Accelerate

Economic Prosperity
Creating pathways to financial success for people and places.

Education
Advancing access, readiness, and success for pre-k through college students.

Health & Well-being
Promoting the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of individuals and their communities.

Quality of Life
Improving lives through art, culture, the environment, and community improvement projects.

Social Change
Increasing equity, access, and opportunities within communities.

Applications for Accelerate 2024 will open in November 2023.
Applications to pitch open November 1, 2023.

Eligibility
Anyone with an idea to improve the Greater Cleveland community can apply. Proposed ideas cannot be affiliated with an established organization or business.

Application & Selection
Applicants submit proposals to pitch their idea at the event via an online form, through which you’ll address each of the following areas in 250 words or less.

• A description of the initiative.
• The community issue it addresses.
• How it will benefit the community.
• Why you are passionate about the issue.
• How you will know if the initiative is successful.
• How the prize money would help you achieve your goals.

An independent panel of reviewers selects five from each category to be presented at the event based on:

• Potential for community impact and advancing NE Ohio.
• How unique, creative and innovative the initiative is.
• A realistic implementation plan that would be aided by the prize money.

Those selected have up to five minutes to pitch at the event.

View the Application Guidebook to learn all about the application process, how to craft your best application, and what to expect if you’re selected!