Organization · Grant Maker
The Yass Prize
The Yass Prize, initiated by the Yass Foundation for Education, recognizes and supports innovative education providers for Pre-K to 12th grade in the U.S. It has evolved into an annual awards initiative distributing millions in grants to promote student-centered learning.
Overview
What The Yass Prize does
What The Yass Prize is
The Yass Prize, initiated by the Yass Foundation for Education, recognizes and supports innovative education providers for Pre-K to 12th grade in the U.S. It has evolved into an annual awards initiative distributing millions in grants to promote student-centered learning.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports grantor capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Grant Maker
- Founded
- Founded in 2021
- Approximate age
- About 5 years
- Structured capabilities
- Grantor
- Last reviewed
- April 25, 2026
Official channels
Find The Yass Prize elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
The Yass Prize as a grantor
Grant thesis
The Yass Prize celebrates and rewards innovative education providers committed to Sustainable, Transformational, Outstanding, and Permissionless education principles. It aims to fuel and connect education leaders to elevate the next generation of education changemakers.
Focus narrative
The Yass Prize invests in education providers that embody the STOP principles, focusing on innovative education models that offer families meaningful choices. Through financial support and knowledge-sharing, the initiative seeks to identify and elevate education changemakers.
Value and support
Beyond funding, the Yass Prize offers knowledge-sharing, networking opportunities, and practical guidance through its accelerator program, enhancing the impact of education providers.
Grant economics
- Grant range
- $1,000,000
- Typical grant
- $1,000,000
- Dilutive
- No
- Nonprofit only
- No
Availability
- Application state
- Accepting
- Application cycle
- annual
Eligibility and fit
- Audience
- Founders
- Sectors
- Education
- Regions
- United States
Process and recipient context
Application process
Applications for the Yass Prize can be submitted through the Yass Prize Application portal. The initiative also hosts an annual accelerator program for semifinalists, providing them with guidance to enhance their impact and prepare for final pitches.
Recipient context
Notable recipients of the Yass Prize include the Discovery Center of Springfield, awarded a $1 million prize for transformative educational practices, and the Chesterton Schools Network, winner of the 2025 $1 million Yass Prize.
Common questions
What to know about The Yass Prize
Upseed classifies The Yass Prize under the Grant Maker organization type. Its current public profile includes grantor capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
April 25, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.