Lipman Family Prize 2026 Award Ceremony

Why It Matters

The prize’s funding and network amplify high‑impact social enterprises, accelerating scalable solutions to climate, food and gender challenges while training the next generation of impact leaders.

Key Takeaways

• Lipman Family Prize celebrates 15 years of global social-impact leadership.
• Winners address renewable energy, food waste, and climate‑resilient farming.
• Over 300 applications highlight growing demand for scalable impact models.
• Prize fosters interdisciplinary collaboration across Penn’s schools and alumni network.
• Unrestricted funding and community ties amplify winners’ solutions worldwide.

Summary

The ceremony marked the 15th anniversary of the Lipman Family Prize, held at the University of Pennsylvania’s Museum, where co‑hosts Elliot Kim and Yasieli Perez introduced three awardees whose work tackles climate change, hunger and gender inequality.

The three winners—Barefoot College International, Food for All Africa, and Kheyti—were selected from more than 300 global applications. Their projects focus on renewable‑energy training for under‑privileged women, converting food waste into nutrition for vulnerable populations, and building climate‑resilient practices for smallholder farmers.

Speakers highlighted the prize’s roots in Benjamin Franklin’s analytic‑engaged philosophy and Joseph Wharton’s call to address civilization’s greatest challenges. Barry Lipman emphasized that the prize’s power lies in unrestricted funding and a collaborative network that now includes 45 organizations and over 200 Lipman fellows.

By linking academic resources, executive education and a growing alumni community, the Lipman Family Prize accelerates scalable solutions, creates cross‑sector learning, and positions the winners to replicate impact worldwide—signaling a maturing ecosystem for mission‑driven leadership.

Original Description

The Lipman Family Prize celebrates its 15th anniversary and celebrates their 2026 winners: Barefoot College International, Food for All Africa and the 2026 Grand Prize Winner: Kheyti

First awarded in 2012, the Barry & Marie Lipman Family Prize at the University of Pennsylvania is an annual global prize that honors nonprofit organizations based on their leadership, impact, innovation, and transferability of ideas. Administered by the Wharton School on behalf of the University of Pennsylvania, the Prize is committed to resourcing and connecting change-makers to bring their leading solutions to new places and problems around the world.

Learn more: https://lipmanfamilyprize.wharton.upenn.edu/

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome

02:40 Euria Min, Director, Lipman Family Prize

07:56 Michael Useem, Professor of Management and Faculty Director, Center for Leadership & Change Management

12:10 Barry Lipman, Founder, Lipman Family Prize

19:32 Lipman Family Prize 15th Anniversary

23:02 2026 Winner – Barefoot College International

29:45 2026 Winner – Food for All Africa

35:30 2026 Winner – Kheyti

41:56 Announcement of 2026 Grand Prize Winner

45:35 Closing

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