Call for D-PRIZE Competition 2026 is open now!!!
D-Prize is a grant-funded nonprofit targeting extreme poverty. They seed social impact organizations that otherwise wouldn’t exist. Most founders in low-and-middle income countries don’t have access to startup capital, and they provide philanthropic seed support so their ventures, NGOs, & charities can launch.
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They care about evidence-based impact. The world already has cost-effective products & services targeting poverty, and they specifically seed organizations to distribute these at scale where there is still need. Their vision is to see existing high-impact poverty interventions made universally accessible.
D-Prize award startup grants of up to $20,000 to entrepreneurs launching new organizations. They believe the world needs more social impact organizations, and they seed for-profit ventures, NGOs, and charities. They support organizations in any low-or-middle income country where extreme poverty still exists.
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They believe social impact organizations are uniquely positioned to distribute an existing product or service known to improve lives where need still exists. View the D-Prize Challenges and select one of the high-impact products or services in need of greater global access.
Their seed support is meant to be the launching point for your organization that grows to large-scale. Follow their Application Process to design an initial test pilot of your larger vision. Submit your concept to their twice-annual competition. If selected, you will receive seed support to launch.
Challenge Areas:
You must choose one of the following categories and propose a distribution strategy:
- Health: Kangaroo Care, Sayana® Press contraceptives, oxygen concentrator repair, maternal health, immunization outreach, HIV prevention, etc.
- Water: Ceramic water filters.
- Agriculture: Inputs and training, post-harvest loans, livestock interventions.
- Livelihoods: Childcare access, reading glasses, ultra-poverty support, financial inclusion.
- Energy: Pico solar lamps.
- Public Services: Anti-corruption data reporting, road safety campaigns.
- Education: Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL), ConnectEd phone-based learning.
- Custom: Your own idea for distributing a proven poverty intervention.
Location:
OnlineBenefits
Here are the key benefits of applying to D-Prize —
Seed Funding
- Up to $20,000 USD in seed capital to launch your pilot.
- Funding is provided to test your idea in the field and prove its viability.
Venture Launch Support
- You’ll receive mentorship and guidance from the D-Prize team during the pilot phase.
- If successful, you’ll be connected to investors, accelerators, and funders to scale your venture.
Global Recognition
- D-Prize winners are featured as global changemakers tackling poverty through distribution innovation.
- Your work may be showcased to partners, media, and funders worldwide.
Skill Development
- The application process helps you sharpen your:
- Strategic thinking
- Problem-solving
- Proposal writing
- Impact modeling
Network Access
- Join a growing community of social entrepreneurs working across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
- Gain access to peer support, collaboration opportunities, and shared resources.
Eligibilities
- D-Prize is for new organizations.
- Most of our awardees are first-time entrepreneurs.
- Most have not yet launched their organization, nor have they raised other funding.
- they especially encourage those from low-and-middle income countries to apply.
- They typically will not support organizations with more than 18 months of full time operations or that have raised more than $30,000 USD in outside funding.
Application Process
- Choose a Challenge:
Pick a proven poverty solution to distribute (e.g., solar lamps, maternal health, agriculture). - Prepare Your Application:
Prepare a concept note (2 pages max). Describing your distribution model, barriers, and pilot focus. Include an outcome table, pilot budget, and long-term vision. Adding a team table with roles and commitments. - Resume(s): 1 page per team member.
- Optional:
•Custom Challenge: Add 1 page + credible source.
• Existing org: Include summary + budget. - Submit Online:
Convert your files to PDF (under 4MB).Then upload it at d-prize.org/submit. For a team, every team member provide one proposal per person/team.
Application Deadline: January 4, 2026
Application ClosedOfficial link
