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Social enterprise opportunities – November 2026
This November, opportunities for social enterprises and changemakers stretch from Francophone West Africa to the Gulf, China and the Commonwealth, with funding for AI-powered public services, climate resilience and youth tech careers alongside fellowships, grants and prizes in internet freedom, gender justice, housing stability and healthy food systems. Several deadlines land in the first two weeks of the month, so don’t wait to find your fit.
Find your next opportunity below:
Open Technology Fund
Deadline: Rolling
Region: Global
The Open Technology Fund (OTF) supports individuals and organisations globally defending freedom of expression online. It offers a range of funds and technical support services covering technology development, research, digital security and emergency response for those facing repressive censorship and surveillance.
It is open to individuals and organisations working on internet freedom projects, including cyber activists, bloggers, journalists and human rights defenders. Available support varies by fund and includes direct financial support, security audits, user-experience research and communications assistance.
Fortis Fellowship
Deadline: 8 November 2026
Region: Global
The Fortis Fellowship is a five-month program run by the Fortis Society, offering one-to-one mentorship, professional learning workshops and introductions across sectors and continents to people from humble beginnings who are working to create significant positive impact. Cohort programming and the Annual Summit in Medellín in June 2027 are funded for fellows and completing the fellowship grants lifetime membership of the Fortis Society.
Open globally to individuals from low-income backgrounds who are the first in their family on their chosen path, the fellowship welcomes applicants from any sector – including healthcare, education, business, law and social enterprise. No nomination or institutional endorsement is required and all applications are assessed against four pillars: humble beginnings, altruistic focus, ambition at scale and generosity.
Swarovski Foundation Creatives for Our Future
Deadline: 9 November 2026
Region: Global
Creatives for Our Future is a global education and grant programme run by the Swarovski Foundation in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Partnerships. It is designed to identify and support emerging creatives working on sustainability challenges linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Selected participants receive financial support paired with an education programme, one-on-one mentorship, masterclasses, network connections and industry event access.
The programme is open to creatives worldwide aged 21 to 30 at the time of application, working across fields such as fashion, design, art, architecture and engineering. Applicants should be developing a project or product that uses creativity to advance awareness, technology, or solutions in support of the SDGs.
Changemakers for Youth
Deadline: 9 November 2026
Region: Egypt, Germany, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Switzerland, Tunisia
Changemakers for Youth is a three-year programme run by ChangemakerXchange and supported by the Drosos Foundation. It provides social entrepreneurs with customised capacity building, immersive retreats, peer community access, seed funding for cross-border collaborations and connections to mentors and funders. Participants also join the global ChangemakerXchange community of over 1,500 changemakers across 130+ countries.
The programme is open to social entrepreneurs and changemakers based in Egypt, Germany, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Switzerland, or Tunisia, whose existing ventures address social, economic, or environmental challenges while empowering or mobilising young people. Applicants from Germany must demonstrate that their project creates tangible impact in Eastern Germany specifically.
Changemakers for Equality – East Africa & the Gulf
Deadline: 9 November 2026
Region: East Africa / Gulf
ChangemakerXchange, supported by Julius Baer Foundation, runs this fellowship for young changemakers working on community-centred solutions to inequality. Participants receive tailored capacity building, immersive retreats, access to mentors and funders and collaboration funding to advance cross-regional partnerships and collective action.
Open to changemakers and social entrepreneurs aged 18-35 working on bottom-up approaches to reducing inequality across areas such as education, health, livelihoods, gender equality and civic participation. Eligible countries are listed in the programme FAQ.
ChangemakerXchange China x Europe
Deadline: 9 November 2026
Region: China and Europe
ChangemakerXchange is selecting 20 young social innovators – 10 from China and 10 from Europe – for a programme offering tailored capacity building, collaboration funding for joint projects, a six-day in-person summit in Berlin in May 2027 and lifelong access to its global network. The programme is funded by Stiftung Mercator.
Applicants must be aged 18 to 35 (with exceptions considered up to 40) and running tangible social or environmental initiatives with demonstrable results. Ten places are reserved for applicants based in China and ten for those based in Europe.
