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We are looking for applicants with strong answers to questions about what their idea or project is, how it will work, and how they activate others in their community. All applicants will also be evaluated on their ability to share their changemaking journey and how it has fueled this idea.

Remember, we are looking for innovative and creative ideas at all stages of development, which means it can be a new idea or a fully baked one!

Entries will be evaluated on the following 4 criteria:

Fueled by Community

The applicant’s idea demonstrates a deep understanding of and connection to the problem they are tackling. The applicant is informed by the people most impacted by the problem and is focused on making a difference in a community that is meaningful to them.

Innovation

The applicant is creating something new, addressing an overlooked challenge, or bringing a unique perspective or solution to a well-known problem.

Collaborative Leadership

The application has or plans to build a team, form partnerships, and/or mobilize others to join their initiative.

Commitment

The applicant has concrete plans to grow their idea or venture, including how to access expertise, resources, and more. They demonstrate a commitment to stick with their project with actionable steps.

For detailed information on our prizes, benefits, detailed timeline, eligibility criteria, evaluation criteria, and terms & conditions, click the buttons below: 

Prize & Benefits 

Detailed Timeline, Eligibility & Evaluation Criteria 

Terms & Conditions

The Taco Bell Foundation Ambition Accelerator, powered in partnership with Ashoka and funded by Yum!’s Unlocking Opportunity initiative, invites young people to share their social impact ideas to drive positive change in their communities. The Ambition Accelerator is a platform for young changemakers to access funding, grow their changemaking skills, and join a community of peers and mentors who are leaders in the social impact space. 

Here’s how it works: from now through March 14, 2024 (US) and March 15, 2024 (India), we’re accepting applications from young changemakers ages 16-26 with an idea to enact change in their communities. Applicants should be residents of India, the United States, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands and can apply to the Ambition Accelerator in either English or Hindi. We are looking for young people from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences with a restless drive to make a difference.  

For three decades, the Taco Bell Foundation has activated the potential of its Live Más scholars, changemakers who are pursuing their passions through education and community. The Taco Bell Foundation has awarded $155 million in grants and scholarships focused on education and career readiness. For the last 40 years, Ashoka has supported social entrepreneurs and young changemakers as they bring new ideas to systemically address the world’s biggest challenges and build a world where we all realize our power to create change. Together, we aim to activate young people working to challenge the norm and disrupt existing systems and mindsets within their communities.