We’re here to transform the world, one joyful moment – and one elevated city – at a time.
Elevate Cities is a joyful initiative born from The Elevate Prize Foundation. We partner with cities worldwide to celebrate local changemakers, spark belonging, and build the lasting infrastructure for transformation.
GET INVOLVEDRooted in the Power of “Making Good Famous”
The Elevate Prize Foundation has invested over $48M in over 150 social entrepreneurs across 144 countries, generating 31B+ media impressions by proving that recognition and storytelling accelerate good. The Elevate Prize Catalyst Award has also honored visionary leaders with established platforms who are transforming communities across the globe, like Malala Yousafzai, Matt Damon, and Trevor Noah. The Elevate Prize has proven that when you make heroes impossible to miss, communities wake up to their own possibility.
Elevate Cities brings that same spirit home: to the streets where lives change, to the neighbors who create it, and to the civic moments that make it last.
Now in its sixth year, Elevate Prize Foundation has had an incredible impact.
CHECK IT OUTThe Good-Vibes-to- Lasting-Change Movement
Real transformation doesn’t happen in boardrooms. It happens when a teenager starts believing their neighborhood matters. When a city council meeting feels like a block party. When doing good becomes as irresistible and satisfying as a Café Cubano on Sunday morning.
In essence, we celebrate what makes each place special while building the relationships and rituals that keep community alive long after the spotlight fades.
SEE MIAMI LEAD THE WAY1 Inspire
Good should feel magnetic. We spark unforgettable moments of joy — citywide celebrations, surprise moments, and stories that stir pride and possibility.
2 CONNECT
We bring together changemakers, leaders, and everyday heroes through experiences that turn strangers into neighbors and neighbors into unstoppable allies.
3 Celebrate
We put hometown heroes under the brightest lights — with awards, storytelling, and moments so iconic they become part of a city’s heartbeat.
4 Activate
We co-create the infrastructure for lasting change — coalitions, playbooks, shared tools, and rhythms that help cities become legendary versions of themselves, long after the party ends.
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OUR CITIES
From one joyful moment to the next, Elevate Cities is expanding across the map — turning local sparks into a shared global glow. Miami leads the charge, Boston is on deck, and the story of what’s possible is still being written.
MIAMI
Explore now
BOSTON
COMING SOON
MORE CITIES
COMING SOON
The People Making Good Contagious
Visionaries shaping the strategic direction of Elevate Cities and amplifying our impact across the world.
Joseph Deitch
FOUNDER
Kim Coupounas
CEO
Visionary entrepreneur and philanthropist dedicated to amplifying social impact leaders globally and making good famous. Joseph gets heroes the recognition and support they deserve so communities can flourish.
A systems-change leader who’s spent decades proving that transformation happens when you combine big vision with deep community love, Kim has spent her career working to advance a more equitable and regenerative world. She believes cities are where change gets personal, and getting personal changes the world.
Supported by Leaders Who Know That Real Change Starts at Home
Light up your city
Every person has the power to shape the soul of their city — to lift its spirit and remind us what’s possible when we build together. Whether you’re leading change, creating beauty, shaping policy, or cheering from the sidelines — you belong in this movement.
Changemakers
You’re already transforming your city.
Connect with others doing the same — share your story, amplify your impact, and join a community that celebrates you.
Civic Leaders
You have the power to shape policy and place.
Partner with us to create civic moments that build trust, spark pride, and show that massive change is possible when we work together.
Believers: Ambassadors, Partners, and Supporters
You want to spread love for your city.
Channel your local pride into action. Your input fuels storytelling and measurable impact, helping us spotlight local changemakers and spread this model to cities worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Elevate Cities?
Elevate Cities is a new global movement that celebrates local changemakers, sparks civic pride, and builds belonging through joyful, city-led activations. Each city becomes a stage for what’s working — and a model for how communities can thrive together.
How does Elevate Cities choose which cities to partner with?
We look for cities with vibrant civic spirit, strong local partners, and a readiness to collaborate. Our first city, Miami, launches in Fall 2025, followed by Boston in 2026. Each city’s selection is shaped by both local energy and the potential for global resonance.
What makes Elevate Cities different from other civic initiatives?
We center joy as a strategy for change. Rather than focusing on what’s broken, we amplify what’s already working — using celebration, storytelling, and civic connection to strengthen the fabric of a city from within.
How does the model work?
Each Elevate City combines local ownership with global support. We partner with trusted community anchors, creative and civic institutions, and a network of global advisors who bring resources, visibility, and shared learning to every city that joins.
Who are your partners?
Our founding partner is the Elevate Prize Foundation. Each city also collaborates with local anchors — such as community foundations, universities, and cultural leaders — who bring deep local roots and help tailor the model to their city’s unique soul.
How can my city get involved?
We’re expanding city by city, with thoughtful attention to local readiness and partnerships. If you believe your city is ready to be elevated, reach out via our contact page, and sign up for our [newsletter] to hear when new cities are announced.
What kinds of programs or events do you create?
Each Elevate City hosts a signature celebration that spotlights local changemakers, plus ongoing activations — from storytelling events to community challenges — that make civic pride visible and contagious.
What types of changemakers do you celebrate?
We honor people and organizations creating tangible, positive impact — educators, artists, entrepreneurs, organizers, and everyday citizens who are strengthening their communities from the ground up.
What role do young people play in this movement?
Students and emerging leaders are integral to the Elevate Cities model. In each city, we engage young changemakers to help design, shape, and lead local programming, fostering the next generation of civic innovators.
What’s the long-term vision for Elevate Cities?
To create a global network of connected, purpose-driven cities that inspire one another — proving that joy, pride, and belonging can be catalysts for systemic change. Over time, each city’s playbook and lessons learned will help others around the world rise together.
How can my city get involved?
We’re building our network city by city, with careful attention to local partnerships and civic readiness. Reach out to explore how we might collaborate, and in the meantime, subscribe to our newsletter for updates.
Let’s Build Something Beautiful
Whether you’re leading change, shaping policy, or simply loving your community out loud, there’s a place for you here. Together, we can spark the joy and pride that make cities — and the people in them — shine.
REACH OUTStay Connected to the Magic
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