Bloomberg Philanthropies Announces Largest-Ever Mayors Challenge to Radically Improve Municipal Services in Cities Around the World

Innovation competition calls on local governments to work with residents and entrepreneurs to reimagine an essential public service

25 cities will be awarded $1 million and technical support to bring their winning idea to life

50 finalists will receive $50,000 and attend an Ideas Camp to hone and test their proposals

Cities with 100,000 residents or more can apply here

Mexico City, Mexico - Michael R. Bloomberg today announced Bloomberg Philanthropies' largest-ever Mayors Challenge, a competition to spur government innovation that improves lives in cities around the world. The sixth Challenge, launched at Bloomberg CityLab 2024 in Mexico City, calls on mayors to work with residents and entrepreneurs to radically reimagine their most essential municipal services, from public transportation to waste management, to housing and shelter, to emergency response, and more.

Cities from anywhere in the world with 100,000 residents or more can apply through December 20, 2024, at mayorschallenge.bloomberg.org. Fifty finalists, to be unveiled in March 2025, will receive $50,000 and participate in an Ideas Camp to hone, model, and test their concepts. In October 2025, the 25 cities with the most inventive ideas will each be awarded $1 million and operational assistance to bring their proposals to life. This Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge will distribute more funds and assist more cities than the previous five Challenges which each selected between five to 15 winners and gave them technical support and $1 million apiece.

"For more than a decade, the Mayors Challenge competition has helped local leaders test their most promising and innovative ideas," said Michael R. Bloomberg, 108th mayor of New York City and founder of Bloomberg L.P. and Bloomberg Philanthropies. "This new Challenge will empower cities to re-think the way they deliver essential services in ways that better meet the everyday needs of residents. Bloomberg Philanthropies believes in the power of cities to affect change and we're looking forward to seeing the bold proposals that mayors put together - and helping their cities bring them to life."

From providing access to millions of units of affordable housing to maintaining nearly half a million public libraries, hauling away over two billion tons of waste annually, distributing hundreds of millions of vaccines, and providing public safety, reliable internet, and sanitation for billions, every day, cities care for the well-being of the world. A breathtaking responsibility, efforts to wholly modernize public programs remain a challenge for local governments, causing most officials to focus on incremental improvements. Still, cities have proven they can make profound adjustments when circumstances demand them and solve problems with mold-breaking ideas. Recognizing the potential and reach of municipalities, and the core services they deliver, the 2025 Mayors Challenge aims to equip their leaders with the support and capacity to lead bold transformations of the fundamental programs their communities rely on.

Applications must focus on innovating a service that is citywide, resident-facing, and that falls under the municipality's authority. Bloomberg Philanthropies and its advisory council will select 25 winners based on three key criteria: novelty, potential for impact, and ability to deliver. Services may span any of the critical ways in which localities meet people's everyday needs, such as:

• Public transportation
• Public education
• Public safety
• Public libraries, parks, and recreation
• Health care
• Social services
• Internet connectivity
• Housing and shelter
• Clean water, air, and infrastructure
• Waste management and sanitation
• Economic and workforce development
• Energy use

The new Mayors Challenge builds on more than 10 years of work led by Bloomberg Philanthropies to discover, nurture, and drive innovation in cities. The Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge has provided 38 winning cities with funding and technical assistance to realize their ideas for addressing civic issues across five rounds of the competition. Expanding the impact of the Mayors Challenge, to date Bloomberg Philanthropies has supported the replication of the most successful winning ideas to 337 other cities globally, reaching over 100 million residents around the world.

"With Bloomberg Philanthropies' support, Bogota's Care Block program has been strengthened, allowing us to reach the caregivers who need our support the most," said Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán Pachón of Bogotá, Colombia. "This initiative is having an extraordinary impact locally, and has already become a global model for cities eager to reimagine their care economy. I urge other mayors, in Colombia and beyond, to participate in this new competition-in partnership with residents-to achieve the same transformative delivery of services that our city, and so many others around the world, are now able to implement." Learn more about Bogotá, Colombia's winning Mayors Challenge project, Care Blocks, here.

"With the devastating impacts of deforestation, we needed a bold intervention to make lasting, sustainable change for the residents who call Freetown home," said Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr of Freetown, Sierra Leone. "We have been fortunate to partner with Bloomberg Philanthropies through its Mayors Challenge program to pioneer a new initiative that is reducing the risk of disasters and improving our community's relationship with the environment. I encourage every mayor and city leader to take part in the new competition, and to show your city the potential of what a municipality-with innovative support from philanthropy-can do." Learn more about Freetown, Sierra Leone's winning Mayors Challenge project, Freetown the Treetown, here.

"Since winning the Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge, Pay It Forward has not just helped supply millions in aid - but it has brought our neighbors together around shared missions and concerns," said Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu of Istanbul, Turkey. "The impact of this work continues to grow - from pandemic needs to national earthquake relief - and the program's support has enabled our city hall team to continually innovate to meet emerging challenges. Every mayor looking to improve their city should join Bloomberg Philanthropies' Mayors Challenge movement and advance solutions for residents that only a mayor-and municipality-truly can." Learn more about Istanbul, Turkey's winning Mayors Challenge project, Pay It Forward, here.

"Today in Rochester, Minnesota, BIPOC women make up 13 percent of the population, yet fill less than 1 percent of available construction jobs," said Mayor Kim Norton of Rochester, Minnesota. "Where others saw a barrier, we saw an opportunity to address longstanding disparities and to meet the needs of industries that are critical to Rochester's economy. Because of Bloomberg Philanthropies' Mayors Challenge, our city was able to realize this vision. I urge other mayors looking to address complex challenges with creativity and ambition to make the effort and participate-and achieve more than your city, today, may even think is possible." Learn more about Rochester, Minnesota's winning Mayors Challenge project, Equity in the Built Environment, here.

"Being a Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge-winning city has enabled our city to reshape its agriculture industry and economy-for our farmers' and residents' benefit," said Mayor Ronnie Vicente C. Lagnada of Butuan, Philippines. "This is a dynamic, global program that provides cities with what they need-but can rarely find elsewhere-support, expertise, and technical assistance to pursue our ambitions and deliver for our communities. Every mayor aiming to reach higher in service of their residents should participate in Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge and join the growing network of city leaders looking to better their communities and the world." Learn more about Butuan, Philippines, winning Mayors Challenge project, Agriboost, here.

With the expansion of the Bloomberg Cities Idea Exchange, future Mayors Challenge-winning ideas and other locally-led solutions supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies will have new potential to scale-serving as models and catalysts for how governments solve problems across the globe.

Photos of previous Mayors Challenge winning solutions, courtesy of Bloomberg Philanthropies, are available for media use here.

Photos of Bloomberg CityLab 2024, courtesy of Bloomberg Philanthropies, are available for media use here.

About Bloomberg Philanthropies: 
Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on creating lasting change in five key areas: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg's giving, including his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a philanthropic consultancy that advises cities around the world. In 2023, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $3 billion. For more information, please visit  bloomberg.org, sign up for our newsletter, or follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, Facebook, and X.

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Sam Fuld, [email protected]

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