Local Lift

Turn Your Idea Into Impact

Compete for $75,000 in funding and gain the coaching, mentorship and support needed to turn your idea into a solution that serves Tarrant County.

Applications open June 1.

Local Lift supports emerging nonprofits, social entrepreneurs and small business owners developing ideas focused on financial security, community health, youth opportunity and community resiliency.

A reimagining of United Way of Tarrant County’s KERNEL social innovation pitch competition, Local Lift is an eight-week, cohort-based program that helps participants move from concept to action through hands-on coaching, collaboration and seed funding.

Finalists will present their ideas at a live pitch event in November during Global Entrepreneurship Week. Prize funding will help advance solutions that improve lives across Tarrant County.

Program Timeline

June 1: Applications open
July 10: Applications close
July 13-23: Application review and recommendations
July 28: Final participant selections
Aug. 3: Selected participants notified
Aug. 13: Local Lift cohort kickoff meeting
Aug. 24-Oct. 2: Program sessions and coaching
Oct. 12-Nov. 2: Pitch competition preparation
Nov. 9-13: Live pitch competition during Global Entrepreneurship Week

Prize Funding

In November, selected participants will pitch their ideas during a live event and compete for a total of $75,000 in prize funding.

Prize opportunities include:

First place: $25,000
Second place: $15,000
Third place: $10,000
Two runner-up awards: $7,500 each
Two Audience Choice Awards: $5,000 each

Audience Choice Awards will be selected through live virtual voting during the event.

Become a Mentor

Local Lift is looking for mentors who want to help shape the next generation of community-driven innovation in Tarrant County.

We are seeking local leaders, entrepreneurs, business professionals and subject matter experts who can share their experience and help participants strengthen, refine and grow their ideas.

Mentors will have the opportunity to:

Support emerging nonprofit leaders and entrepreneurs
Provide guidance and feedback throughout the program
Help participants think through scalability and sustainability
Build relationships with changemakers across Tarrant County
Play a direct role in helping innovative ideas move from concept to impact

Sponsor Local Lift

Local Lift depends on community support to help bring innovative ideas to life across Tarrant County.

Sponsors help fund coaching, mentorship and seed investments that allow participants to develop solutions that create lasting impact in our community.

Whether you support the program through sponsorship, mentorship or by helping spread the word, you are directly contributing to a stronger and more resilient Tarrant County.

Powered by United Way of Tarrant County

Local Lift is part of UWTC’s commitment to expanding innovation, research and nonprofit capacity building across North Texas. Through the United Way Institute, UWTC connects organizations to data, training, tools and partnerships that help solutions grow and succeed.

Questions? For more information about Local Lift, contact institute@unitedwaytarrant.org.