Legal

Official Rules

Hariom Impact Engine Scholarship Challenge · Last updated September 10, 2026

Notice: These rules describe a skill-based scholarship challenge, not a sweepstakes. No purchase and no donation is required to enter or win. The Hariom Helps Foundation reserves the right to update these rules prior to the applications-open date; changes will be posted here with a new "last updated" date.

1. Sponsor

Hariom Helps Foundation, a US 501(c)(3) nonprofit ("Foundation"). Contact: hello@hariomhelps.com.

2. Eligibility

Open to legal US residents currently enrolled in grades 9 through 12 (or homeschool equivalent) who intend to enroll at an accredited US college or university after high-school graduation. You do not need to be a senior. Applicants must complete a verified student profile on hariomhelps.com. Applicants under 18 must provide a signed parent/guardian consent form before any award is paid or donor funding is released — it is not required to enter. Employees, directors, judges, contractors, and their immediate family members are not eligible.

3. How to enter

Complete the entry form at hariomhelps.com/challenge/apply. Entry requires: a 90-second video (YouTube/Vimeo link), a 750-word Impact Engine Blueprint, a one-page infographic, evidence of a first step, an academic/service profile, an AI-use disclosure, and originality attestations. One entry per person.

4. Judging

Entries are scored 0–80 by an independent judging panel across six categories: Humanitarian Impact (20), Feasibility (20), Originality (15), Academic & Service Profile (10), Evidence of First Step (10), Communication (5). Up to ten finalists advance to community voting. Community votes add up to 20 bonus points (20 for the top-voted finalist, then 18, 16, 14, 14, 14, 12, 12, 12, 12). A minimum 50 judge points is required to be eligible for the Grand Prize or Runner-Up. Tie-breaks go to higher Humanitarian score, then Feasibility. Decisions of the Foundation are final.

5. Community voting

Community voting requires an email address and CAPTCHA. Each verified email may cast one vote total (not per finalist). Votes from disposable email domains are rejected. Votes must be confirmed via an email link to count. Suspicious voting activity (bots, coordinated inauthentic behavior) will be invalidated. Vote tallies are not shown publicly until the Foundation publishes results.

6. Prizes

Grand Prize: $4,000 college scholarship.
Runner-Up: $2,000 college scholarship.
Community Choice: $1,000 college scholarship.

All scholarships are paid directly by the Foundation to the accredited US college or university the winner enrolls in for tuition, mandatory fees, or books. No cash equivalent. If a winner does not enroll and provide payment instructions by September 30, 2027, the award is forfeit and returned to the Foundation's general scholarship fund.

6a. Official prize terms

No purchase or donation necessary. Donating does not improve an applicant's chance of entering, advancing, or winning, and non-donors are judged identically.
Total prize pool: $7,500 across the Grand Prize ($4,000), Runner-Up ($2,000), Community Choice ($1,000), and the People's Choice award ($500). Prize funds are underwritten by the Foundation's general fund.
Odds. This is a skill-based competition, not a game of chance; odds depend on the number and quality of entries received.
Winner notification. Winners are notified by email at the address on their entry and must respond within 14 days. An unclaimed award may be forfeited and offered to the next-ranked eligible entrant.
Verification of winners. Winners must confirm eligibility, provide proof of enrollment, and — where required by US tax law — complete a Form W-9. Scholarship payments are made payable to the institution, not the student.
Taxes. Scholarship amounts used for qualified tuition and required fees are generally excludable from income; amounts applied elsewhere may be taxable. Winners are responsible for their own taxes and should consult a tax adviser.
Substitution. Prizes are non-transferable, with no cash alternative. The Foundation may substitute a prize of equal or greater value if necessary.
Winners list. Names of winners are published on hariomhelps.com after verification and may be requested by email.
Cancellation. If fraud, technical failure, or circumstances beyond the Foundation's control compromise the integrity of the challenge, the Foundation may suspend, modify, or cancel it and award prizes among eligible entries received up to that point.
Void where prohibited. The challenge is void where restricted or prohibited by law.

7. Publicity & content release

Finalists agree that the Foundation may publish their submitted video, blueprint, infographic, and first name on hariomhelps.com and in Foundation communications. Finalists under 18 require a signed publicity release from a parent/guardian before public display.

8. Originality & AI

The core idea, video performance, and blueprint text must be substantially your own. AI tools may be used for grammar, translation, or brainstorming; you must disclose material AI use. Deepfakes, fabricated testimonials, and plagiarism disqualify the entry.

9. Privacy

Entry information is stored securely and shared only with Foundation admins and the judging panel. Public finalists' submissions are shown on hariomhelps.com during the voting window. See our Privacy Policy and, for applicants under 18, our Minors & Student Data Policy.

10. Disqualification

The Foundation may disqualify entries at any time for false information, plagiarism, undisclosed AI use of substantial content, vote manipulation, insider participation, or violation of these rules.

11. Governing terms

These rules operate alongside our Terms of Use. Where they conflict on a challenge matter, these rules control.

Questions? Email hello@hariomhelps.com.