Eligibility Process

The Social Impact Business Plan Competition is open to all U.S.-based nonprofit organizations with a focus in education, youth development, health, poverty alleviation or community economic development. (Additional categories to be added in future years.) Individuals and for-profit social purpose organizations are not eligible to enter.

To enter the Competition, nonprofits must meet the following requirements:

• 501 c 3 status Headquartered in the U.S. (i.e., main office, administrative center from which operations are managed, directed and controlled)
• A member of the Social Impact Exchange (membership is free - click here to join).
• The intent to scale an evidence-based solution(s) to reach greater numbers of people and thereby increase the quantity of impact, by implementing one or more of the following strategies:
  
  • Expanding geographically: offering a current program, service, product, platform, practice or initiative in new locations – local, regional or national; or
  • Expanding target audiences: providing a current service, product, platform, practice or initiative more frequently or in greater quantity to current or new people; or
  • Promoting a model: encouraging the replication of a social intervention by promoting it to others; or
  • Influencing public policy: changing public policy to increase the number served or needs addressed, or to reduce the need; or
  • Establishing a social movement: creating change through a large-scale social movement that influences public opinion or collective action in support of an issue.
• Meet the eligibility requirements in one of two tracks (note: each organization may enter the Social Impact Business Plan Competition in one category only):

Early-Stage Growth: Open to established organizations with initiatives in the early stages of growth::

• clear understading 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 initiatives 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.