Google offering $5 million in funding to Bay Area non-profit organizations

While Google was busy showing off its latest hardware at an event in San Francisco yesterday morning, it also quietly announced something which many will think is far more important. Yesterday, Google revealed that it has chosen its 10 finalists for its second annual Impact Challenge: Bay Area…

The idea with its Impact Challenge is to bring much-needed funding to causes focused on homelessness, racial justice and employment among young people among many others. Non-profits are nominated, then Google — along with a panel of 10 advisors — chooses ten finalists. Once finalists are chosen, anyone can vote for their favorite. Once voting is closed, Google tallies up the numbers and hands out $500,000 to the top four most-voted for organizations, the next six each receive $250,000. Then, 15 more organizations are each given $100,000 in funding.

This year’s finalists are listed below, along with a short snippet on what they’re trying to achieve:

• 826 Valencia – Building a creative writing center for kids in the Tenderloin
• Bayview/Hunters Point Community Legal – Providing affordable legal aid to people in need
• The Big Lift – Offers summer programs to help San Mateo kids ‘learn to read and succeed’
• City Year – Helps East San Jose students reach graduation
• Essie Justice Group – A movement to empower women with incarcerated loved ones
• Hidden Genius Project – Training black male young people to become tech entrepreneurs and leaders
• Kiva – Crowdfunding 0% interest loans for small business in Oakland
• Reset Foundation – Reimagining the justice system, by offering an education-focussed alternative to prison for young adults
• TalkingPoints – Building a texting platform to help parents and teachers communicate more meaningfully across language divides
• Yerba Buena Center – Building inspiring public spaces in San Francisco’s Market Street

Google notes that, as well as this year’s finalists being funded, some of last year’s will continue to receive funding too. The Ella Baker Center, Beyond12, Lava Mae and the Bay Area Community Resources will each receive between $250,000 and $1,000,000 this year.

If you want to vote, you can do so by heading over to the Impact Challenge site and choose the 4 projects that inspire you the most. Votes close on October 20.