The Eisner Prize for Intergenerational Excellence

by The Eisner Foundation

In 2011, The Eisner Foundation will award the inaugural Eisner Prize and is currently soliciting nominations of individuals or non-profit organizations for this prestigious honor. The Eisner Prize is a cash award of $100,000 and is designed to recognize excellence by an individual or a non-profit organization in uniting multiple generations, especially seniors and youth, to bring about positive and lasting changes in their community.

The Eisner Prize is a national award, open to anyone or any group working in the United States. We are, however, generally a regional funder in our grant-making endeavors, focused on Los Angeles County, so it is our hope that the winner of The Eisner Prize would represent a program or idea that we could replicate in Los Angeles for the benefit of the children and seniors that live in our city. If the winner resides in Los Angeles, we would consider the possibility of helping to fund an expansion of the currently-existing program or idea.

But the cash award of $100,000 comes with no strings attached. It is our attempt to spur innovation in this field and to reward those who have committed already to excellence in uniting multiple generations for the betterment of our country. We believe there is a ton of good work being done out there in this country in uniting multiple generations for the betterment of our communities. Most of this work is being done under the radar of our national media and outside the scope of most philanthropic institutions. The Eisner Prize is an attempt to identify that work, to reward it, and to see long-term if we can replicate it.

Non-profit groups may self-nominate; individual candidates must be nominated by another person or group. Our status as a private foundation forbids us from awarding the prize to for-profit businesses.
To be eligible, applicants must demonstrate the following:

• Be a non-profit organization or an individual (no for-profit companies or businesses);
• Be located in the United States, and conduct all prize-related activities within the United States;
• Be able to articulate their experience with conducting activities that bring together multiple generations in a manner that generates a positive outcome for the participants and the community in which they live;
• Be able to demonstrate a track record of excellence and measurable results;
• Be able to explain how the results of the applicant’s work could be replicated with positive and lasting impacts in communities across the United States.

The Eisner Foundation will be accepting nominations until January 31, 2011. It will then select twenty semi-finalists for The Eisner Prize and ask them to complete a slightly longer application. From there, the Foundation will select five finalists and award each of those finalists with $5,000 cash. After an in-person interview with The Eisner Foundation staff and board, a winner will be selected in the summer of 2011, presented with $100,000, and honored at a celebration.

To nominate your group or an individual for The Eisner Prize, please click here for the form. Thank you.
The Eisner Foundation