The Ivory Prize
The Ivory Prize identifies and elevates promising solutions to housing affordability. Through national recognition and ongoing support, we help innovative organizations grow their impact and spread practical ideas to more communities.
The Ivory Prize is awarded annually in three areas of focus that encompass challenges facing the housing industry:
- Construction & Design
- Finance
- Policy & Regulatory Reform
Nominations
Each year, the Ivory Prize solicits over 200 nominations. These nominations are a mix of third-party nominations, self-nominations, and nominations sourced by our team of student associates at the University of Utah.
Winners are selected via a three-phase judging process which takes place between January and May of each year. Our team of staff and student associates supports our Advisory Board with research and diligence on each nominee. Final selections are made by our Advisory Board, which is made up of housing experts from industry and academia.
Winners in each category join a prestigious cohort of the nation's top housing innovators, and receive up to $100,000 in prize money.
Previous Ivory Prize WinnersSelection Timeline
Contending nominees are updated of their status after each round of the selection process.
September 2026
Ivory Prize nominations open
Oct. 30, 2026
Ivory Prize nominations close at noon, MST
January 2027
Top 25 Finalists announced
May 11, 2027
Ivory Prize Winners & Runners-Up announced
1,200+
nominees evaluated
8 years
of recognition
197
winners and finalists
$2 million+
awarded to winners
Ivory Prize Sponsors & Supporters
The Ivory Prize is generously supported by our Innovators Circle and Legacy Partners. Our sponsors range from corporate entities to philanthropic individuals who share our vision for recognizing and supporting groundbreaking ideas and solutions. We're grateful for their ongoing support.
Ivory Prize winners receive:
Exposure & Access
Finalists are featured in national press coverage, newsletters, and social media campaigns. They also gain access to exclusive speaking opportunities at industry events including panels, conferences, and pitch competitions.
High-Quality Connections
We provide tailored introductions to potential funders, strategic partners, and customers through our national network. We also leverage our connections in Utah to support opportunities for finalists to scale their innovations in our home state.
Pro Bono Assistance
Finalists receive pro bono consulting support from the Ivory Innovations team, including help with go-to-market strategy, customer discovery, and vision or KPI development — based on organizational needs and team capacity.
Sponsored Summer Interns
Where interests and expertise align, finalists are matched with a sponsored summer intern through our student associate program at the University of Utah.
Financial Support
The Ivory Prize awards hundreds of thousands of dollars annually in unrestricted grants to the winning innovators.
Ivory Prize FAQs
Is my organization eligible for the Ivory Prize?
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Organizations within the United States are eligible for the Ivory Prize. The criteria for selection for the Ivory Prize are innovation, scalability, and impact on housing affordability. Any organization that demonstrates these elements will be evaluated equally, regardless of size, business type, or other factors. Nonprofits, academic institutions, government agencies, for-profit organizations and more are encouraged to apply.
What if my organization doesn’t fit perfectly into one of the three areas of focus?
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We know that innovation comes in many forms and that a diverse array of solutions is necessary to ensure that high-quality housing is affordable and accessible to all Americans. Our three areas of focus — Construction & Design, Finance, and Policy & Regulatory Reform — represent our best attempt at categorizing the key challenges facing the housing industry such that the Ivory Prize can recognize and support models that address these challenges. Some nominees may not fit perfectly into one (or any) of our areas of focus. In these instances, our team will select the area of focus which we deem to be the best fit.
Can I nominate my own organization?
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Yes. Many of our past winners were self-nominated. Once submitted, all nominations are evaluated equally, regardless of who submitted them.
Can I attend the Ivory Prize Summit?
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Ivory Prize Winners & Runners-Up attend the summit, and entrepreneurs, policymakers, developers, researchers, and all those interested in having a positive impact on housing affordability are invited to attend as well. This event is held annually in the fall at varying locations. Check our website for the most up-to-date information.
Is anything expected of Ivory Prize nominees?
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The aim of the Ivory Prize is to elevate and highlight the most innovative, impactful, and scalable solutions in housing affordability. As such, we ask that all Winners and Runners-Up attend and participate in our annual Ivory Prize Summit. The summit brings together an audience of peers, industry experts, and media, amplifying and celebrating strides being made in the housing affordability sphere. This is an opportunity for Ivory Prize Winners and Runners-Up to step into the spotlight and be publicly recognized for their contributions.
We also ask that Winners and Runners-Up display supplied Ivory Prize verbiage and graphics prominently on their website and other relevant materials to help spread awareness of their achievement and the broader mission of the Ivory Prize.
What do Ivory Prize Winners receive?
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Winners in each category are awarded up to $100,000. Primary expenses are also covered to attend the Ivory Prize Summit. More details are shared with nominees as the competition progresses.