ThinkQuest NYC 2008 - Specical Awards
The Founder's Award

Background: This award is designed to honor the team that creates the best website that supports a charitable organization.

The number of charities in the US is growing at unprecedented rates. In the past few years, the number of not-for-profit organizations increased more than 150 percent (from 608,000 in 98 to more than 1,540,000 in 2005).

This growth means that charities need to compete very hard for needed dollars and that it is more difficult than ever for them to establish clear identities.

Also, donors are doing more research into organizations. Before giving money, Americans want to know and understand the organization’s mission, how their funds will be used and the results the organization has achieved to date.

Our award is to honor the website that best represents a charitable organization and helps it to achieve it’s goals. The website has to clearly convey the organization’s mission, help people understand why the mission is crucial and tell potential donors why the organization’s services are worth sponsoring. The ability for those interested to donate their resources (time or money) via the website will be given extra points.

Eligibility: Team eligibility is the same as the ThinkQuest New York City Internet Challenge, with participation limited to teams in Division 2. (grades 7-9).

Judging: Judging will follow the rubric of the ThinkQuest New York City Internet Challenge and supplementary requirements for this special award.

Project Description: Students are encouraged to use the power of technology to teach others about charitable causes. Teams may consider any charitable organization including community organizations, charitable foundations, schools, churches, cooperatives or other.

Prizes: Each member of the winning team will receive a new laptop computer. The coach or coaches will receive Best Buy gift certificates totaling $1,000. the winning school will receive a Best Buy gift certificate for $1000.

Other considerations: Only one TQNY team will receive the Founder’s Award. A team that receives the Founder’s Award is not eligible to win a ThinkQuest New York City first place award within its judging division although it may be considered for both.

Click here for the complete list of TQNYC’s Competition Rules.