2023 Gold Futures Challenge
OFFICIAL RULES
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. NO ENTRY FEE.
COMMON TERMS USED IN THESE RULES: These are the official rules (“Official Rules”) that govern how the Gold Futures Challenge Grants Challenge will operate (“Contest”). In these rules, “we,” “our,” and “us” refer to Asian American Futures (“AAF”) and Gold House (“GH” and together with AAF, “Gold Futures Challenge”) and any other agents or affiliate organizations acting on our behalf in conjunction with this Contest. The “Applicant” refers to organization submitting applications as described below in addition to individuals submitting applications or otherwise representing Applicants in conjunction with this Contest.
BY PARTICIPATING IN THE CONTEST, THE APPLICANT BECOMES A PARTICIPANT AND AGREES TO THESE RULES AS WELL AS OTHER APPLICABLE TERMS AND THE PRIVACY POLICY AVAILABLE AT WWW.GOLDFUTURESCHALLENGE.ORG OR OTHERWISE COMMUNICATED TO APPLICANTS. IN ADDITION, THE APPLICANT UNDERSTANDS AND AGREE THAT THE APPLICANT’S APPLICATION AND PERSONAL OR ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION COLLECTED FROM THE APPLICANT MAY BE STORED BY GOLD FUTURES CHALLENGE AND THAT THE APPLICANT MAY BE CONTACTED IN CONNECTION WITH THIS CONTEST OR RELATED EFFORTS BY GH, AAF, OR OTHER AFFILIATED ENTITIES. PARTICIPATION IN THE CONTEST CONSTITUTES THE APPLICANT’S FULL AND UNCONDITIONAL AGREEMENT TO AND ACCEPTANCE OF THESE OFFICIAL RULES AND REGULATIONS (“OFFICIAL RULES”).
The Gold Futures Challenge (the “Contest”) is an online grant contest that involves both evaluation by the Gold Futures Challenge Selection Committee and public vote to determine the Contest winners. In order to participate in the Contest, applicants must submit ideas, concepts, images, designs, and/or other materials and information, as described in detail below (collectively, the “Application”), to the Gold Futures Challenge in accordance with the terms and conditions specified herein (such applicants become “Participants”).
All Applications received will be evaluated by the Gold Futures Challenge to ensure compliance with Contest rules. Those Applications found to be in compliance with the Contest rules will be posted for public view on www.goldfutureschallenge.org (the “Contest Site”) after the voting period closes. Gold Futures Challenge reserves the right to display or take down Applications as it sees fit.
All Applications found to be in compliance with the Contest rules will be reviewed for rules compliance and then evaluated by the committee selected by the Gold Futures Challenge team. The Selection Committee will review Applications and choose ten (10) Finalists. Finalists will then advance to the Public Voting Period. The Finalist that receives the greatest number of valid online votes (first place) will receive a grand prize of $100,000 for a one-year period. The second and third place Finalists will receive a grant of $75,000, the fourth, fifth, and sixth place will receive $50,000, and the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth place Finalists will receive $25,000. Organizations will be given the entire fund amount at the beginning of the grant period. In regards to reporting, organizations will provide a short verbal report at the beginning of the granting period, a short video report six months into the granting period, and a final report at the end of the grant period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Gold Futures Challenge retains final control and authority regarding approval of such grants.
The Contest is open to non-profit organizations, fiscally sponsored projects, and authorized government agencies that operate in the United States (each an “Authorized Organization”). At this time, we are only granting to organizations based in the Continental U.S. (including the District of Columbia, Hawaii and Alaska). Additionally, we do not grant to organizations whose work predominantly benefits individuals or communities outside the United States or organizations that are located outside of the Continental U.S. Individuals may not enter in their individual capacity. Any person submitting an Application on behalf of an eligible organization or under whose authority that person is acting must have the express permission of that organization to enter this Contest and bind the organization to these Official Rules and is solely responsible for confirming that the Application itself and receipt of grants (if selected) complies with all legal or other requirements. All voters in the Contest must be residents of the fifty United States, United States Territories or the District of Columbia who are fourteen (14) years of age or older at the beginning of the Contest Period (defined below). Although Gold Futures Challenge may use mechanisms to verify the eligibility of Participants, voters, and Winners (defined below), Gold Futures Challenge is under no obligation to verify the eligibility of any particular Participant, voter, or Winner or to take any corrective action as a result of such verification of eligibility.
Gold Futures Challenge, in its sole and absolute discretion, will make the final determination as to which Participants and Applications are accepted and are eligible to take part in the Contest, to be considered for inclusion in the Voting Period and on the Site, and/or to receive any Grant.
