Pencils of Promise: What’s Your Impossible?

In 2008, when Pencils of Promise was founded with just $25 and the goal of building one school, people said it was impossible. Three years later, they have built more than 50 schools in Guatemala, Laos, and Nicaragua. Pencils of Promise believes that achieving the Impossible is in fact very possible. In the spirit of overcoming the Impossible, they’re launching a big campaign, The Impossible Ones, and a call to the public to overcome your Impossible.

What’s a goal you’ve always wanted to achieve or a challenge you’ve always wanted to overcome? Tell us your Impossible, how you plan to achieve it, and how you will inspire others by achieving your Impossible. If your idea resonates with the GOOD community and wins the most votes, you’ll receive a $500 grant to implement your Impossible and film it!

PoP supporters have already pledged big Impossibles like jumping out of a plane in order to raise $25,000 to build a school, and biking across the country in order to raise $10,000 to build a classroom. Now it’s your turn: share your idea for your Impossible and how you would use $500 to overcome it!

Submit an idea from June 13 to July 12 (noon Pacific Time). Our judges will select which applicants will pass to the voting round. From July 12 to July 25, we’ll open it up to public voting. Rally your colleagues and friends to get behind your effort and join the public in selecting the winner.

Connect with this challenge on Twitter @GOODmkr and @PencilsofPromis via #impossible and on Facebook.

Submission tips:

• Include a photo or video that represents your idea. Photos should be in JPG, PNG, or GIF format, at least 570 × 345 pixels and no larger than 10MB. To include a video, use a YouTube URL.
• Be sure to clearly explain what your Impossible is, how you would use the $500 to achieve it, and how you will inspire others by achieving your Impossible.
• If you have any questions, please review these FAQs or send us an email at maker@goodinc.com.

• This Challenge is open for submissions from June 13 to July 12 (noon Pacific Time). US-based individuals, groups and nonprofits are eligible to apply. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.
• Projects will be featured on this page and public voting will be open from July 12 to July 25 (noon Pacific Time).
• The project with the most votes will win a $500 grant to implement and film their Impossible.
• In order to vote, log in with your GOOD account. If you don’t have a GOOD account, it’s free to join. All you need is an email address or a Facebook account to register. You will be emailed a link that you need to click in order to validate your address.
• Read all the rules.