Dating app Hinge is moving beyond the romantic realm to address a critical social issue: the gen Z loneliness epidemic. Launching its new One More Hour initiative with a USD 1 million fund, Hinge aims to increase real-world interactions for young adults in three US cities.
Recognizing the profound impact of face-to-face interactions on mental health and community building, One More Hour will provide grants of up to USD 25,000 to social groups in Atlanta, Los Angeles and New York City to help those organizations host events that get people together in person. The program's focus is on recurring meetings, activities or gatherings that nurture connection through leisure and play. The events should be inclusive and diverse, and offered to participants at no to low cost.
Applications for One More Hour grants can be submitted from 8 through 30 January 2024. To align with the needs and wants of its target demographic, Hinge will work with a group of gen Z judges to decide which projects are awarded grants. Through partnerships with DoSomething Strategic and the Foundation for Social Connection, Hinge will track the number of human connections made through the programs it funds and conduct surveys to measure their impact on participants' wellbeing.