The full Contest Period begins at (time) 9:00 AM ET on May 15, 2023 (the first date and time Applications may be submitted) and ends at 11:59 PM ET on June 15, 2023 (the last date and time the Winner [defined below] may be selected) (the “Contest Period”). As set forth below, the Contest Period includes three separate stages: one period in which Applications are submitted (the “Application Period”), followed by a second period in which the selection committee will select approved Applications to be finalists in (the “Evaluation Period”), and finally, a third period when members of the general public can vote on the entries (the “Public Voting Period”).
The Application Period begins at 9:00 AM ET on May 15, 2023 and ends at 11:59 PM ET on June 15, 2023. The Evaluation Period begins at 9:00 AM ET on July 6, 2023 and ends at 11:59 PM ET on August 5, 2023. The Voting Period begins at 9:00 AM ET on August 23, 2023 and ends at 11:59 PM ET on September 26, 2023.
Subject to terms and conditions described herein, all valid Entries that meet the Contest criteria will enter the Evaluation Period.
The ten (10) Applications selected as Finalists will be voted on by the public during the Public Voting Period. Each Application put up for online voting will be recommended to receive a grant. The Finalist that receives the greatest number of valid online votes (first place) will receive a grand prize of $100,000 for a one-year period. The second and third place Finalists will receive a grant of $75,000, the fourth, fifth, and sixth place will receive $50,000, and the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth place will receive $25,000. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Gold Futures Challenge retains final control and authority regarding approval of such grants.
The Winners will be announced by the Gold Futures Challenge on October 12, 2023 at 3 PM ET. Failure to respond to a Finalist or Winner notification within the specified time period or to follow the terms and conditions of these Official Rules may cause Gold Futures Challenge to disqualify a Finalist or Winner (with the Finalist or Winner forfeiting any eligibility for a Grant). In such a case, Gold Futures Challenge may select an alternate Winner from the remaining Finalists.
During the Application Period, prospective Applicants will visit the Site and follow the directions to submit an Application to become a Participant in the Contest. The Applicant’s Application must contain text that describes a project to be carried out for charitable, community, or educational purposes by the Participant.
To be eligible for consideration for posting to the Site for voting, an Application must (i) be submitted through the Site by the end of the Application Period; and (ii) comply with these Official Rules.
Review by the contest administrators, their representatives, or the Gold Futures Challenge Selection Committee, does not relieve Participant from responsibility for compliance with these Official Rules. Participant will have sole liability for all third-party claims relating to or regarding the content of the Application. Applications that do not comply with these Official Rules or that otherwise contain prohibited or inappropriate content as determined by AAF in their sole and absolute discretion may be disqualified at any time without notice.
AAF, Gold House, or other representatives may post submissions on social media channels during the Evaluation Period and the Voting Period but do not guarantee the posting or further distribution of any particular submission.
Applications MUST:
- Be in English;
- Describe an organization that will impact one or more of the four (4) themes (the “Themes”) as described in detail in section eight (8) below;
- Provide a level of detail sufficient to show each of the specific activities to be carried out by the Applicant necessary to achieve the principal goal(s) of the proposal
Applications MUST NOT:
- Suggest legalization of any illegal drugs/activity, prostitution or pornography, or other illegal activities or goods;
- Attempt to influence legislation within the meaning of Internal Revenue Code Section 501(h) or to influence the outcome of any specific election, or overthrow any government;
- Be inconsistent with these Official Rules;
- suggest or encourage the taking up of arms against any person, government, or entity;
- Discriminate against, disparage, or denigrate on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, color, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, gender, sexual orientation, age, record of offenses, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, language, or any other ground prohibited by applicable law;
- Disparage or denigrate a product, service, person, company, or organization including, but not limited to Gold Futures Challenge, its respective organizations, or any other affiliated organization.;
- Encourage the cessation of or act to negatively impact any business, enterprise, or other organization;
- Promote alcohol, illegal drugs or activity, tobacco, firearms/weapons, prostitution, or pornography;
- Contain any profanities, be overtly sexual, suggest an intent to abuse, or contain suggestions of violence;
- Involve religious advocacy or proselytizing, defined as acts and intentions to advance a religious denomination or expand membership or encourage conversion;
- Involve political advocacy such as acts and intentions to advance a particular political party, candidate or to support any particular party, candidate, and/or cause, or to expand membership or to encourage membership for a particular political party, candidate, or lobbying effort or voter registration drive feature or reference any third party;
