Accelerate STEAM Education: The GM Challenge

Accelerate STEAM Education: The 2025 GM Challenge is a competitive funding opportunity jointly presented by General Motors and MIT Solve. General Motors, a leader in automotive innovation and electric vehicle technology, operates a Corporate Giving program with a STEAM education pillar aimed at equipping learners for a rapidly evolving workforce. Their goal is to ensure that individuals from diverse backgrounds are prepared for the technology-driven future. MIT Solve is an initiative of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that facilitates open innovation challenges to source solutions for global problems. Together, these organizations are seeking to identify and support promising initiatives that will expand access to STEAM education and improve career pathways in STEAM fields within the United States. This challenge focuses on innovative solutions that address systemic inequities and improve access to science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics education. Emphasis is placed on interventions that connect learners of all ages with mentors, support educators, improve accessibility for underrepresented groups and individuals with disabilities, and illuminate pathways to STEAM careers, especially those that do not require a traditional four-year degree. Priority is given to solutions that enable learners to build confidence and see themselves in STEAM roles. Solutions using immersive or adaptive technologies are welcomed, but tech enablement is not required. Applicants may include nonprofit, for-profit, or hybrid organizations. There is a preference for nonprofit-led solutions. Ineligible applicants include government or tax-supported entities, faith-based groups applying for religious purposes, political organizations, hospitals, private clubs, and any group that conflicts with GM’s stated values or discriminates unlawfully. While applicants may be based outside the United States, they must currently operate in or plan to deploy their solution within the U.S. Applications must be submitted in English and must demonstrate the potential for tangible implementation and impact. Solutions at all stages of development are welcome—from early concept and prototype through pilot, growth, and scale—so long as applicants can provide evidence of effectiveness or feasibility. Finalists will be selected through a multi-step review process involving MIT Solve, GM, community reviewers, and a judging panel. Up to 12 finalists will be invited to virtual interviews, and up to five winners will be selected. The total prize pool for the Challenge is $250,000, to be divided among the selected winners. Each winning solution will also be enrolled in a six-month support program from January to June 2026, which includes coaching, workshops, and cohort-based activities. Intellectual property rights remain with the applicants, though content submitted through the Solve platform must be appropriately licensed and may be redistributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license. Key dates include an open date of August 18, 2025, and a close date of October 8, 2025, at 12:00 PM EDT. An optional Challenge Information Session is scheduled for September 9, 2025. Finalist selection will occur in late November, followed by interviews in early December, and final award announcements in mid-December 2025. Applications are submitted via MIT Solve’s online platform. No specific individual contact details are provided; applicants should use the Solve website for communication and submission.

Applicants are discouraged from using AI tools for full application writing. Must ensure accurate, genuine content.