Application Deadline:
4 December 2026
About Organisation
The Auschwitz Pledge Foundation is an organisation working to promote awareness, empathy and action against discrimination and indifference. Through the Erase Indifference initiative, the Foundation seeks to encourage individuals and institutions to recognise discrimination, challenge social passivity and take meaningful action to build more inclusive communities.
Its work focuses on the role of bystanders and the wider public in responding to discriminatory behaviour. Rather than concentrating exclusively on direct assistance to people experiencing discrimination, the initiative highlights projects that encourage communities to recognise harmful behaviour, intervene constructively and develop a stronger culture of solidarity.
About the Grant
The Erase Indifference Challenge 2026 is a global initiative recognising and rewarding projects that have already taken concrete steps to reduce indifference towards discrimination.
The challenge aims to identify innovative, imaginative and measurable initiatives that have demonstrated real-world impact in encouraging people to respond to discrimination rather than remain passive observers. It welcomes projects addressing different forms of discrimination, including racism, antisemitism, religious discrimination, misogyny, discrimination against migrants and refugees, and discrimination against LGBTQ+ people.
The programme places particular emphasis on initiatives that engage bystanders—the people who witness discriminatory behaviour but may not necessarily intervene. Projects may use education, public campaigns, community engagement, creative communication, digital platforms, advocacy and other approaches to encourage empathy and active participation.
A total of €90,000 will be distributed among eight selected initiatives. One initiative will receive the main award of €20,000, while seven additional initiatives will receive €10,000 each.
The awards recognise work that has already demonstrated tangible outcomes. Applicants are therefore expected to provide evidence of their initiatives’ impact rather than submit proposals based entirely on future plans. Award recipients will not be required to spend the money on a prescribed set of activities, and the award does not impose ongoing project implementation or reporting requirements.
Who can Apply?
The Bridging Narratives Grant is open to applicants from around the world, including India. This opportunity is available to journalists and researchers from all career stages, including academic staff, independent researchers, PhD students, and early-career scholars. The project encourages applications from those engaged with critical issues related to migration, political economy, ecology, and culture, though other relevant themes are also welcome. Both individual and joint applications are accepted. Individual applicants will be paired with a researcher after pitch submission, while journalist-researcher teams can submit joint proposals. Applicants must be committed to collaborative work that merges academic research with investigative journalism to produce impactful, people-centered stories.
How to Apply?
Interested organisations should first review the official Challenge Manual, eligibility conditions and frequently asked questions available on the Erase Indifference website.
Applicants must complete the online application form in English, describing the initiative, the form of discrimination or indifference it addresses, its approach to engaging bystanders and the results achieved so far.
The application should demonstrate the initiative’s measurable social impact through relevant evidence, such as documented outcomes, participation figures, evaluations, media coverage or other supporting information. Applicants are encouraged to review the preview of the application questions and prepare their responses before completing the online form.
Only one project application is permitted per team. A successful submission generates a confirmation email to the applicant’s registered email address.
Shortlisted finalists will be invited to individual online meetings with the Foundation team and external experts from the Challenge Committee. These discussions will help assess the initiative’s approach, results and potential impact.
Application Deadline
The application deadline is 4 December 2026
Last Date To Apply
For more information, please visit the grant website here.