- Describe an organization that directly or principally benefits a specific individual (as opposed to the identified community or effort described in the Application as a whole);
- Describe an organization with the purpose of re-granting potential Grant funds to another organization(s);
- Describe an organization that is headquartered or based outside of the Continental United States
- Describe an organization whose work principally benefits individuals or communities that are outside of the Continental United States
- Feature any third-party commercial products and/or company trademarks, logos, brands, or endorsements (including but not limited to third-party logos on street scenes, panoramic views, vehicle license plates, or clothing, such as t-shirts or hats); an Application may contain the name and trademark of an organization to be benefited by a Grant, provided prior permission has been obtained from such organization;
- Use individuals’ names, in whole or in part, without permission; or
- Contain materials embodying the names, likenesses, photographs, or other identifying elements of any person, living or dead, without permission. Applications must: (i) be original and of Participant’s own creation, and (ii) not violate the intellectual property, right of publicity, or other proprietary rights of other parties. Once submitted, Applications may be returned and removed from the Contest at the discretion of Gold Futures Challenge. Gold Futures Challenge may, in their sole and absolute discretion, reject, refuse, remove, delete, and/or disqualify or disallow any Application that Gold Futures Challenge, in their sole and absolute discretion, deems inappropriate or otherwise non-compliant with these Official Rules. If Gold Futures Challenge at any time during the Contest Period, receives a complaint (including but not limited to a cease-and-desist letter, general letter of complaint, etc.) alleging intellectual property infringement in an Application, Gold Futures Challenge may, in their sole and absolute discretion, remove such Application from the Site and disqualify the Application without prior notice to Participant.
During the Evaluation Period, Gold Futures Challenge, with the support of an Evaluation Committee, in their sole and absolute discretion, will select ten (10) Applications to be selected as finalists based on the following criteria and and compliance with these Official Rules.
- Advancement of Gold Futures Challenge themes
- Ability for the project to inspire people to become active champions of the AAPI community whether civically or philanthropically
- How innovative the organization is – whether the organization is applying new ideas or approaches to their work
- Ability to successfully implement what it seeks to do in the proposal
- How uniquely suited the organization is to address the issue they are solving
- Overall positive impact in the lives or communities of those being served
- Overall application quality
- Preference may be given to organizations that serve (i) historically underrepresented communities, (ii) organizations, leaders or communities who are often overlooked by traditional forms of philanthropy, (iii) communities with less access to power and opportunity and/or (iv) causes that are harder to fund.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Gold Futures Challenge retains final control and authority regarding approval of such grants. All Finalists will be posted to the Site for voting at the start of the Voting Period. Gold Futures Challenge, in its sole and absolute discretion, will make the final determination as to which Participants and Applications are accepted and are eligible to take part in the Contest, to be considered for inclusion in the Voting Period and on the Site, and/or to receive any Grant. After the culmination of the Contest, Gold Futures Challenge will post on its website all of the Applications that comply with the Official Rules in its sole discretion.
SEEN
Means accurate and meaningful representation for AAPI individuals and communities.
HEARD
Means a strong, unified voice that effectively advocates for AAPI needs and causes.
EMPOWERED
Means ensuring that all AAPIs have the resources and agency to positively affect their own lives and the lives of others.



UNITED
Means a unified, pan-AAPI identity lifting up diverse AAPI ethnic groups and allying with Black, Latino, Indigenous communities and other communities of color.
Individuals who wish to vote for the Contest will be required to follow the directions on the Site in order to place a vote. Each voter may only vote one time per voting period. If Gold Futures Challenge determines, in their sole and absolute discretion, that any Participant or voter has not complied with these Official Rules in any way, then Gold Futures Challenge reserves the right to disqualify any Application(s) or vote(s) that such Participant or voter has submitted and disallow any further participation or voting by such Participant or voter in the Contest.
To ensure a level playing field, Finalists are prohibited from using paid ads to receive votes.
Applicants may designate or solicit donations to its organization or specific individuals or volunteers in conjunction with promoting its Application or voting for its published contest Application. Applicant is wholly responsible for monitoring and establishing compliance with any and all requirements associated with soliciting and receiving donations or volunteer assistance including but not limited to the terms and conditions of payment processor or other donation acceptance platform, tax reporting and other obligations, volunteer liability, activity or other restriction limitations. Gold Futures Challenge, its component organizations, and any other associated entities expressly disclaim any liability for Applicant’s independent solicitation of donations or volunteer assistance.
