Multi-Sector/ Sustainable Development: February 2025 Funding Opportunities
Includes grants, venture funding and challenges for global change makers.
The grants are organized into three categories:
Open Calls: Current grant and opportunities with a deadline. Grants are listed by closing date.
Rolling Applications: current grant and opportunities with rolling applications (but it’s still best to submit as early as possible).
Long term planning: Grants that have closed their current rounds, but are expected to open new windows.
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Open Calls:
Sudan SME Catalyser, Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund, AECF. *Closing this month!*
The program seeks to support SMEs in Sudan relocating from conflict areas to more stable parts of the country. Eligible businesses must demonstrate that their offerings are accessible and affordable, directly create jobs, and improve livelihoods. Offerings must add value to one or more focus value chains in the renewable energy and agriculture sectors. Proposed initiatives can include but are not limited to one or more of the following focus areas to be eligible for funding: 1) Market aggregators that provide reliable and new market opportunities for economic development, 2) Agro-processors and manufacturing companies , 3) Innovative digital solution providers, 4) Production and distribution models that support local entrepreneurship and growth of SMEs, and 5) Business models that address climate-smart technology. The funding seeks to improve access to finance for enterprises that create economic opportunities across geographies and value chains, e.g., through employment creation, market linkages (market access), and suppliers of inputs/produce/services along the value chain, and provide targeted business development technical assistance and capacity building for businesses. or businesses.
Geographies: Sudan.
Who can apply: Local SMEs.
Funding amount: Grants range EUR €250,000 - €750,000.
Targeted SDGs/ Sectors: SME support, economic development, agribusiness, renewable energy, climate, job creation.
Deadline: February 28, 2025.
KBF Africa Prize 2025-2026, King Baudouin Foundation. *new!*
Every two years, the KBF Africa Prize rewards African organizations which contribute to transforming society and sustainably improving the lives of people in Africa. The KBF Africa Prize rewards African-initiated and led organizations which contribute to sustainably improving the lives of people in Africa. It pays particular attention to initiatives that tackle challenges in Africa in transformative ways, which are resilient and adaptable in a constantly changing context, which have a long-term vision, and which empower people to take their future into their own hands. Organizations working on the themes of peace-building and women's economic empowerment (themes covered by the two previous laureates) are requested to abstain.
Geographies: Africa (organizations from Somalia and Tanzania (countries of the previous laureates) are requested to abstain).
Who can apply: Only organizations which have been established in Africa, by Africans and which are managed and led by Africans can apply.
Funding amount: €250,000.
Targeted SDGs/ Sectors: All sectors other than peace-building and women's economic empowerment
Deadline: March 3, 2025.
develoPPP Classic Funding, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). *Launches this month*
Supports socially and environmentally responsible transformation in the private sector in developing countries and emerging markets. Aspects of this include ensuring a sustainable supply chains, climate and environment and the more responsible use of natural resources, as well as fair participation for women in different economic processes, fair access to health care services and long-term food security. Particular consideration is therefore given to project proposals that contribute measurably to improvement in these areas. Companies aiming to contribute to sustainable development in emerging markets are invited to apply. Projects should align with one or more SDGs, in sectors such as agriculture, health, and energy, with a strong emphasis on impact, innovation, sustainable economic development, job creation, technology transfer, and capacity building.
Geographies: Must be in one of the 65 priority countries.
Who can apply: Privately owned and profit-oriented companies, registered in the EU, EFTA or a country on the OECD DAC list, with an annual turnover of at least EUR 800,000.
Funding amount: Up to €2 million.
Targeted SDGs/ Sectors: Sector agnostic, with a focus on: diversity and gender, sustainable supply chains, climate and environment, health, and job creation.
Deadline: Next round launches February 15, 2025- March 31, 2025. Round 2025 will take place August 15, 2025- September 30, 2025.
Open Call for Green Transition Projects, Interreg Euro-MED Programme, European Union.
Interreg NEXT MED is a program funded by the European Union (EU) that supports transnational cooperation through the financing of joint projects which aim at making the Mediterranean area more resilient to the shared challenges it faces. The Call for Green Transition Projects provides €83.7 million in European Union’s funding to tackle climate challenges across the Mediterranean region. Projects that aim to contribute to smart, sustainable, fair development for all across the Mediterranean basin across four program priorities, including research and innovation, climate, energy and water, education and healthcare, and governance.
Geographies: Mediterranean region; Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Palestine, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia, Türkiye.
Who can apply: Public and private bodies, as well as international organizations. All applicant must be established in the participating countries and legally registered there since at least two years from the launching date of this call.
Funding amount: Co-financing €600,000-€3.1 million. Applicants must provide a minimum of 11% of the total project costs.
Targeted SDGs/ Sectors: Climate and environment, job creation, inclusion, health.
