The Bicester Collection announces the 2025 Unlock Her Future Prize, targeting women social entrepreneurs from South Asia. This initiative seeks innovative, not-for-profit business ideas or early-stage ventures that align with at least one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Eligible applicants must be women over 18 years old, citizens and residents of South Asian countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka). Winners will receive up to US$100 thousand in financial capital, university support, mentorship from global experts, and increased visibility through global exposure. Applications close on 10 March 2025. Unlock Her Future Prize
social enterprise
Dory Foundation — Grants for Early Stage Non-Profit Work
The Dory Foundation supports promising, early-stage non-profit work with grants between US$10 thousand and US$250 thousand. There are no thematic restrictions, however, projects should respond to the question: “How can we keep life meaningful and fulfilling in a world where work is automated with AI”. The funding scope is global, no specific locations targeted. The project must be a charity or non-profit project. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Details
Ashoka — Young Changemakers
Ashoka identifies and supports teenagers who start their own initiatives for addressing social and environmental problems. Selected Changemakers are inducted into a global community and gain access to co-leadership bootcamps, media partnerships, public speaking platforms, exposure visits, strategic allies and more opportunities to grow and to influence youth culture in their countries. Candidates must be under 20 years of age to participate. Ashoka offers youth related activities in Nigeria, Brazil, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the United States. Expressions of interest can be submitted all year-round. Nominations for Ashoka Young Changemakers are accepted year-round. Details
GET.invest — Finance Catalyst for Renewable Energy Projects
The GET.invest Finance Catalyst supports small- and medium-scale renewable energy projects and businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean or the Pacific region. The program provides advisory support on project and business plan development, project and business structuring and accessing finance, at no cost. Eligible applicants may be private sector developers, NGOs, universities or research institutions. Applications are accepted on a continuous basis. Once one round closes a new one opens. Finance Catalyst for Renewable Energy
Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship — Training for Social Entrepreneurs
The Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship accepts applications for an accelerator program focused on social enterprises working on women’s economic power and/or climate resilience. The program is designed for established social entrepreneurs who directly serve people living in poverty who suffer disproportionately from climate change. Climate resilience falls into one of the following three categories: sustainable energy, availability of sustainable management of water and sanitation, and climate-smart agriculture. Non-profit, for-profit, or hybrid social enterprises that have a clear commitment to an earned revenue model with the potential for scale are all encouraged to apply. There are no geographical limitations. The application deadline is 13 April 2025. Link
Food 4 Future — Food Tech Innovation Awards
The Food Tech Innovation Awards 2025 recognize the most innovative proposals that offer a disruptive approach to Customer Experience or Management. The award has 6 categories: digitalization award for the food and beverage industry; best sustainability project; healthy food; the best innovation project for the packaging industry; the most innovative food tech startup; and the best automation and robotics solution. The FoodTech Innovation Awards are open to all companies, universities, business schools, researchers, journalists, and start-ups from all over the world. The proposal entry deadline is 04 April 2025. Food Tech Innovation Awards
Ashoka — Supporting Small Business Ecosystems
The Power of Local Challenge by Ashoka and Prudential supports initiatives that strengthen small business ecosystems in Latin America and East Africa. Eleven winners will receive up to US$60 thousand in prizes for projects enhancing collaboration, mentorship, and access to capital. Eligibility extends to small businesses and entrepreneurs from Botswana, Brazil, Burundi, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Liberia, Mexico, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. Applications close on 26 February 2025. Link to Ashoka
Honnold Foundation — Solar Energy Funding
The Honnold Foundation provides funding to organizations or projects that use solar energy to serve underserved or marginalized communities. Both domestic and international organizations may apply. Grant awards typically range from US$25 thousand to US$150 thousand. Organizations must have 501(c)3 status or equivalent status within their country of operation. The application deadline is 13 February 2025. Solar Energy Funding
Tony Elumelu Foundation — Entrepreneurship Program for Africans 2025
The Tony Elumelu Foundation fosters and supports start-up enterprises in Africa. The TEF Entrepreneurship Program provides mentoring, training, forums, seed capital, and alumni support to individuals in Africa proposing new business ideas or early-stage companies in sectors that include agriculture, among others. Participants receive up to US$5 thousand in seed capital. The program is open to citizens and legal residents ages 18 and older in any African country. The next application deadline (English, French, Portuguese) is 28 February 2025. TEF Entrepreneurship Program
NextWorldNow Community Investments — Community Grants 2025
NextWorldNow (NWN) is committed to working with community leaders who are solving difficult social problems. This includes social problems related to water, sanitation, deforestation, smallholder productivity, and food security — among other subject areas. Grants are up to US$10 thousand. To apply, community organizations submit a short “Notification of Interest” to register their intent to submit a formal grant application. NWN will screen the initial requests and forward a full application form to selected community organizations. The deadline to submit a Notification of Interest is 01 March 2025. Link