Succeed
    Competition

    Community Projects

    by Future Problem Solving Program International

    A hands-on competition where students research a community issue, implement a solution and document its impact using a six-step problem-solving process.

    Last verified: 3 Aug 2026Reviewed by:BSBen Stacy
    Community Projects

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    Community Projects competition at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility

    Current status

    Upcoming

    Eligibility

    Grades 4-12; coach required

    Age range / Year group

    Ages 9-18

    Location / Region

    Community-based; virtual affiliate

    Cost

    $125 per project

    Prize highlight

    World Finals qualification

    Entry format

    Individual or team project

    Next deadline

    17 September 2026 · Upcoming cycle

    Get next-cycle reminder

    Community Projects competition summary

    Students choose a genuine community problem, research it and use a six-step process to develop a practical response.

    The main challenge is implementation: entrants carry out their action plan, manage obstacles and document what changed.

    It suits students who want a sustained, student-led project combining service, research, teamwork, project management and reflection.

    What is Community Projects?

    Community Projects is a Future Problem Solving competition in which students investigate a genuine issue affecting a community they choose. Entrants move beyond a one-off service activity by researching the context, identifying underlying challenges and designing a structured action plan.

    Students then implement that plan and document their decisions, adaptations and impact through a proposal, report and supporting media. Projects receive rubric-based evaluation, while qualifying affiliate champions can progress to the International Conference.

    Why Succeed highlights Community Projects competition

    • Students choose the issue themselves, giving the project genuine personal and local relevance.

    • The six-step method connects research and creative thinking with practical action.

    • Entrants must implement their ideas, adapt to obstacles and assess real community impact.

    • Proposal, report and multimedia elements develop several forms of communication.

    • Trained evaluators provide rubric-based feedback on student progress and project quality.

    Who is Community Projects competition for?

    Best for

    Students who want to turn a community concern into a sustained, practical project and are comfortable researching, planning and reflecting.

    Not ideal if

    You want a short, prompt-based contest or cannot commit to implementing and documenting a project over several months.

    Is Community Projects competition worth it?

    Community Projects is worthwhile for students who want evidence of sustained initiative rather than another short written entry. The combination of research, action, stakeholder involvement and reflection can create a strong learning experience even without progression to the finals.

    The limitation is the workload: meaningful implementation and careful documentation may take months, and entrants need adult support for registration. Its value therefore depends on choosing an achievable issue that the student genuinely wants to address.

    How much preparation does Community Projects competition need?

    Effort level

    High.

    Best started

    Begin in August or September, several months before the January proposal deadline.

    Main challenge

    Keeping the project achievable while producing evidence of genuine community impact.

    Typical preparation

    • Choose a specific issue and define the community affected.

    • Gather factual information and speak with relevant stakeholders.

    • Use the six-step process to compare solutions before committing to an action plan.

    • Set a realistic implementation timeline and document decisions from the beginning.

    Useful if

    You can meet community stakeholders and work consistently over a school year.

    What do students do on Community Projects competition?

    You take a community issue from initial research through solution design and practical implementation, then communicate the work and its impact to evaluators.

    Step-by-step process

    1. 1

      Identify a real problem or area of concern in a chosen community.

    2. 2

      Research the issue using data, observations and stakeholder perspectives.

    3. 3

      Define an achievable underlying problem and desired outcome.

    4. 4

      Generate possible solutions and evaluate the strongest options.

    5. 5

      Write a proposal containing a structured action plan and timeline.

    6. 6

      Implement the plan, recording obstacles, adaptations and accomplishments.

    7. 7

      Prepare a report and supporting materials that demonstrate progress and impact.

    8. 8

      Submit the work for evaluation and present additional elements if you reach in-person finals.

    Community Projects competition dates and deadlines

    Registration opens

    Early August 2026

    Open Affiliate registration

    Upcoming
    Save deadline

    Coach training

    17 September 2026

    Community Projects training at 9:00 AM ET

    Upcoming
    Save deadline

    Proposal due

    21 January 2027

    Open Affiliate submission

    Upcoming
    Save deadline

    Report and video

    18 March 2027

    Open Affiliate submission

    Upcoming
    Save deadline

    World Finals registration

    1 May 2027

    For invited qualifiers

    Upcoming
    Save deadline

    World Finals

    9-13 June 2027

    Indiana University Bloomington

    Upcoming
    Save deadline

    Eligibility and requirements

    • Grades 4-12, approximately ages 9-18

    • Junior Division: Grades 4-6

    • Middle Division: Grades 7-9

    • Senior Division: Grades 10-12

    • Enter individually or as a team

    • Every entry needs an adult coach or liaison

    • Use Open Affiliate where no suitable local affiliate exists

    • Submit competition work in English

    How much does Community Projects competition cost?