After the Voting Period has ended, Gold Futures Challenge will review the Applications that received the most valid online votes to be recommended as the Winners and recipients of grant funds. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Gold Futures Challenge retains final control and authority regarding approval of such grants. If there is a tie among the Applications after the Voting Period has ended, Gold Futures Challenge, in their sole and absolute discretion, will review the tied Applications and will break the tie based on the Application that first in time received the highest number of votes during the Voting Period.
Gold Futures Challenge may use any information, whether or not provided in the Applications, to select the Winners, and Gold Futures Challenge’s decisions regarding Winner selection shall be based solely on Gold Futures Challenge’s discretion.
It is possible that two (2) or more Participants will submit Applications that may contain the same or similar ideas. Gold Futures Challenge is under no obligation to review or consider the similarity of other Applications in determining whether or not to accept an Application or in determining the Winners. Gold Futures Challenge’s decisions, in their sole and absolute discretion, are final and binding in all matters relating to the Contest.
AAF will require all Winners to complete winner documents as described in Section 15, such as a grant agreement (“Grant Agreement”), as a condition to receiving any Grant and to avoid disqualification as a Winner. No substitution of a Grant is offered, except at the sole and absolute discretion of Gold Futures Challenge. Any Grant is non-transferable. Neither Gold Futures Challenge nor any other Contest Entity is responsible for a lost or stolen Grant.
There may be some tax implications for the Winner(s). Gold Futures Challenge recommends that Participants review their Application with their legal/tax advisor to determine their potential tax liability, if any, in connection with receiving a Grant as part of the Contest. If there is any tax liability, it will be the sole responsibility of the Winner(s).
Submission of an Application constitutes Participant’s certification that the Application is Participant’s own original work and Participant represents and warrants that the Application does not and will not infringe the intellectual property or proprietary rights of any third party, including, without limitation, any third-party patents, copyrights, or trademarks. By submitting an Application, Participant hereby irrevocably grants Gold Futures Challenge, and their respective successors and assigns an irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sub-licensable (through multiple tiers), and transferable license and right to use, copy, transmit, or otherwise distribute, perform, modify, create derivative works based upon, incorporate into other works, publicly perform, and display the Application or any portion thereof, in or through any medium, whether now known or hereafter created.
Nothing herein will constitute an employment, joint venture, or partnership relationship between Participant and Gold Futures Challenge. Participant also irrevocably grants Gold Futures Challenge, and their respective successors and assigns, where not prohibited by law, an irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide, non – exclusive, royalty -free, sub-licensable (through multiple tiers), and transferable license and right to use the name, voice, likeness, and biographical material of Participant or (if Participant is a group or organization) members of Participant, in any merchandising, advertising, marketing, promotion, press releases, social media, or any other purpose related to the Application and/or Contest or in any other way Gold Futures Challenge or any other Contest Entity deems appropriate. Participant acknowledges that Participant has no right of approval or consultation with respect to Gold Futures Challenge or any other Contest Entity’s use of the Application or the licenses and rights granted above.
After the Finalist Period, Gold Futures Challenge will request from Winners the following items, each with the form and substance to be determined by AAF in their sole and absolute discretion: Grant Agreement for any Grant, in which the Winners will agree, among other conditions, that use of the Grant will be in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
Gold Futures Challenge, in their sole and absolute discretion, may request additional information other than as provided above in accordance with its standard practices and policies. Gold Futures Challenge will notify the Winners by email. Upon email notification, the Winners will provide to Gold Futures Challenge within three (3) days their address(es) and any other information requested by Gold Futures Challenge. Gold Futures Challenge may require a Winner within fourteen (14) days to complete, sign, and return any of the documents listed above, which will be sent to the address(es) provided by the Winners’ Application or by email. If a Winner is under the age of majority in his or her state of residence, Gold Futures Challenge may require the Winner’s parent or guardian to sign and return the documents listed above and other documents related to the Contest.
If a Winner (or a Winner’s parent or guardian, as applicable) is unwilling or unable to sign and return any document listed above within the specified time period, to provide any item set forth in any document listed above within the specified time period, or to otherwise timely comply with these Official Rules, then Gold Futures Challenge may void that Winner’s eligibility as a Winner (with such Winner forfeiting any Grant). In such case, Gold Futures Challenge will not have any further obligation to that Winner or to otherwise award any Grant, but Gold Futures Challenge may, in its sole and absolute discretion, choose an alternate Winner using the same selection method as used to select the forfeited Winner.
