Grants for the Development of Social Entrepreneurship

Stanley 1913 Creators Fund offers grants to support leaders working at the intersection of humanity, sustainability and possibility. Grant recipients are emerging Creators, Builders and Inventors who reflect the communities they serve and bring optimism for a better future. The Fund supports a wide variety of causes and challenges, including climate change, food security, housing security, and equity and justice. The program supports social entrepreneurs and the nonprofit organizations with which they are affiliated. Leaders are deeply engaged in their communities, develop innovative solutions to urgent challenges, and are willing to partner with communities, individuals, and brands.

The Stanley 1913 Creators Fund supports social entrepreneurs, their voices, ideas, and advancement, as well as the nonprofit organisations with which they are affiliated.

Organisations must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• demonstrate alignment with the objectives of the Stanley 1913 Creators Fund;
• operate in alignment with Stanley 1913’s values and standards, including its commitment to inclusion;
• be incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisation in the U.S. or, for organisations outside the U.S., hold a legally recognised nonprofit or charitable status in their country;
• have an operating history of less than 10 years;
• have annual operating income between USD 200,000 and USD 2,000,000;
• demonstrate willingness to partner with the Stanley 1913 brand and other stakeholders to amplify the story and progress of the awardee organisation.

For U.S.-based applicants, eligibility requires operation as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisation or partnership with a fiscal sponsor that is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisation.

In 2026, the programme provides single-year funding.

• The maximum award amount for each recipient is USD 50,000.
• Award amounts are determined at the sole discretion of Stanley 1913 and may be adjusted based on the number of applicants, the size of awardee organisations, and the strength of the proposals.
• Multi-year funding is not available in 2026.

The Stanley 1913 Creators Fund offers grants of up to USD 50,000 to support leaders working at the intersection of humanity, sustainability, and possibility.

The programme supports a wide range of causes and challenges, including:

• climate change;
• food security;
• housing security;
• equity and justice.

Grant support is intended for Creators, Builders, and Inventors who work to address these challenges in their local communities and contribute to a better future.

• September 13, 2026 — application deadline, 11:59 pm PST.
• By November 2026 — all applicants will be notified of their status.
• November 2026 — final decisions and awards will be made.

Interested applicants should complete an online application found on: https://www.stanley1913.com/pages/stanley-1913-creators-fund

Applications are evaluated according to the Stanley 1913 Creators Fund criteria. A points-based scoring system is not specified in the provided material; applications are assessed against qualitative criteria.

The main evaluation criteria are:

• Create, Build, Invent — the leader(s) and organisation demonstrate innovation and originality in their approach to systems change.
• Theory of Change — the leader(s) and organisation demonstrate that they have created, defined, tested, and/or raised funding for an impactful solution to an urgent challenge.
• Leadership and Voice — a compelling voice and narrative are used to advance ideas, rally support, influence, and lead.
• Project & Capacity — programme funding will enable additional development and/or delivery of the inventive and original solution.
• Inclusion — inclusion is prioritised in operational commitments and service delivery.
• Partnership — commitment to collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders and recognition of the value of partnerships.

Leading applicants may be asked to provide further information and/or participate in a conversation with Stanley 1913 Creators Fund representatives before a final decision is made.

Leading applicants may be asked to provide further information and/or join in conversation with Stanley 1913 Creators Fund representatives before a final decision is determined.

U.S.-based organizations must have 501(c)(3) status or operate with a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor eligible to receive corporate funding. Organizations outside the U.S. must have legally recognized nonprofit or charitable status in their country. Organizations must also comply with Stanley 1913 values and standards, its non-discrimination policy, and applicable U.S. or international law.