Keeping up with the Jones Prize: New award champions leaders in philanthropy

A new award named in honour of an Institute for Private Investors member aims to be for young philanthropists what the Nobel Prize was for Mother Theresa.

The Dennis M Jones Family Foundation and the institute have launched the inaugural Jones Prize in Philanthropy. The prize of a $25,000 grant will be given to a charity that has been aided by the efforts of an individual, under the age of 40, who has demonstrated exceptional work in philanthropy.

The prize will be awarded at the IPI's 25th anniversary event in New York on 24 May 2017.

The Jones Prize was dedicated to American pharmaceutical businessman Dennis Jones (pictured), a 15-year member of the institute, and his family foundation will fund the award.

Jones “believed the call to giving and service was the highest honour,” the foundation said.

The prize will be given in the spirit of:

·         Inspiring personal giving and volunteering: Jones wanted to lift up young philanthropists whose passion is helping others, not only monetarily, but with their time.

·         Neediest cases: The foundation's trustees encourage all applicants, particularly those involved in education, helping veterans, aiding the homeless, and fighting poverty.

“In the same way the Nobel Prize honoured Mother Theresa for her work with the poor or the way the Queen honoured U2 singer Bono for his work in Africa, the goal of the Jones Prize is to lift up and inspire the spirit of giving,” Niall Gannon, IPI member, private wealth manager and author, said in a video announcing the launch of the prize.

Candidate must be under the age of 40 to be eligible. Complete the nomination form here.

Applications close on 14 April 2017.