Business Plan Competition
Overview
The Competition identifies social sector scaling initiatives with demonstrated impact and readiness to scale – and supports them with financial and consulting awards. The Competition helps develop a strong pipeline of scale-ready initiatives and provides them with resources to take the next step successfully. Click here for results from past competitions.
U.S.-based nonprofits with a focus in education, youth development, health, poverty alleviation or community economic development are eligible to enter.
During an 8-month evaluation process, entrants develop and submit business plans to scale their impact and improve the lives of people in need. Judging is conducted on a pro bono basis by professionals from the private, public and nonprofit sectors. Competition entrants have access to a website of resources on scaling, take part in group training and one-on-one consulting, and receive customized written feedback on their plans. The final round of the Social Impact Business Plan Competition takes place in June in New York City.
Competition Tracks
The Competition has two tracks:
Early-Stage Growth: Open to established organizations with initiatives in the early stages of growth:
- clear understanding of key program elements and processes required for scaling.
- piloted in at least one site for a minimum of one year [for geographic scaling]
- achievement of some product or service adoption for a minimum of one year [for other types of scaling].
- data collection [inputs, activities, outputs] and documentation of early results indicating effectiveness and the potential for impact at scale. The data must be from the actual implementation, not general research data that states a certain method works.
- a well defined strategy for further expansion.
Mezzanine-Stage Growth: Open to established organizations with initatives that have begun to implement their scaling plans: key program elements and processes required for additional scaling.
- implementation in at least two sites for a minimum of two years [for geographic scaling].
- achievement of significant product or service adoption and demand from the target population for a minimum of two years [for other types of scaling].
- systematic data collection for at least two years [inputs, activities, outputs] and documentation to-date of effectiveness and desired social impact [outcomes]. The data must be from the actual implementation, not general research data that states a certain method works.
- evidence of implementation of a well defined strategy for expansion to a specified new level of operational scale and impact.