+EV Fellowship
Deadline: 10 November 2026
Region: Global
+EV is a private foundation that gives exceptional young people grants and connects them to the right people – including VCs, scientists and operators – so they can pursue the world’s most important problems. The fellowship offers equity-free grants from USD 1,000 to USD 25,000, up to USD 25,000 in compute and cloud credits, free lab and coworking space in certain cities, mentorship and introductions to relevant networks.
The fellowship is open globally to ambitious young people at any stage – no finished project or technical background is required. Fellows are expected to build in public and share their work openly, with focus areas including healthcare access, climate and environment, educational access, longevity, animal welfare, water and resource abundance and scientific progress, among others.
Blue Ridge Labs Catalyst
Deadline: 13 November 2026
Region: United States (New York City)
Blue Ridge Labs Catalyst is Robin Hood’s intensive 16-week accelerator for pre-seed start-ups and early-stage tech non-profits using software, AI and data to expand economic mobility in New York City. Selected ventures receive USD 100,000 in investment or grant funding – with potential for additional follow-on funding – plus tailored coaching in finance, product, sales, marketing and engineering.
The programme is open to start-ups and non-profits with a working product and early traction, focused on areas such as housing, education, future of work, health, or financial services for low-income New Yorkers. Applicants must have no more than USD 150,000 in total revenue within any 12-month period and no more than USD 500,000 raised (excluding grants).
RICH Hub Climate AI Innovation
Deadline: Rolling – form temporarily closes 15 November 2026
Region: Africa
The Research & Innovation for Climate (RICH) Hub is inviting African climate AI innovators, researchers, start-ups and organisations to submit Expressions of Interest for innovations using AI and data-driven technologies to strengthen climate resilience across Africa. Selected innovations may access technical support, coaching, piloting opportunities, ecosystem connections and potential scaling grants of up to USD 200,000, subject to eligibility and available resources.
Eligible innovations must address a climate or environmental challenge and have reached the pilot stage or beyond. The call is open to innovators, researchers, start-ups and organisations based in or operating across Africa.
Colansa Fund for Healthy Food Environments in Latin America
Deadline: 20 November 2026
Region: Latin America
The Colansa Fund is a grant programme run by Colansa (Latin America and Caribbean Community of Practice Nutrition and Health), a regional network of civil society and academic organisations working toward healthy, sustainable and equitable food systems. It funds two tracks of national-scope projects – applied research (up to USD 130,000) and applied advocacy (up to USD 100,000) – both focused on public policies for food environments, with up to two awards per track.
Eligible applicants are local civil society or grassroots organisations, research centres and legally constituted academic institutions formally established for at least six months in one of 14 countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay, or Venezuela. Applicants must have a demonstrated mission and proven experience aligned with healthy food environments; applications from individuals are not accepted.
Connecting Power – Feminist Sub-granting Scheme
Deadline: 23 November 2026
Region: Europe (Italy, Greece, Spain)
Connecting Power is a European Commission-funded initiative supporting civil society organisations (CSOs) in delivering safe, inclusive and survivor-centred services for women, girls and children affected by gender-based violence (GBV). Through a feminist sub-granting scheme, it provides both financial and technical support to frontline organisations working to prevent and respond to GBV. At least 30 projects will be funded across Italy, Greece and Spain, sharing EUR 900,000 in total.
This call is open to CSOs registered in Italy, Greece, or Spain. Eligible activities focus on enhanced protection responses for women, girls and children using an intersectional approach and on the reduction of harmful practices. Projects can run for up to 20 months, with separate national applications available through country-specific implementing partners.
AI & Economic Opportunity Fund – Programmes Fund
Deadline: 23 November 2026
Region: UK
The Hg Foundation, supported by JPMorganChase, is funding delivery organisations and training providers across the UK to support low-income young adults without degrees into tech employment. Grants of up to GBP 500,000 over two years are available for programmatic costs, with the goal that at least 70% of participants move into tech roles or high-quality tech apprenticeships within 12 months of completing their programme.
Applications are open to organisations of any type – including charities, non-profits and training providers – with a track record of delivering programmes that drive tech employment or apprenticeship starts among low-income young adults without degrees in the UK. Grants are capped at 30% of an organisation’s total income in any grant year and independent evaluation costs are covered separately by the Fund. Programmes serving Glasgow and South West England are of particular interest, though organisations working in other UK geographies are also eligible.
