Over 1,000 analysts competed to pitch Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon and execs their philanthropic ideas—and win $650K for charity

For over a decade, Goldman Sachs has held an annual competition for its analysts, inviting them to pitch philanthropic projects to CEO David Solomon and senior executives. The winner receives $650,000 to direct towards their chosen causes. This year, the 11th event saw more participants than ever before, with 1,063 employees across 45 offices competing.

Asahi Pompey, global head of corporate engagement and president of the Goldman Sachs Foundation, explains that the program's goal is to give junior workers a chance to shape the bank's philanthropy while developing important leadership skills. The competition, known as the Analyst Impact Fund, started as a small event for a few analyst teams presenting ideas to Solomon but has since grown into one of the company's most popular activities.

This year, 25 teams advanced to the semifinals, each receiving grants of up to $10,000. The winning teams include Every Cure, a Frankfurt-based team using AI to accelerate drug-disease cross-applications, which won $250,000. Team Thorn, a Birmingham and London team combating online child sexual abuse, came in second with $100,000 and fan favorite status from 3,500 Goldman employees.

Build Change, a New York and Norwalk team, secured third place with $75,000 for disaster-resilience housing. WattTime in Bengaluru took fourth place with $50,000 for tracking electricity-related emissions. The program not only helps employees invest in causes they care about but also builds crucial skills like presentation, collaboration, and leadership.