In the event of a dispute regarding who submitted an Application, the Application will be deemed submitted by the authorized account holder of the email account specified in the Application. “Authorized account holder” is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider, or other organization (e.g., business, educational institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted email address. It is the sole responsibility of the Participant to notify Gold Futures Challenge in writing if the Participant changes his or her email or postal address during the Contest Period.
By entering the Contest, Participants agree to be bound by these Official Rules. Gold Futures Challenge is not responsible for (i) late, lost, delayed, damaged, postage-due, incomplete, illegible, misdirected, or undeliverable Applications, responses, or other correspondence, whether by email, postal mail, or otherwise; (ii) theft, destruction, unauthorized access to, or alterations of Applications; or (iii) phone, electrical, network, computer, hardware, software program, or transmission malfunctions, failures, or difficulties.
By entering the Contest, Participants further agree to release, indemnify, defend and hold Gold Futures Challenge, and their respective affiliates, subsidiaries, directors, officers, employees, shareholders, sponsors and agents, including advertising and promotion agencies, assignees, and any other organizations related to the Contest, harmless from any and all claims, injuries, damages, expenses, or losses to person or property and/or liabilities of any nature that in any way arise from participation in the Contest or acceptance or use of a Grant, or parts thereof, including, without limitation, (i) any condition caused by events beyond the control of Gold Futures Challenge that may cause the Contest to be disrupted or corrupted; (ii) any injuries, losses, or damages (compensatory, direct, incidental, consequential, or otherwise) of any kind arising in connection with or as a result of a Grant, or acceptance, possession, or use of a Grant, or from participation in the Contest; and (iii) any printing or typographical errors in any materials associated with the Contest. Winners agree to be bound by these Official Rules, and Gold Futures Challenge’ decisions in all respects relative to the Contest are final.
IN NO EVENT WILL CONTEST ENTITIES BE LIABLE TO THE APPLICANT OR ANY PARTICIPANT, VOTER, WINNER, OR PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATION, AS APPLICABLE, FOR ANY DIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOSS OF USE, DATA, BUSINESS OR PROFITS) ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE APPLICANT’S PARTICIPATION IN THE CONTEST,
WHETHER SUCH LIABILITY ARISES FROM ANY CLAIM BASED UPON CONTRACT, WARRANTY, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE, AND WHETHER OR NOT ANY CONTEST ENTITY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH LOSS OR DAMAGE.
Some jurisdictions do not allow the limitation or exclusion of liability for incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to the Applicant.
APPLICATIONS POSTED TO THE SITE ARE NOT NECESSARILY NOR ARE REQUIRED TO BE EDITED BY AAF OR ANY OTHER CONTEST ENTITY. APPLICATIONS ARE THE VIEWS OR OPINIONS OF THE RESPECTIVE PARTICIPANT, AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OR OPINIONS OF GOLD FUTURES CHALLENGE OR ANY OTHER CONTEST ENTITY IN ANY MANNER.
Any waiver of any obligation hereunder by Gold Futures Challenge or any other Contest Entity does not constitute a general waiver of any obligation in favor of Participant(s). If any provision, license, or right in these Official Guidelines is restricted or invalidated by an applicable law or legal judgment, the remainder of these Official Guidelines will be construed so that all other legally permitted provisions, licenses, or rights in these Official Guidelines remain valid and enforceable.
All Applications become property of Gold Futures Challenge and acknowledgement or return are at the discretion of Gold Futures Challenge. Allow 6-8 weeks for delivery of any Grant. Grants will be sent as a wire transfer to the bank provided by Winners and Finalists . Because this Contest is not intended for Participants outside the fifty states of the United States and the District of Columbia, no Grant will be wired to any address outside the fifty states of the United States and the District of Columbia.
Gold Futures Challenge reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, modify, or suspend the Contest, in whole or in part, in the event of fraud, technical or other difficulties, or if the integrity of the Contest is compromised, without liability to Participants or voters. Gold Futures Challenge reserve the right to disqualify any Participant or Winner in their sole and absolute discretion.
The Contest is void where prohibited or restricted by law. The Contest is subject to these Official Rules and all applicable federal, state, provincial, and local laws and regulations. By participating in the Contest, Participants acknowledge that they have read these Official Rules and agree to abide by them and by the decisions of Gold Futures Challenge, which are final and binding on all matters pertaining to the Contest.
These Official Rules are governed by the law of the State of California, excluding rules governing the choice of laws. Any action, suit, or case arising out of, or in connection with, the Contest or these Official Rules must be brought in either the federal or state courts located in Orange County, California.
For the name of the Winner(s) or a copy of these Official Rules, visit the Site www.goldfutureschallenge.org or send a request to [email protected].