FAQs for Parents and Educators

Questions? We’ve got you covered.

What is the Mott Million Dollar Challenge?

The Mott Million Dollar Challenge: A Pitch Competition for Kids & Teens is a national initiative that invites K-12 students to pitch their best ideas in short video submissions.

It’s designed to:

Celebrate youth creativity
Build problem-solving and communication skills
Give kids and teens a real-world audience and real prizes

Kids and teens will compete for prizes throughout the competition, with a total prize pool of $1 million.

Who is eligible to participate?

Students are eligible if they:

Are in grades K-12 (or the equivalent age range), and
Live in one of the 50 U.S. States or Washington D.C.

Children or legal dependents of employees of the Mott Foundation and certain partner organizations are not eligible to win prizes (full details are listed in the Competition Terms & Conditions).

How much help can I give my child?

You are welcome to:

Help brainstorm and refine ideas
Assist with planning and filming
Support them in meeting deadlines and completing forms

We encourage families to make sure the idea and the voice in the pitch come clearly from the young person. Judges want to hear your child’s thinking and see their creativity, not a script written entirely by adults.

Are there restrictions on how prize money can be used?

There are no strict spending rules, but we strongly encourage families to use prize money in ways that:

Grow the student’s idea or project
Support learning (books, technology, classes, programs)
Build savings for future goals

Prizes above a certain threshold will be distributed to winners through an approved custodial account (preferably into a Qualified Tuition Program (“QTP Account”) established under 26 US Code Section 529 or equivalent) that winners or their parents/guardians create through a reputable financial institution. Regardless whether through a QTP Account or other eligible custodial account, winners or their parents/guardians will be required to submit proof of the custodial account prior to the distribution of any prizes.

Any tax obligations or financial decisions are up to the family. For official requirements and details, please refer to the Competition Terms & Conditions.

Are there tax implications if my child wins?

There may be, depending on the prize amount and your situation.

Families are responsible for:

Any taxes, fees, or bank charges related to prize money
Consulting a tax professional if they have specific questions

Larger prizes may require additional forms or acknowledgments before funds are released. Please see the Terms & Conditions for complete information.

How is my child’s information and video used and protected?

The challenge organizers are committed to handling student information carefully. In general:

Only necessary information is collected (e.g., contact details, grade level).
Data is stored securely and used to run and evaluate the competition.
Some winners’ names, photos, and videos may be shared publicly to celebrate their work.

Full details about data use, privacy and media permissions are provided in the Competition Terms & Conditions.

What is the time commitment?

At a minimum, students will need time to:

Brainstorm and develop an idea
Plan and record a 30-90 second video
Complete a short online entry form

If they move on as finalists, there may be additional time needed for refining ideas, preparing for a live pitch, and participating in the June 2026 celebration event in Flint, Michigan. Please note that in order to continue to the Semi-Final Round, each of the Round 2 winners will be required to attend a Live Pitch Event in Flint, Michigan, with the Semi-Final Round on June 15 and the Final Round on June 16.

FAQs for Parents and Educators

Questions? We’ve got you covered.

Quick Links

Get In Touch