There is money and support available from a wide variety of sources for aspiring social entrepreneurs and changemakers, but it’s not always easy to find these resources. Following is a round-up of grants, prizes, and fellowships that we have been reading about recently. Some are available only to current undergraduates, and all focus on social entrepreneurship or civic engagement work. A more extensive list is available in the “Get Funded” section of the PCSE Resource Center. If you know of any others, please tell us.
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Awesome Foundation Grant for Projects
http://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/submissions/new
An “ever-growing, worldwide network of people devoted to forwarding the interest of awesomeness in the universe.” The Foundation distributes a series of monthly $1,000 grants.
Deadline: rolling application
Stipend/Prize/Compensation: $1,000
Ben and Jerry’s Foundation Grassroots Organizing for Social Change Program
http://www.benandjerrysfoundation.org/what-we-do.html
Supports non-profit, grassroots, constituent-led organizations across the country that are using direct action, community-organizing strategies to accomplish their goals. They consider proposals that are aligned with the Foundation’s broad interests in social justice, environmental justice and sustainable food systems.
Deadline: January 6-March 14
Stipend/Prize/Compensation: up to $20,000
Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards
http://www.cartierwomensinitiative.com/awards/mission
An international business plan competition created in 2006 by Cartier, the Women’s Forum, McKinsey & Company and INSEAD business school to identify, support and encourage projects by women entrepreneurs
Deadline: March 2014
Stipend/Prize/Compensation: $20,000
Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs
http://www.coro.org/site/c.geJNIUOzErH/b.4667963/k.725D/Coro_Fellows_Program.htm
A full-time, nine month, graduate-level experiential leadership training program that prepares diverse, talented and committed individuals for effective and ethical leadership in the public affairs arena. Unconventional by traditional academic standards, the Fellows Program is rigorous and demanding, an unparalleled opportunity for personal and professional growth.
Deadline: January 22, 2014
Stipend/Prize/Compensation: loan deferment
Dell Empowering Women Challenge
http://www.dellchallenge.org/empowering-women
A business plan competition open to any undergrad or graduate student, male or female, in any field of study, from any country. Students can enter a project at any stage, and non-profit, for-profit or hybrid models are eligible.
Deadline: September 2014
Stipend/Prize/Compensation: $500 – $15,000
Do Something Seed Grants
http://www.dosomething.org/grants/database/do-something-1
Money for young people with a community action project or program.
Deadline: rolling application
Stipend/Prize/Compensation: $500 each week
Draper Richards Foundation Fellowship
http://www.drkfoundation.org/process/proposal.html
Funding and business mentoring for social entrepreneurs who are dedicated, promising leaders as they begin their non-profit organizations.
Deadline: rolling application
Stipend/Prize/Compensation: $100,000
Echoing Green Fellowship
http://www.echoinggreen.org/fellowship/echoing-green-fellowship
A two-year fellowship program providing start-up capital and technical assistance to help new leaders launch their organizations and build capacity of their social enterprise.
Deadline: January 2014
Stipend/Prize/Compensation: $80,000 plus mentoring and more
Ella T Grasso Leadership in Action Grant
http://www.cwhf.org/educational-resources/ella-grasso-leadership-grant
Grants for young women enrolled at Connecticut colleges to fund community action or public service projects.
Deadline: October 1, 2013
Stipend/Prize/Compensation: $2,500
Haymarket Urgent Response Grant
http://www.haymarket.org/grantmaking/grants-process
Grants for grassroots, social change organizations. Funding both start-up groups and groups that are more established.
Deadline: December 3, 2013
Stipend/Prize/Compensation: up to $1,000
Humanity in Action Fellowship
http://www.humanityinaction.org/pages/91-main
Bringing together international groups of college students and recent graduates in Amsterdam, Berlin, Copenhagen, Lyon and Warsaw to explore national histories of discrimination and resistance, as well as examples of issues affecting different minority groups today.
Deadline: January 9, 2014
Stipend/Prize/Compensation: some expenses paid
JW Saxe Memorial Fund
http://jwsaxefund.org/to-apply/
For students involved in public service who want to gain practical experience by taking a no-pay or low-pay job or internship.
Deadline: rolling application
Stipend/Prize/Compensation: $2,000
Lend for America Fellowship
http://lendforamerica.org/fellowship/
For college students to start microfinance organizations in campus communities.
Deadline: March 2014
Stipend/Prize/Compensation: $2,500 stipend for housing and food
Micro Empowering Social Innovation Fellowship
http://www.microempowering.org/fellowships.php
Fellows have a 2-6 month “opportunity to learn about sustainable development, work with a practitioner at the micro level and gain field experience in project management.”
Deadline: ?
Stipend/Prize/Compensation: ?
Miller Family Foundation Prize
http://www.wesleyan.edu/careercenter/grants/scholarships/millerfamily_prize.html
Partial college loan forgiveness for individuals who are pursuing careers that benefit the community through education or through service and advocacy.
Deadline: May 2014
Stipend/Prize/Compensation: varies
Patricelli Center for Social Entrepreneurship Internship Grant
http://www.wesleyan.edu/patricelli/grants.html
For Wesleyan sophomores and juniors currently receiving need-based financial aid who plan to do socially innovative or socially responsible work during summer break.
Deadline: March 2014
Stipend/Prize/Compensation: $4,000
Patricelli Center for Social Entrepreneurship Seed Grant Competition
http://www.wesleyan.edu/patricelli/grants.html
For undergraduate students with a new or existing social enterprise.
Deadline: January 2014
Stipend/Prize/Compensation: $5,000
Patricelli Center for Social Entrepreneurship Student Enrichment Grant
http://www.wesleyan.edu/patricelli/grants.html
Small stipends to subsidize experiences for motivated students who seek to build their own skills, experience, and aptitude for social change by attending off-campus workshops, conferences, or other personal development opportunities.
Deadline: rolling application
Stipend/Prize/Compensation: small stipends
Show Me Campaign Fellowship
http://www.showmecampaign.org/
Stipends to college students who have unpaid internships during the summer of 2013 in the following issue areas: improving education in the United States and international development, specifically eradicating global poverty.
Deadline: May 2014
Stipend/Prize/Compensation: $3,000
Unilever Sustainable Living Young Entrepreneurs Award
http://www.changemakers.com/SustLiving
Entrepreneurs aged 30 or under are invited to submit inspiring initiatives that tackle the challenge of sustainable living. Entries must fall within one or more of the following categories: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene; Nutrition; Water scarcity; Greenhouse Gases; Waste; and Sustainable Agriculture.
Deadline: November 1, 2013
Stipend/Prize/Compensation: €200,000 plus mentoring
Ways to Help Grant
http://waystohelp.org/
Grants for promising young leaders. “Being a leader starts with having an idea – a vision for how things should be – followed by the willingness to take action and inspire others to make a collective impact.”
Deadline: December 31, 2013
Stipend/Prize/Compensation: up to $500
World Learning Advancing Leaders Fellowship
http://worldlearning.org/connect/next-steps/the-world-learning-advancing-leaders-fellowship/
Recognizing World Learning (SIT) alumni with a monetary award, comprehensive training in social innovation and leadership, and a support network of mentors and peers so that fellows can implement an original social innovation project.
Deadline: October 20, 2013
Stipend/Prize/Compensation: $10,000, comprehensive training, and mentoring