HIP-HOP Chance The Rapper Announces $2 Million Funding Challenge to Aid Chicago Youth

Chance the Rapper isn't nearly done. The Chicago MC who has made it his mission to lift up the youth of his hometown in as many ways as he can has come up with yet another initiative to aid Chi town's young people. On the heels of his $1 million donation to Chicago Public Schools, donation of coats to the homeless, a long-running open-mike series for teens and a call-out last month to CPS student filmmakers to help him direct a Jamila Woods video, Chance is once again stepping up to encourage positive action.

On Wednesday (June 14), he announced his participation in the Go Innovation Challenge in coordination with the Chicago Beyond philanthropy fund that seeks creative ideas to make Chicago a more positive place for the city's youth. Chicago Beyond's Liz Dozier was on hand for the announcement of the $2 million challenge from her organization, explaining "we're looking for amazing ideas, programs, approaches to support Chicago's kids."

Chance added that it's "sort of like a think tank of ideas" where participants are encouraged to send in a 90-second video pitch for a chance to earn one of "multiple" sets of $2 million to implement their plans to make Chicago better. The money is coming from Dozier's organization, a non-profit that supports Chicago's youth and she said any ideas from nonprofit organizations on topics including jobs, education or creating safer communities.

Applicants must do the following to qualify: have been in existence (or working with a nonprofit that has been in existence) for three years, provide a new approach or way of solving a complex issue facing Chicago youth, work with young people between 13-25 and produce audited financial reports for the last three years. The initiative is not open to individuals, benefits, annual campaigns or private schools.

The pair took some questions during a Facebook Live session and Chance encouraged submissions, saying participants don't have to be from Chicago. "If we think it's applicable and it works we'll fully fund the idea and see how many people we can help," he said, reading a question from one viewer who asked if opening a free recording studio would be a good idea. [Yes, it would.] "We would love to fund them as long as they positively affect the city of Chicago."

Go to the Chicago Beyond website to submit your idea. The deadline for submissions is July 7. Watch the video announcement below: