Vital Voices offers GROW Fellowships to women entrepreneurs who own small and medium-sized businesses. The program includes customized business skills training, technical assistance, leadership development, and access to networks to grow their businesses. Thematic business areas may include agriculture, fisheries, and forestry with potential for growth. A limited number of need and merit-based scholarships will be available. The deadline for applications is 15 April 2025. GROW Fellowships
social enterprise
D-Prize — Funding Entrepreneurs to Alleviate Poverty
The D-Prize funds pilot projects that more widely distribute relatively low-cost products and services in the fight against poverty. The current challenges include social enterprises for innovations in specified themes of agriculture; energy; WASH; and several other categories. The D-Prize will award 30 teams with up to US$20 thousand each to launch nonprofits or social ventures that can distribute proven poverty interventions to people in need. Eligibility to compete extends to entrepreneurs anywhere in the world and of any age or background. The D-Prize invites concept notes before 18 May (early deadline); 08 June (regular deadline); or 29 June 2025 (limited extension). Link to D-Prize
Watson Institute — Education in Social Entrepreneurship
The Watson Institute offers a 16-week program designed for entrepreneurs seeking to elevate their ventures with access to a global network, training designed to strengthen skills, and mentorship with seasoned professionals, venture capitalists, and executives. Fellows can earn up to US$6,000 in seed funding for their venture. Eligibility extends to entrepreneurs leading an early-stage social impact venture, with a preference to applicants from the USA, Brazil, China, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania. The Watson Institute accepts applications until 22 June 2025. Link
Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area — Multitopic Research and Innovation Action
The Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) supports projects under the following topics: (1) Water Management, (2) Farming Systems, (3) and Agri-food Value Chain. Water projects should focus on alleviating Mediterranean water scarcity through adaptive water governance. Farming projects need to demonstrate field practices based on agroecological practices to increase ecosystem services and biodiversity, adapt the small farming systems to climate change, and to increase farmers’ incomes. Companies/enterprises, non-profit organizations, NGOs, public research organizations, and universities from the following non-EU countries are eligible: Israel, Tunisia, Turkey, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Morocco. The deadline for pre-proposals is 08 July 2025. Details here
Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area — Agro-Food Value Chain
The Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) launches a new call for proposals. Projects should aim to increase adherence to the Mediterranean diet as a sustainable pattern including environmental, social, and health aspects. Projects can request up to €4.1 million for 36 months. Companies/enterprises, non-profit organizations, NGOs, public research organizations, and universities from the following non-EU countries are eligible: Israel, Tunisia, Turkey, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Morocco. The deadline for pre-proposals is 15 July 2025. Details
Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area — Woman Greening Food Systems Award
PRIMA seeks innovative solutions for greening food systems, emphasizing practices led by women in the Mediterranean region, focusing on environmental sustainability, biodiversity conservation, and resource efficiency in agriculture, food production, and waste reduction. PRIMA will award two winners with €10 thousand each. The deadline for nominations is 15 July 2025. Know more
The Pollination Project — Seed Capital for Community Projects Worldwide
The Pollination Project offers seed funding of up to US$1 thousand to compassion-driven individuals, informally organized groups and organizations, and formally registered or incorporated non-profit organizations based anywhere in the world. Topics for projects include education, clean water, afforestation, animal advocacy, and many others. The Pollination Project welcomes applications on a rolling basis. Program Overview
Arizona State University — Competition for Women Social Entrepreneurs
The WE Empower UN SDG Challenge is a global competition for women social entrepreneurs who are advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The challenge honors innovative women entrepreneurs, invests in the most inspiring and transformational ideas, and ignites awareness. Awardees will participate in a dynamic pitch competition to present their business for the opportunity to receive a US$20 thousand grant. The competition is open to female entrepreneurs and business leaders from all around the world. Applications are open until 11 April 2025. More information
Halcyon — EquityTech Fellowship
The EquityTech Fellowship empowers entrepreneurs leveraging technology to increase social and financial inclusion and close equity gaps in wealth, education, and accessibility. Fellows accepted into this program will receive a US$10 thousand per venture equity-free stipend to use toward travel expenses, eight-week residency at Halcyon’s facilities in Georgetown, Washington, DC, training, and pro bono legal support. Eligibility extends to for-profit ventures based anywhere in the world. Applications are accepted until 18 April 2025. About the EquityTech Fellowship
Common Fund for Commodities — Support for Commodity Development
The Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) provides financial and technical instruments to support projects proposed by enterprises, cooperatives, and institutions. Funding is targeted mainly to for-profit organizations and social enterprises for production, value chains, and marketing across a wide group of commodities (crops, tree crops, timber, bamboo and rattan, minerals, and others). Projects need to focus on economic, social, and environmental sustainability. Innovative solutions for new agri-tech applications, access to renewable energy, or expanding environmental services are especially welcome. This 26th call for proposals has a deadline of 01 April 2025. Link to the 26th Call for Proposals