Deadline: April 15, 2025.
Learn more and apply here.
Rolling Applications
Open Call for Bold Projects, The Audacious Project.
Looking for bold ideas that cover a wide range of issues, from global health and climate change, to social justice and education. The Audacious Project looks for timely ideas that are that magic combination of deeply inspiring and convincingly credible. That means ensuring your idea balances the ability to change the way people look at an issue, with a deliverable plan that will make that vision come to life. The emotional appeal and personal connection should be met with a logical approach and a track record of your teams' relevant successes. They look for ideas that inspire with 1) Transformative vision- a bold vision for tackling one of the world's most urgent topics, 2. Contribute to a better world- ideas that offer significant, enduring impact, 3. Innovative and original- there should be a unique aspect or creative element to your approach that challenges convention or status quo or changes the narrative for the greater good. Applicants should submit proposals for proven concepts (evidence that the idea will have impact based on a track record of past success, a demand from those that would be affected, etc.) a bold vision for using the multi-year funding, and an organizational track record of receiving and managing large sums (Past projects have had an annual operating budget of $2 million or more). Open to public organizations- nonprofits, NGO, institution (such as research institution) or collaboration between multiple entities.
Geographies: Global
Who can apply: non-profits, NGO, institution or collaboration between multiple entities.
Funding amount: There is no limit to the budget that can be requested. Grant envelope total of USD ~$1 billion (with about 10 winners in 2023).
Targeted SDGs/ Sectors: Sector agnostic.
Deadline: Current application cycle closes on April 15, 2024. Requests submitted after the date will be considered for future rounds.
Global Impact - Open Call, The Tony Robbins Foundation.
Dedicated to meeting challenges within the global community, creating solutions and taking action, The Tony Robbins Foundation provides donations and volunteer support for nonprofit organizations, schools, hospitals and homeless shelters around the world. The foundation supports communities in need including natural disasters, and providing opportunities for at-risk youth.
Geographies: Global
Who can apply: Non-profits.
Funding amount: Grants range USD $20,000- $500,000.
Targeted SDGs/ Sectors: Multi-sector, emergency response, vulnerable communities.
Deadline: Rolling applications - submit a Letter of Intent (LOI).
Pre-Seed/ Seed Investments for Impact-Tech Entrepreneurs in Emerging Markets, Kili Ventures.
Kili Venture is a new investment syndicate focused on investing in tech startups in emerging markets, with an initial emphasis on Africa. Kili Ventures constantly seeks "hidden gems" - startups with talented teams developing technologies that have a significant impact on local communities and strong scalability potential.
Geographies: Africa
Who can apply: Tech Startups
Funding amount: Target to support 5-10 startups annually in pre-seed and seed rounds, investing between EUR €50,000 - €250,000.
Targeted SDGs/ Sectors: Impact-tech.
Deadline: Applications accepted on a rolling basis.
EA Funds, Effective Ventures.
Effective Altruism Funds (EA Funds) funds to particularly cost-effective and altruistically impactful projects. The current funds focus on: 1) Improving the lives of people living in extreme poverty, 2) Improving the lives of non-human animals, 3) Making the long-term future go well, and 3) Supporting the work of the Effective Altruism community.
Geographies: Global.
Who can apply: For-profits, non-profits, and individuals.
Funding amount: Grant sizes are typically between $5,000 and $200,000, but can be as low as $1,000 and higher than $500,000.
Targeted SDGs/ Sectors: Poverty, animal welfare.
Deadline: Applications accepted on a rolling basis.
Apply for Funding, GiveWell,
Aims to fund the most cost-effective opportunities that have the potential to make a big impact for many people. Provide a wide range of grants through different financing mechanisms: 1) All grants fund, 2) Top charity fund, 3) Unrestricted fund.
Geographies: Global
Who can apply: For-profits and non-profits.
Funding amount: Grants range USD $50,000- USD $70M.
Targeted SDGs/ Sectors: Sector agnostic.
Deadline: Applications accepted on a rolling basis.
Catalyze, Build and Transform Grants, New Profit. *New!*
Provide unrestricted grants and strategic advisory support to organizations led by visionary social entrepreneurs to increase their impact, growth, and sustainability. Supported projects expand access and opportunity in communities that have been consistently and systematically under-resourced. Seek leaders and organizations that recognize the power of working across historical lines of difference—whether that be racial identity, generation, or sector—to solve problems and build systems that deliver better outcomes.
Geographies: United States and US territories.
Who can apply: US non-profits with a 501(c)(3) status, led by social entrepreneur.
Funding amount: Unrestricted grants: Catalyze USD $100,000, Build USD 1.5 million multi-year funding, Transform USD $3 million multi-year funding.
Targeted Sectors/ SDGs: Education, economic mobility, and democracy.
