Global Citizen and PayPal Small Business Impact Awards ($25,000 Cash Prize )

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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. They 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 
• 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.

1. Supporting local causes, charities, or nonprofit organizations. 
2. Engaging in community development projects or local partnerships. 
3. Implementing sustainable practices that benefit the local environment or economy. 
4. 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:

1. 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.
2. 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

The application consists of four parts: 

1. About you & about your business, 
2. Pitch 
3. Description of how your work aligns with the judging criteria 
4. Supplemental organizational details (upon request)

For the first part, you will be required to submit basic information about you and your business.
For the second part, you must explain why you deserve this award and provide us with a 1-2 minute video of your pitch. 
For the third part, you will be required to answer four short answer questions about your work. In 250 words or less, you will describe how you meet each one of the Awards’ criteria.

Apply Now

Application Deadline

15 August, 2025

Scholarship Application Portal

View details of Global Citizen and PayPal Small Business Impact Awards

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