Guidelines
The INfinity Prize is the first and only competition that focuses on employment social enterprises for Canada’s neurodivergent community.
Total prize package value:
$100,000CAD

The prize will help create employment equity and opportunities, boost awareness and help us take a big step toward creating a more diverse and inclusive society.

Established in 2023 by the Azrieli Foundation, the INfinity Prize recognizes the leadership of Canadian social enterprises that employ people who are neurodivergent.

The INfinity Prize will be awarded to a Canadian social enterprise that has demonstrated best practices for creating meaningful and sustainable employment for neurodivergent people.

 

The prize winner will receive:

  • A $100,000 cash award
  • Up to one hour per week of professional coaching for up to two years
    • Coaching will be provided by outside contractors and will be based on the winner’s needs to scale and/or expand the business successfully
  • In-kind support from the Azrieli Foundation, including:
    • Introductions to experts in different fields
    • Consultations with finance and communications departments
    • Use of office space, if possible, in Toronto or Montreal
    • Networking opportunities
The Infinity Prize
Applicant's Details

Eligibility

 

The INfinity Prize is open to all small- and mid-sized not-for-profit and for-profit employment social enterprises in Canada with fewer than 500 employees and a scalable business model that:

  • Prioritizes the needs of neurodivergent employees by providing them with:
  • Career development opportunities in the competitive labour market
  • Fair wages (minimum wage or greater)
  • Benefits
  • Includes neurodivergent employees as part of decision making for the business
  • Pays remittance to the Canada Revenue Agency
  • Demonstrates a minimum of three years’ revenue and is looking to scale while:
    • Providing quality goods and services as demand increases
    • Maintaining or improving quality goods and services as demand increases
    • Maintaining or improving customer experience
    • Growing by developing new markets

 

Selection Process

 

All judges and reviewers sign a non-disclosure and conflict-of-interest agreement in which they commit to preserving the confidentiality of information received in the course of reviewing applications for the INfinity Prize.

The selection process will consist of three parts.

 

Part 1 – Application process and pre-screening

Online applications are due May 19, 2023, at 11:59 pm.

Submissions are pre-screened by a small team consisting of our staff and two independent external advisors to evaluate:

  • Financial health
  • Economic viability
  • Feasibility of implementation

The top 10 submissions are delivered to the judges for their evaluation.

 

Part 2 – Vetting process

  • The top five applicants will be selected by July 7, 2023
  • Interviews with the judges will be conducted between August 7 and August 18, 2023
  • The top three finalists will be chosen by August 25, 2023

Commentary and feedback will be available to all applicants who enquire.

 

Part 3 – Selection of Winner

The prize recipient will be selected on October 25 or 26, 2023, based on a captivating, interactive “elevator pitch” that each finalist will present to the panel of judges at a publicized event.

 

Competition Timelines

 

Competition timelines

• The INfinity Prize was announced publicly on March 22, 2023, with a call for applications
• Applications are to be completed, through the online accessible platform, by May 19, 2023, at 11:59 pm
• Interviews for the top five applicants will be conducted between August 7 and August 18, 2023
• The winner will be announced during the week of October 23, 2023

 

Obligations

 

In return, the prize winner will:

  • Participate in regular meetings with coaches and Foundation staff
  • Adhere to the principles of inclusive employment. These include giving disabled people:
    • The opportunity to work in the competitive labour market alongside their non-disabled peers
    • Access to the same benefits and career opportunities as all other employees
    • Access to quality employment opportunities, regardless of disability
    • Access to workplace accommodations and the tools needed to succeed
  • Adhere to the principles of meaningful employment. The Azrieli Foundation defines meaningful employment as: Employment that gives employees purpose and allows them to pursue their interests and/or achieve their goals
  • Participate in the Foundation’s Social Enterprise Network and other network-building activities
  • Provide an annual report on operations and finances, and bi-monthly updates on the work with the coach
  • Acknowledge the Foundation for any activities related to, or supported by, the INfinity Prize*

 

*Recognize the Foundation as “The Azrieli Foundation” and/or “La Fondation Azrieli” as appropriate, in accordance with enterprise’s recognition policies, if any, commensurate with all other equivalent donors, in all presentations of the Project in media (whether print, electronic or otherwise), in all of the enterprise’s publications where it would be relevant to do so, and in supporter listings in web and print publications, including the impact report.

 

How to apply for the INfinity Prize

 

All applications must include:

• A completed Eligibility Quiz
• A completed two-part Application Form
• Supporting documents
• A completed Declaration

Download the INfinity Prize Application workbook to begin working on your submission today. All submissions must be received using our online application portal. 

If you require accommodations, please contact us.

 

2023 submissions are now closed
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