The 2025 Challenge - Global Mayors Challenge

A banner for the 2025 Global Mayors Challenge depicting three images of teachers educating their students. It reads, "Core city services, reimagined."

The 2025 Global Mayors Challenge 

Helping cities reimagine a core resident-facing service



Applications must focus on a "core city service," which we define as citywide, resident-facing, and that falls under municipal authority.

Bloomberg Philanthropies and its advisory council will select 25 winners based on three key criteria: 

  1. Novelty

  2. Potential for impact

  3. Ability to deliver 

In most cities, core city services include many of the following:

An icon of a bus.

Public transportation

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Public education

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Public safety

An icon of a tree.

Public libraries, parks, & recreation

An icon of a first aid kit.

Healthcare

An icon of an out-stretched hand touching a heart.

Social services

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Internet connectivity

An icon of a house.

Housing and shelter

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Clean water, air, & infrastructure

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Waste management and sanitation

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Energy use

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Economic and workforce development

The 2025 Competition Overview

A decorative timeline of the 2025 Global Mayors Challenge.

Application Phase

Cities apply to the Global Mayors Challenge by submitting a well thought through and novel idea for significantly improving a “core city service."

From Good to Great

50 cities are selected as finalists and participate in design, prototyping, and implementation coaching. They receive $50,000 to strengthen their idea.

Winning Cities Phase

25 cities are selected from the finalist pool as winners and receive $1 million in funding, dedicated project staff, and robust implementation support to launch their idea.