Global Citizen and PayPal Small Business Impact Awards 2025 ($25,000 award)

Get latest opportunities in your email

---

Join Our Telegram Channel

About Global Citizen and PayPal Small Business Impact Awards

PayPal and Global Citizen have joined together to celebrate small businesses that are revolutionizing commerce and advancing social and environmental impact.

The Global Citizen and PayPal Small Business Impact Awards were established to celebrate entrepreneurs and small business owners. We are looking for innovative leaders of small businesses and social enterprises who have developed products, services, and business models that make a positive social or environmental impact. 

The awards platform will grant these community leaders a $25,000 USD cash prize and connect them to data and insights, access to highly skilled commerce and payments experts, and marketing/brand activations to accelerate their work and impact. 

• Sponsor Organisation: Global Citizen

Benefits of Global Citizen and PayPal Small Business Impact Awards

Each winner (five) will win $25,000 and a free Masterclass training with Global Citizen's Marketing and Social Teams.

Global Citizen and PayPal Small Business Impact Awards Requirements

• Active Business Leader
  The applicant must be the business's owner, CEO, or founder and actively involved in business strategy and/or operations.
• Small-to-Medium Sized Business
  Business has fewer than 50 full-time employees or annual revenue under $1 million, and be registered as a small business in its home country.
• Demonstrate Community Impact
  The business should have at least 3 years of operation and show significant, tangible contributions to the local community.
  • Supporting local causes, charities, or nonprofit organizations. 
  • Engaging in community development projects or local partnerships. 
  • Implementing sustainable practices that benefit the local environment or economy. 
  • Creating jobs or providing educational/training opportunities for community members. 

• Serve the Local Community
  The business must operate and primarily serve the local community.
• Business Cannot Be:
  • Affiliated with an organization from any country or entity subject to financial or other sanctions by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) or other government entity of the United States of America.
  • A franchise or part of a national or international chain, as the focus is on independent, locally owned enterprises. 

Evaluation Criteria

Innovation
How your business’s innovation supports your mission and creates a positive societal or environmental impact.

Impact
Demonstrated track-record of measurable impact the last 3-5 years, advancing one or more of the Global Goals.

Vision
Compelling vision and concrete plans for how to expand this work in the next 3-5 years.

Grit
Tell us about an obstacle your business has faced or is facing, and how you have worked or are working to overcome it.

Application Date and Process

• Click on the link to the application website to apply.

If you are selected as one of the 15 finalists you will be contacted on or around September 22nd, 2025 to submit 3 letters of recommendation:

3 Letters of recommendation should include: 

• A Colleague 
• A Funder or Operational Partner 
• Person you’ve impacted 

Once you apply for the Award, you should have your letters of recommendation ready for submission. Supplemental information might also be requested of finalists. Finalists who are contacted and cannot provide letters of recommendation and supplemental information by the deadline may be removed from further consideration. 

If selected as a finalist, you will be provided with instructions on how to submit your letters of recommendation and supplemental information. 
In addition, shortlisted applicants may be required to provide their business’s registration details, including one or more of: the certificate of registration, certificate of incorporation, certificate of tax exemption (pdf only), annual report and/or business plan; please be prepared to provide this information. 

Application Deadline

15 August, 2025

Scholarship Application Portal

View details of Global Citizen and PayPal Small Business Impact Awards

Apply for Global Citizen and PayPal Small Business Impact Awards