Grant News
Student and graduate entrepreneurs emerging from UK universities have the chance to win funding to scale up their social enterprise.
The Ford Family Foundation’s Ignite Competition invites applications from social innovators passionate about creating positive social or environmental change through their emerging ventures — whether advancing education, public or mental health, refugee support, climate solutions, or community-based initiatives.
The winner will receive a £20,000 Impact Accelerator grant, and a tailored support package to help them scale up their social enterprise. A further £30,000 will be shared between four other finalists.
To be eligible, applicants must:
- have at least one founder who is a student or recent graduate (past 3 years) of a UK university
- be a registered organisation (for-profit startup, a CIC, or a charity)
- show evidence of demonstratable social and/or environmental impact
- be generating or planning to generate at least 50% of income through trading
- have a turnover or investment to date under £100,000
The five shortlisted finalists will be announced in August ahead of a pitching and celebration event in October.
Each business will need to provide a written application or 5-7 slide pitch deck, a five-minute video pitch, and financial projections for the next 12 months.
The closing date for applications is the 31st July 2025.
Useful Links: