On August 13, 2024, Public Interest Registry (PIR), the organization behind the .ORG domain, proudly announced that AIDFI has been selected as a finalist for the 2024 .ORG Impact Awards. This esteemed global awards program honors exceptional mission-driven individuals and organizations worldwide for their significant contributions to society.
Chosen from over 1,700 applications spanning nearly 90 countries, AIDFI stood out for its work in empowering rural communities with technological innovation, social enterprise, and community development, fostering sustainable growth and equity.
According to Auke Idzenga, Co-founder and CEO of AIDFI, “being recognized as a finalist in this prestigious .ORG Impact Awards shows that the holistic community development work of AIDFI in mostly remote upland areas is highly impactful”.
All winners will be revealed at an in-person awards ceremony on October 8 in Washington, D.C. Finalists from around the world will gather for the event, with each receiving a donation of
$2,500 USD. Additionally, all finalists, including AIDFI, will compete for larger donations ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 USD.
The 35 finalists represent the top five entries in each of the seven award categories:
- Community Building
- Quality Education for All
- Environmental Stewardship
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Health and Healing
- Hunger and Poverty
- Rising Stars (leaders under 25 making a difference in their communities)
AIDFI is a finalist in the Community Building category. Winners across all categories, including the prestigious .ORG of the Year, will be announced during the .ORG Impact Awards celebration on October 8. The .ORG of the Year winner will receive a $50,000 USD donation, while winners of the other categories will each receive $10,000 USD. Beyond the financial award, the recognition from the .ORG Impact Awards will help elevate the profiles of winning organizations, boosting donations, funding, talent acquisition, partnership development, and audience reach.