The Scaling Social Impact Competition is a business plan competition that identifies social sector scaling initiatives with demonstrated impact and readiness to grow – and supports them with up to $100,000 of financial and consulting awards. The Competition helps develop a strong pipeline of growth ready organizations and provides them with the resources to successfully take the next steps in their growth trajectory.

Competition Tracks

The Competition has two tracks:

1. Early-Stage Growth - organizations that have a strategy for scaling their social impact but are in the early stage of growth.
2. Mezzanine-Stage Growth – organizations that have (a) a significant level of successful product/service adoption and demand from the target population, (b) demonstrated positive outcomes, and (c) defined strategies for scaling their social impact.

During an 8-month evaluation process, entrants develop and submit business plans to scale their operations and improve the lives of people in need. Competition entrants have access to a website of resources on growth, take part in group training and one-on-one consulting, and receive customized written feedback on their plans. Judging is conducted by qualified volunteers from multiple sectors.

Eligibility: U.S.-based nonprofit organizations with a focus in education, youth development, health, poverty alleviation or community economic development are eligible to enter.

Qualifying nonprofit organizations will enter the Competition in the one category that best reflects their stage of growth (see Eligibility Requirements)

• Early-Stage Growth – those that have a strategy for scaling their social impact but are in the early stage of growth.
  • Round I: Entrants submit a Letter of Intent, application form, and strategy paper of no more than 8 pages (required format for Table of Contents, single spaced, 12 pt. font, 1" margins) describing their plan for growth. Due Date: As soon as possible but no later than December 18, 2009. (click here for Table of Contents format for Strategy Paper).
  • Round II: Entrants invited to proceed to Round II receive business plan training and at the end of Round II submit an "early draft" of their growth business plan of no more than 30 pages excluding appendixes (required format for Table of Contents, single spaced, 12 pt. font, 1" margins). Due Date: No later than April 12, 2010. Click here for Table of Contents format for Draft Business Plan.
  • Round III: Finalists invited to proceed to Round III give an 8-minute presentation of their plan before a panel of judges and respond to 10-minutes of Q&A at the Exchange's Annual Conference in June 2010. After hearing all the presentations, the judges deliberate and select the winner.

Award: The winner of the Early-Stage Competition will receive up to $50,000 in cash and the services of a consulting firm to further develop its growth plan.

• Mezzanine-Stage Growth - those that are in a more mature stage of growth
  • Round I: Entrants submit a Letter of Intent, application form, and draft growth business plan of no more than 30 pages excluding appendixes (required format for Table of Contents, single spaced, 12 pt. font, 1" margins). Due Date: As soon as possible but no later than December 18, 2009.Click here for Table of Contents format for Draft Business Plan.
  • Round II: Entrants invited to proceed to Round II work one-on-one with a consultant to hone their growth plan and at the end of Round II submit an updated business plan of no more than 30 pages excluding appendixes (required format for Table of Contents, single spaced, 12 pt. font, 1" margins). Due Date: No later than April 12, 2010. Click here for Table of Contents format for Business Plan.
  • Round III: Finalists invited to proceed to Round III give an 8-minute presentation of their plan before a panel of judges and respond to 10-minutes of Q&A at the Exchange's Annual Conference in June 2010. After hearing all the presentations, the judges deliberate and select the winner.

Award: The winner of the Mezzanine-Stage Competition will receive up to $100,000 in cash, a guaranteed place to present at the next Exchange Annual Conference's Investment Fair, and a place in Growth Philanthropy Network's portfolio. Growth Philanthropy Network will help the organization further fine tune its plan and raise the capital required to execute its plan.

Deadline: December 18, 2009. For more information and details please visit their web site.

To view other available grants please click here.

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