Deadline: Accepting Discovery Forms year-round.
Long Term Planning:
Venture Philanthropy Grants, The New Africa Fund. *new!* *opening in April/May 2025*
Supports support local initiatives in Africa that foster sustainable change. The Venture Philanthropy (VP) grants provide stable funding with the idea that these organizations will be able to use that time to grow and become sustainable. Through the VP grants, instead of funding specific projects, the NAF prioritizes organizations with a clear vision and mission and a track record of results. This granting program does not prioritize one area of intervention over another, nor does it favor large organizations over smaller ones. It simply is looking for organizations with creative solutions to local problems. In addition to financial support, these organizations will benefit from NAF trainings to improve their overall financial systems, grant writing skills, guidance on developing relevant policies, and trainings for Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA).
Geographies: Africa.
Who can apply: The NAF funds non-governmental organizations, community based organizations, and social enterprises. We fund organizations from nearly every field, but they must be legally registered in their home country. We fund organizations working in education, poverty reduction, health, and human rights, particularly for marginalized communities. Organizations led by women are especially encouraged to apply.
Funding amount: The maximum grant allowed is 25% of the organization's overall operating budget (based on a five-year average) up to a maximum amount of $50,000.
Targeted Sectors/ SDGs: Sector agnostic.
Deadline: Next window opens April-May 2025.
develoPPP Venture Funding, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). *Next round opens May 15, 2025*
develoPPP Ventures is aimed at young companies, whose innovative business model improves living conditions in a developing or emerging country and who are planning to scale up. With develoPPP Ventures funding, the BMZ is supporting young companies that are already active in a developing or emerging economy and whose business model contributes to sustainable local economic, ecological and social development. The aim is to scale innovative solutions in order to make them accessible to more people. Therefore, it is important that the proof of concept has already been achieved and first revenues have been generated. Funding the start-up phase via develoPPP Ventures is not possible.
Geographies: Currently available in Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa and Tanzania – with further countries to follow.
Who can apply: Start-ups that are registered in the target country or that plan to register there before the start of the funding are eligible to participate.
Funding amount: €100,000 catalytic funding for investments to scale. Start-ups must provide 50% co-funding of the total project cost.
Targeted SDGs/ Sectors: Sector agnostic.
Deadline: Next round launches May 15, 2025.
The Elevate Prize, The Elevate Prize Foundation. *New!*, *Nominations for the 2026 Elevate Prize will open in the spring of 2025*
The annual award recognizes social impact leaders driving transformative change around the world. They are looking for leaders that are: 1. Committed to the Power of Visibility- leaders should not only excel in their mission but be interested in using their platforms to reach and inspire new audiences, innovating within their field, and/or pioneering new approaches to enhance their impact. 2. Trailblazers and Innovators- leaders and their organizations should be focused on tackling societal problems, the systems that create them, and demonstrating an ability to create change in their communities. 3. At a Critical Juncture- leaders and their organizations should be at a tipping point— at a critical moment where additional resources and tailored support will unlock their potential for scale or deepen impact.
Geographies: Global.
Who can apply: A non-profit organization leader who is over 18 years of age and is a Founder, Executive Director, or CEO.
Funding amount: $300,000 in unrestricted funding, shared between the organization and leader.
Targeted SDGs/ Sectors: Sector agnostic
Deadline: Next round launches spring of 2025.
Grant Application, Gupta Family Foundation. *Next round opens July 2025*
Accepting applications from organizations that provide focused intervention in the lives of people who have been disadvantaged in some way to help them become self-reliant. The foundation takes a very broad view of “disadvantage” to include anything that holds a person back from realizing their potential, such as poverty, physical or mental disability, social alienation, etc. The foundation also supports relief agencies that serve people affected by emergencies such as natural disasters. They focus on funding smaller organizations all around the world that are led by individuals with a deep personal commitment to their missions.
Geographies: Applicants must operate in one of the following countries: India, the United States, Botswana, Kenya, Mexico, Mongolia, Rwanda, South Africa, or Thailand.
Who can apply: Non-profits.
Funding amount: Grants range USD $5,000 - $250,000 (for annual and multi-year funding) and at least 90% of grant monies reaches the intended beneficiaries.
Targeted Sectors/ SDGs: Disadvantaged people, poverty, mental health, emergency relief.
Deadline: Next window opens July 1- August 31, 2025.
All content is currently open and free as we transition to Substack. Starting mid-February 2025, access to the full list of opportunities on this page will be available to paid subscribers. This helps support the time and effort it takes to curate and organize these opportunities. Thank you for being part of the Impact Funding community!
To keep this accessible to everyone who needs it, we’re happy to offer discounted rates for nonprofits and individuals from LMICs (Low- and Middle-Income Countries). Message us below for more information.