The Mott Million Dollar Challenge: Where Big Ideas Win Big
The Mott Million Dollar Challenge is a national pitch competition for K-12 students across the country – one that we want to make sure includes the voices of Nebraska youth. Kids and teens are invited to dream up businesses, tackle real-world problems, and pitch their best ideas in a simple 30-90 second video. No fancy editing required.
Nebraska students are encouraged to apply. Students can enter solo or with a team of up to three. Across the competition, $1 million in cash prizes will be awarded, and finalists will be invited to an epic celebration in Flint, Michigan, in June 2026! Submissions are due February 27, 2026.
Supported by funding from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the Mott Million Dollar Challenge is powered by the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) in collaboration with VentureLab, Young Entrepreneur Institute (YEI), the Afterschool Alliance and Collaborative Communications. Beyond School Bells is proud to support recruitment of this event in Nebraska. Learn more at mottmillion.org.
The Contribution Project
Building on our successful Fall 2025 launch, BSB’s is once again partnering with the Contribution Project to provide Nebraska youth with the resources they need to bring their big ideas to life.
The Contribution Project offers $400 to young people (ages 14–25) to bring their ideas to life—whether it’s helping a friend, supporting a cause, or creating something meaningful in their community. At its core, this is more than just funding —it’s a study in purpose. Learn more at https://contributionproject.org/nebraska.
The Spring 2026 application opens February 2nd and is due February 22nd.
If you have questions about this amazing opportunity for our Nebraska youth? Please contact Jeff Cole at jcole@nebraskachildren.org
National Geographic Slingshot Challenge
We believe that changing the future of conservation begins with small steps: with great ideas that drive impact in YOUR community. We believe that together, our ideas and actions will add up to progress protecting our planet and improving our future.
We invite 13-18-year-olds to submit a 1-minute video describing their idea for solving environmental issues for a chance to receive up to $10,000 USD.
Submissions are due by February 6, 2026; for more information or support to participate in the Challenge, visit https://www.nationalgeographic.org/society/projects/slingshot/ or reach out to Dakota (dstaggs@nebraskachildren.org) or Alexus (ahansen@nebraskachildren.org).
