partners approach Changemakers and signal their desire to challenge the issues using Changemakers's collaborative competition model. In other cases, we are directed to them by members of the Changemakers community who thus help us build this changemaking network.

  
  

• What is the role of the competition sponsor?
  The competition sponsor's role is to collaborate with the Changemakers Team to frame the competition issues and marketing materials carefully and strategically. The competition sponsor is often the principal investor underwriting the costs of developing and managing all aspects of the competition itself.

  
  

• How are the judges selected?
  Competition judges are selected for their expertise in fields relevant to the competition topic and for their demonstrated commitment to solving the problems addressed. They are invited to collaborate with their peers and the Changemakers Team in choosing the slate of competition finalists for community vote.

  
  

• How can an organization become a competition sponsor?
  An organization can become a competition sponsor by first contacting Changemakers and arranging for a meeting to discuss ideas for a forthcoming competition or one that warrants consideration. More information is available on the sponsorship page.

About Changemakers

• Where did Changemakers start?
  Changemakers was launched as a print magazine in Calcutta, India, in 1994. Founded by Sushmita Ghosh, Ashoka president emerita, the magazine focused on social entrepreneurship and innovation. In 1998, after becoming an initiative of Ashoka, Changemakers went online and evolved into the current format.

  
  

• How is Changemakers affiliated with Ashoka: Innovators of the Public?
  Changemakers is an initiative of Ashoka: Innovators of the Public, building on 26 years of expertise in leading the citizen sector. The long history allows Changemakers to leverage the wealth of global resources and ideas to help achieve Ashoka's vision of "everyone a changemaker."