In June 2016, the MacArthur Foundation launched a high-stakes contest for an incredibly large grant. The big bet competition, called 100&Change, promised $100 million to whatever group could come up with the boldest idea for tackling one of the world's most pressing challenges. 

The winning project saw Sesame Workshop teaming up with the International Rescue Committee in order to create mass media and direct services for refugee children that addresses their unique educational and emotional needs. Picked from over 1,900 applications, other proposals sought to tackle issues such as neonatal health, river blindness, malnutrition, the millions of uninsured Americans, and much more.  

Proposals submitted by architects include Architects for Society's project for a rapidly deployable, dignified shelter for disaster relief; Gensler's and Skid Row Housing Trust's work on using prefabrication to deliver effective, streamlined solutions to homelessness; and Miller Design Group's approach to addressing climate change through combatting sprawl, amongst others. 

The inaugural grant was successful, helping to tackle a critical and underfunded cause. The competition also lead the the creation of a proposal bank, allowing other deep-pocketed funders to find nonprofits and projects able to absorb large amounts of money. So, the Foundation has decided to kick off a second round.

Applications will be accepted starting in April, and the winner will be announced Fall of 2020. The Foundation's new nonprofit arm, Lever for Change, will oversee the competition as well as create additional avenues for large-scale philanthropy, such as their partnership with the organization Earth's Call, which will commit $50 million to invest in ideas addressing climate change. 

While the MacArthur Fellows Program—which has given grants to professionals such as Ada Louise Huxtable, Samuel Mockbee, Jeanne Gang, and most recently, Kate Orff—invests in individual potential, 100&Change is looking to put money into problems that can only be solved if they receive large-scale, focused attention and resources. With many of the issues today centering around housing and climate change, architects are well-positioned to bring their talents.