iF SOCIAL IMPACT Prize 2025: Win €100k grant for your social innovation
The iF SOCIAL IMPACT Prize 2025 is currently open to applicants all over the world seeking to make a positive impact on society. Whether it’s an NGO, a large company, a social enterprise or a foundation, this opportunity could be your launchpad.
The iF SOCIAL IMPACT Prize, an initiative of the iF Design Foundation, is based in Germany and is known for promoting and supporting projects that contribute to social change. The initiative focuses on pushing projects that address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and solve real-world problems. Since its inception in 2017, the initiative has recognised and supported impactful ideas across the world, helping them scale, gain visibility and provide financial support.
Past winners
Over the years, the iF SOCIAL IMPACT Prize has awarded several projects that address pressing global challenges like
- Solar Cow and Power Milk (Kenya), which South Korea’s YOLK developed, installed solar charging stations in schools to provide electricity, and at the same time, increase the number of school attendees
- Girls not Wives (Nigeria) is an initiative run by the Wasi Ben-Horki Foundation, a project that fights child marriage and promotes girls’ education
- AkoFresh (Ghana) is an initiative that addresses post-harvest losses, offering solar-powered cold storage to farmers to extend the shelf life of perishable crops
These projects are examples of using innovation’s power to address pressing societal challenges.
Benefits
- Winners will receive up to €100,000 in prize money to be distributed among selected projects
- Global exposure through the iF Design website, reaching a wide network of industry experts and potential collaborators
- The selected projects will be awarded an individual winner certificate to recognise their effort
Eligibility
To qualify for the iF SOCIAL IMPACT Prize 2025, the submitted projects must align with one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and show the potential to have a positive impact on society. The project should also reflect a meaningful experience that upholds strong moral and ethical values. Eligible projects should already be implemented or in the advanced planning stage. The award is open to individuals, companies, NGOs, foundations, social enterprises and entrepreneurs. There are no restrictions on the size and age of any company applying.
How to apply
Create an official iF SOCIAL IMPACT account on the website, and fill in the necessary information. Upload two pictures, enter a short entry description and add the initiator and partner address. Then, publish the project to finalise participation. After a brief content check, you will receive a confirmation indicating that your project will automatically compete for the prize. There is no application fee.
Application Deadline
The iF SOCIAL IMPACT PRIZE is decided twice a year; the first selection deadline is on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, and the second selection deadline is Monday, September 1, 2025.
Do you have an innovative business (small, mid-scale business or startup) that adds value, creates opportunities or solves bold problems? Then you`ve got a story worth telling? Shoot us an email with the subject “Story Worth Telling (+Name of Business)” to editorial@smepeaks.com