Housing for Everyone
Deadline: 24 November 2026
Region: United States
The TD Charitable Foundation’s Housing for Everyone program awards grants of USD 500,000 to non-profit organisations working to help low-to-moderate-income (LMI) renters achieve lasting housing stability. The 2027 cycle focuses on integrated, community-based approaches that combine income growth and sustained employment with wraparound support such as financial coaching and benefits navigation – with USD 10 million available across 20 grants in total.
Open to U.S.-based 501(c)(3) non-profits (excluding private foundations) with a demonstrated history of connecting income advancement or workforce development with housing stability outcomes. Applicants must operate within TD’s eligible geographic footprint, which covers selected counties across eastern U.S. states including Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Florida, North Carolina and others.
Cities Deliver: AI Solutions for Public Services
Deadline: 29 November 2026
Region: Global
The Rockefeller Foundation and OpenAI Foundation are offering grants of USD 500,000 to USD 2 million over 24 months to organisations partnering with city governments to improve public services through AI for underserved communities. Two funding tracks are available – Seed (USD 500,000 to under USD 1 million) for early-stage pilots and Scale (USD 1 to USD 2 million) for solutions ready to expand. Grantees also receive peer learning, occasional technical support and access to funder and city leader networks.
Eligible applicants include non-profits, university labs, fiscally sponsored organisations and public benefit corporations – all must have a confirmed city government partner and a project benefiting underserved communities. Focus areas are public health, economic mobility, environmental resilience and civic engagement.
WomenStrong International – Funding for Francophone West Africa
Deadline: 1 December 2026
Region: West Africa
WomenStrong International has opened a call for expressions of interest for women-led grassroots organisations in Francophone West Africa. Selected grantee partners will receive flexible, multiyear, unrestricted funding of up to USD 50,000 per year, tailored organisational strengthening support and access to a cross-country peer Learning Lab connecting women leaders across countries and movements.
The opportunity is open to women-led, locally registered non-profits operating in Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal, or Togo, with an annual budget under USD 1 million and at least one additional source of income at the time of application. Organisations must be led by women nationals based in the country of operation and focused on gender-responsive services or advocacy for women and girls.
Fundación Mapfre Awards for Social Innovation
Deadline: 1 December 2026
Region: Europe, United States and Latin America
Now in its 10th edition, the Fundación Mapfre Awards for Social Innovation is a prizes programme run by Fundación Mapfre that challenges innovators to improve people’s quality of life and well-being. The winner receives EUR 100,000 and each of the three finalists receives EUR 10,000. All finalists also join Red Innova, a peer network connecting social innovation projects.
The awards are open to initiatives addressing well-being, demographic change, or social inclusion. Projects must be based in or developed in Europe, the United States, Brazil, or elsewhere in Latin America and must demonstrate the potential for real-world impact.
International Trans Fund (ITF) Grants
Deadline: 1 December 2026
Region: Global
The International Trans Fund (ITF) offers two one-year grants for trans-led organisations: the SEED Grant (USD 10,000-25,000) for first-time ITF applicants and the THRIVE Grant (USD 25,000-50,000) for groups that have previously received ITF funding and remain in good standing. Both types support general operations or project-based work.
Eligible applicants must be trans-led, trans-centred and group-based – not individuals – with a focus on movement building and an annual budget under USD 100,000. Organisations can apply from anywhere in the world but may only submit one application type per cycle.
F. M. Kirby Prize for Scaling Impact
Deadline: 2 December 2026 (or after if 250 applications)
Region: Global
The F. M. Kirby Prize for Scaling Impact is an annual global prize offering USD 150,000 in unrestricted funding to one impact enterprise ready to substantially accelerate its impact at scale. Made possible through the F. M. Kirby Foundation, the prize is designed for organisations with demonstrated traction, robust evidence of impact and a clear strategy for reaching significantly greater scale.
Open to non-profits, for-profits and hybrid organisations of any legal structure, geography and impact area, applicants must have a minimum annual operating budget of USD 250,000 and at least three consecutive years of KPI data demonstrating both impact and reach. International applicants must hold an established U.S. tax presence, including a federal taxpayer identification number.
D-Prize Global Competition
Deadline: 6 December 2026
Region: Global
D-Prize is a global competition that awards up to USD 20,000 in seed funding to new organisations working to distribute proven, evidence-based poverty solutions. The program supports a wide range of intervention areas – including health, education, agriculture, water and livelihoods – with the goal of helping entrepreneurs launch distribution models that can reach communities at the last mile.
The competition is open to new organisations only, with particular encouragement for first-time entrepreneurs who have not yet launched or raised outside funding. Applicants from low- and middle-income countries are especially welcomed and organisations with more than 18 months of full-time operations or more than USD 30,000 raised are typically not eligible.
Commonwealth Blue Charter Incubator – Round II
Deadline: 11 December 2026
Region: Global (Commonwealth Member Countries)
The Commonwealth Blue Charter Incubator – Round II offers grants of GBP 20,000 to GBP 50,000 to support government-led projects tackling pressing ocean challenges across the Commonwealth. Backed by the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, the programme aims to fund 10 to 15 projects that test solutions, strengthen capacity and generate evidence for future investment. Dedicated funding is available for projects based in South Asia, Pacific Small Island Developing States and the Caribbean.
The lead applicant must be a legally established national or sub-national government entity – such as a ministry, department, or agency – from one of the 56 Commonwealth member countries. Partnerships with NGOs, research institutions and community organisations are strongly encouraged. Priority areas include reducing marine pollution, restoring coastal and marine ecosystems, strengthening sustainable fisheries, advancing blue economy approaches and addressing the ocean-climate nexus.
American Climate Leadership Awards
Deadline: 14 December 2026
Region: United States
ecoAmerica’s American Climate Leadership Awards (ACLA) recognise the most effective climate solutions across the United States, distributing over USD 200,000 in prizes to outstanding leaders and organisations. The top prize is USD 50,000, with a USD 25,000 runner-up award, USD 10,000 each for ten finalists, USD 1,000 each for twenty semifinalists, a USD 10,000 Youth Leadership Award and a USD 5,000 People’s Choice Award.
Applications and nominations are open to transformational leaders, non-profits and local for-profits in the US working to broaden public participation in climate action at the local, regional, or national level. Submissions must demonstrate current or recently completed programming – future plans will not be considered. Youth aged 14-24 working at the local or state level are also encouraged to apply.
Internet Society Fellowship Program
Deadline: 18 December 2026
Region: Global
The Internet Society Fellowship Program is a 10-month structured learning and leadership experience run by the Internet Society, designed to support experienced Internet changemakers and emerging leaders in turning locally grounded ideas into real-world impact. Selected fellows receive a dedicated mentor, a project stipend of up to USD 5,000, travel support to a global or regional Internet event and access to the Internet Society Alumni Network.
The program is open to applicants across three tracks – Internet Policy and Mobilisation, Internet Connectivity and Internet Safety and Security – and is global in scope. Note: applicants must first complete all required Pre-Fellowship Training modules by 22 November 2026 to unlock the fellowship application, with the final application deadline set at 18 December 2026.
Allianz MoveNow Social Innovation Challenge
Deadline: 18 December 2026
Region: Global
The Allianz MoveNow Social Innovation Challenge, run by Social Shifters, is a global competition offering youth-led start-ups a share of USD 90,000 in grant funding – with multiple awards of USD 5,000 and USD 10,000 across three focus categories. Finalists also receive mentoring from an Allianz business mentor, exclusive learning materials and year-round access to a global opportunities network.
The challenge is open to impact-focused founders aged 18-30 from anywhere in the world. Projects must address one of three themes: financial confidence in the digital economy, closing health gaps for underrepresented groups, or community-led climate resilience.
Disclaimer: The opportunities listed here are drawn from publicly available sources and provided for informational purposes only. They do not constitute professional or legal advice and Social Enterprise World Forum accepts no responsibility for actions taken in relation to this information. We encourage all users to read the full terms and conditions of any opportunity before taking action. To request changes or removal of a listing, contact us at events@sewfonline.com.
Also read:
Social enterprise opportunities – October 2026 
Social enterprise news roundup – October 2026 
Ecosystem Leadership Exchange | From Seoul to the world: what Korea taught us about building a social economy ecosystem. 
SEWF Social Enterprise Day: Collective action for people and planet 
Empowering rural communities and youth through social enterprise policy: SEWF Policy Forum highlights