The Nasdaq Foundation is pleased to launch the Quarterly Grant Program to accelerate progress in diversifying entrepreneurship and empowering a more diverse group of investors, and is accepting grant requests for programs that align with their mission.
Mission
At the Nasdaq Foundation, their mission is to:
Reimagine investor engagement to equip under-represented communities with the financial knowledge and tools to share in the wealth that markets create; and
Leverage the Foundation’s investment in the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center alongside new strategic partnerships with organizations that can help build a deeper, data-led understanding where the challenges are greatest, what existing efforts could be amplified, and how the Foundation can make new and distinctive contributions.
Area of Focus
They use their resources in two areas of focus:
Programs designed to empower diverse investors with the financial knowledge and confidence they need to share in the wealth that markets can create.
Programs designed to support women and under-represented minority communities with the resources needed to grow and sustain their businesses.
Funding Information
There is no set minimum or maximum grant amount. The Nasdaq Foundation’s Leadership Team will consider whether the amount requested is commensurate with the project proposed and appropriatefor the Nasdaq Foundation’s annual grant making target and charitable purposes.
Reasonable overhead costs may be included in the grant request but must be specified.
Unless otherwise specified and agreed upon, all grants have one-year terms. Under very limited circumstances, the Nasdaq Foundation will make a multiple-year commitment. It is incumbent uponthe grant seeker to demonstrate the necessity or benefit of multiple-year funding in the grant proposal.
There is no limit as to the number of proposals a single entity may submit at one time.
Program Criteria
Empower diverse investors with the financial knowledge and confidence they need to share inthe wealth that markets can create.
Grants will be given in this area to organizations and programs which deliver impact in one or more of the following ways:
Enhance financial literacy among women and under-represented communities
Improve access to knowledge and tools among women and under-represented communities
Support diverse entrepreneurs with the resources to strengthen and scale their businesses andcontribute to the prosperity of society.
Grants will be given in this area to organizations and programs which deliver impact in one or more of the following ways:
Equip women and diverse founders with mentoring and resources
Improve access to capital for women and diverse founders
Grant proposals could be evaluated based on some of the following criteria and considerations:
Does the organization have the capacity and expertise to successfully leverage Nasdaq Foundation funding?
What is the organization’s governance and financial model, track record in the community and leadership team expertise?
What is your intended impact with the Nasdaq Foundation funds? Will the project have influence or repercussions elsewhere in the community? If it is successful, could it be duplicatedelsewhere, or scaled to serve more people?
Eligibility Criteria
The Nasdaq Foundation will accept grant requests from:
Organizations designated as tax-exempt according to §501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service code.
A for-profit business or consultant acting on behalf of a qualified tax-exempt entity. Please note that if the grant is awarded, a representative of the tax-exempt entity must sign the grant agreement andthe grant will be paid to the tax-exempt entity.
Entities specifically ineligiblefor Foundation support include:
“For profit” businesses – generally, entities not designated as tax-exempt according to §501(c)(3) ofthe Internal Revenue Service code.
Entities and individuals designated as “disqualified persons” as defined in §4946 of the InternalRevenue Service code.
Former grant recipients who did not fulfill the terms of a previous grant from the Nasdaq Foundationor another tax-exempt entity.
Organizations that present a potential conflict of interest with Nasdaq, Inc., Nasdaq PhilanthropicFoundation, Inc. or any of their officers or directors.
