The 2025 Challenge - 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 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 


A group of people wearing head scarves and surrounding a water spigot. One of them is holding a plastic bottle underneat the tap.

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

  • Clean water, air, & infrastructure
  • Economic & workforce development
  • Energy use
  • Healthcare
  • Housing & shelter
  • Internet connectivity
  • Public education
  • Public libraries, parks, & recreation
  • Public safety
  • Public transportation
  • Social services
  • Waste management & sanitation

The 2025 Competition Overview

A decorative timeline of the 2025 Global Mayors Challenge.

Application Phase

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

Finalist phase

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.