    Open Affiliate project fee

    $125 — Same project price for teams of 1-15

    Potential funding / awards

    • New coach fee: $50
    • Returning coach fee: $40

    What's included

    Programme materials, Coach training sessions, Year-long coach support, Evaluation and feedback on submissions

    How to enter Community Projects competition

    1. 1

      Find a parent, teacher, mentor or other adult to serve as coach.

    2. 2

      Check whether a regional affiliate offers Community Projects.

    3. 3

      Use Open Affiliate if your region lacks an active or suitable affiliate.

    4. 4

      Ask the adult to register as the coach and primary contact.

    5. 5

      Follow the registration instructions sent to register students and the project.

    6. 6

      Use FPSOnline to access materials, submit work and view evaluations.

    Submission requirements

    Requirements can differ at local affiliate level, while the following limits are explicitly published for the main project elements and International Conference.

    • Proposal: maximum 2,000 words

    • Proposal: 12-point non-script font

    • Report: maximum 3,500 words

    • Report: 12-point non-script font

    • Portfolio: 20 double-sided or 40 single-sided pages

    • Electronic portfolio: offline print or compressed PDF

    • Promotional video: maximum 3 minutes

    • World Finals: tabletop display and interview

    Prizes and recognition

    Affiliate champion

    Regional champions may be invited to the International Conference.

    World Finals recognition

    Winners are recognized by programme and division.

    What this may help with

    Demonstrating sustained initiative, problem-solving and community engagement.

    What it does not guarantee

    World Finals qualification or a particular academic outcome.

    Judging criteria

    • Extent to which the project is student-led
    • Quality of project development
    • Clear communication of the project and learning
    • Demonstration of problem-solving skills
    • Meaningful involvement of the community
    • Quality of the proposal, report and supporting materials

    Detailed scoring weightings are not published here.

    How to stand out

    1. Choose a specific problem that matters to a clearly defined community.
    2. Support the initial analysis with both factual data and stakeholder insight.
    3. Show how different perspectives changed your understanding of the issue.
    4. Compare several solutions systematically before selecting the action plan.
    5. Keep a detailed record of setbacks, adaptations and decisions during implementation.
    6. Use concrete evidence to distinguish activity completed from impact achieved.

    Community Projects competition FAQs

    Yes. Students can participate through a school or club, or independently through a regional affiliate. Every individual or team still needs an adult coach or liaison.

    Yes. The general programme permits teams or individual entries. Open Affiliate prices Community Projects for teams of 1-15 students.

    The students choose it themselves. Coaches may help entrants narrow an idea to an achievable scope, but the project should remain student-led.

    Yes. Students develop an action plan, implement it in their community and document progress, obstacles, changes and impact.

    The coach handles registration and communications and supports the learning and competition process. Coaches may be parents, teachers, mentors or other trusted adults.

    Coaches and trained evaluators provide feedback as the project develops. Rubric-based evaluations assess student leadership, communication, problem-solving and community involvement.

    International Conference competitors complete a portfolio, promotional video, tabletop display and interview. Students should check local affiliate requirements separately.

    Yes. Open Affiliate allows virtual participation from regions without an active affiliate and where a local affiliate does not offer the programme.

    Alternatives to Community Projects competition

    Compare these options if you want a different type of problem-solving, writing or entrepreneurship challenge.

    Alternatives to Community Projects competition

    Creative Writing
    Past

    Write an original story from a seasonal topic

    Creative Writing
    Check official page
    Free
    Eligibility not listed

    Best for

    Students who prefer writing to implementation

    View details

    Save this competition in Succeed to compare it with other essay prizes, deadlines and entry formats in one place.

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    Ben Stacy

    Content reviewed by

    Ben Stacy

    Co-founder, Succeed | Former secondary teacher and educational leader

    Ben works at the intersection of education, technology and school adoption, with expertise in how secondary schools evaluate data-driven tools and how education technology is used in practice.

    View author page

    Sources and verification

    Source types reviewed

    • What supporting materials are required for projects? - Future Problem Solving Resource Library
    • What should be included in a project report? - Future Problem Solving Resource Library
    • What should be included in a project proposal? - Future Problem Solving Resource Library
    • What do the Community Projects registration fees cover? - Future Problem Solving Resource Library
    • Quick Start Guide: Community Projects - Future Problem Solving Resource Library
    • Future Problem Solving | Find FPS Near Me
    • Open Affiliate | Future Problem Solving
    • International Conference | Future Problem Solving
    • Problem-Solving Method | Future Problem Solving
    • Real World Issues | Future Problem Solving
    • Community Projects | Future Problem Solving

    Succeed uses official provider information where available, but keeps this public page focused on comparison and planning inside Succeed.

    What we verified (on 3 Aug 2026)

    • Official programme page checked

    • Open Affiliate schedule reviewed

    • Entry fees verified

    • Eligibility reviewed

    • Submission limits checked

    • Assessment process reviewed

    • World Finals pathway checked

    How Succeed uses this information

    We use source material to verify core facts, then show older cycle dates as reference when a current cycle is not available. Always check current submission instructions before entering.