PayPal Small Business Impact Awards: $25,000 for Community-Driven Entrepreneurs

Grant Overview

Revolutionary Grant Program Rewarding Small Business Owners Making Real Social Impact

Donor: PayPal, Global Citizen

About: PayPal and Global Citizen have joined together to celebrate small businesses that are revolutionizing commerce and advancing social and environmental impact. The real question isn’t whether your business makes money – it’s whether it makes a difference. This grant cuts straight through the noise of traditional funding programs to find entrepreneurs who’ve figured out how to do both.

Five winners will walk away with $25,000 each, but let’s be blunt about what this really represents. The Global Citizen and PayPal Small Business Impact Awards seek to shine a spotlight on these unsung heroes: founders, CEOs, and business owners who are putting purpose at the heart of their operations. And the money comes with something even more valuable – direct access to Global Citizen’s marketing team through an exclusive masterclass.

What PayPal and Global Citizen Are Really Looking For

Think community-first businesses that have been grinding for at least three years. These aren’t startup pipe dreams or lifestyle businesses masquerading as social enterprises. The judges want to see measurable impact – the kind you can point to and say, “This changed because we existed.”

This initiative sets aside $125,000 in total, with five winners receiving $25,000 each. But here’s what makes this different from every other small business contest you’ve seen: they’re not just looking for innovation. They want grit. They want to hear about the obstacle that almost killed your business and how you fought through it.

The evaluation criteria breaks down into four critical areas. Innovation isn’t just about having a cool product – it’s about how your innovation creates genuine societal or environmental benefit. Impact means showing real results over the past 3-5 years, with concrete numbers tied to at least one of the United Nations Global Goals. Vision requires a compelling roadmap for scaling your work over the next 3-5 years. And Grit? That’s where you tell the story of your biggest challenge and how you’re handling it.

The Application Process Decoded

Applications opened on June 26th, 2025, and close on August 15, 2025. The process has four distinct phases, and each one is designed to filter out the dreamers from the doers.

Phase one covers the basics – who you are and what your business does. Nothing fancy here, just the fundamentals. Phase two is where things get interesting: you need a 1-2 minute video pitch explaining why you deserve this award. No professional production required, but your passion better come through that screen.

Phase three asks you to address each of the four evaluation criteria in 250 words or less. This is where you prove you understand the difference between running a business and running a business that matters. Phase four only kicks in if you make it to the finalist round.

Up to 15 finalists will be notified on or around September 22nd, 2025. If you make it this far, you’ll need three letters of recommendation: one from a colleague, one from a funder or operational partner, and one from someone your business has directly impacted. These can’t be generic endorsements – they need to speak specifically to your work and its results.

Size Matters (But Not How You Think)

The eligibility requirements are refreshingly straightforward. You must be the owner, CEO, or founder actively involved in strategy and operations. Your business needs fewer than 50 full-time employees or annual revenue under $1 million. And here’s the key part – you need at least three years of demonstrated community impact.

What does community impact actually mean? Supporting local causes, engaging in community development projects, implementing sustainable practices that benefit your local environment or economy, or creating jobs and educational opportunities for community members. Notice the pattern – it’s all about local, tangible benefits.

This isn’t for franchises or parts of national chains. Unlike other small business grants that focus purely on growth, this program specifically targets independent, locally-owned enterprises that serve their immediate communities.

The Global Reach Strategy

One of the most compelling aspects of this program is its truly global scope. Applications are accepted from anywhere in the world, with the notable exception of countries subject to financial sanctions by OFAC. This creates an unprecedented opportunity for international small businesses to access both funding and the marketing expertise of a major U.S. organization.

While other international grant programs often get bogged down in complex eligibility requirements, this one keeps it simple: if you can demonstrate local impact and aren’t in a sanctioned country, you’re eligible to apply.

Timeline and Key Milestones

Applications are being accepted from June 26th through August 15th, 2025. Finalists will be announced around September 22nd, 2025. Winners will be selected after the finalist evaluation period, though the exact announcement date hasn’t been specified.

If you’re serious about applying, start gathering your documentation now. Beyond the basic application, similar to other competitive small business grants, you’ll want your letters of recommendation ready to go. The program specifically requests letters from a colleague, a funder or operational partner, and someone your business has impacted.

What the Money Actually Funds

The $25,000 comes with no strings attached. Unlike many grant programs that restrict how funds can be used, this award money is completely unconditional. The only requirement is quarterly written updates on your organization’s progress for one year after receiving the award.

This level of flexibility is rare in the grant world. Most funding opportunities for entrepreneurs come with detailed spending requirements or matching fund obligations. Here, the focus is on results, not micromanaging how you achieve them.

The Masterclass Advantage

Beyond the cash prize, winners receive something potentially more valuable – an in-person masterclass with Global Citizen’s marketing and social teams. This isn’t generic business advice. Global Citizen has built a platform that has inspired over 49 million actions since 2009, leading to more than $49 billion in commitments that have impacted 1.3 billion lives.

Access to this level of marketing expertise could transform how you communicate your mission and scale your impact. Similar to other grants that include mentorship components, the real value often lies in the connections and knowledge transfer, not just the funding.

Common Mistakes That Kill Applications

Most applications fail because they treat this like a traditional business contest. But this isn’t about your revenue projections or market analysis. The judges want to see proof of impact, not proof of profitability.

Another critical mistake is focusing too heavily on future plans without demonstrating past results. You need at least three years of operational history with measurable community impact. Dreams and good intentions don’t count.

The video component trips up many applicants. You don’t need professional production values, but you do need authenticity and passion. Keep it simple, keep it real, and make sure your voice comes through clearly.

Making Your Application Stand Out

Focus on specificity over generalities. Instead of saying you “support the community,” explain exactly how many jobs you’ve created, which local organizations you’ve partnered with, or what measurable environmental improvements you’ve achieved.

Tell the obstacle story with vulnerability and resolution. The grit criterion isn’t about avoiding problems – it’s about how you handle them when they inevitably arise. Similar to veteran-focused business grants, they want to see resilience and problem-solving ability.

Align your impact with the UN Global Goals where possible. This gives your work context within the larger framework Global Citizen uses to measure success.

Honestly, putting together an application this comprehensive while running a business is no small task. If you’re serious about this opportunity and want expert guidance on crafting a compelling narrative that highlights your impact, that’s exactly what we do at Grantaura. Sometimes having a second pair of eyes review your application can make the difference between making the finalist cut and getting lost in the pile. CLICK HERE to get the GRANT PROPOSAL WRITING help.

Focus: Small business funding, social impact entrepreneurship, community development, environmental sustainability, local economic development, social enterprise funding

Region: Global (excluding OFAC sanctioned countries)

Eligibility:
– Active business owner, CEO, or founder involved in strategy and operations
– Small-to-medium business with fewer than 50 full-time employees OR annual revenue under $1 million
– Registered as small business in home country
– Minimum 3 years of demonstrated community impact through local partnerships, sustainable practices, job creation, or educational opportunities
– Must primarily serve local community
— Cannot be franchise or part of national/international chain
— Cannot be affiliated with OFAC sanctioned countries or entities

Benefits:
– Financial Award: $25,000 USD cash prize (5 winners total)
– Mentorship: In-person masterclass with Global Citizen’s marketing and social teams
– Networking: Access to Global Citizen’s international advocacy network and expertise
– Recognition: Platform exposure through Global Citizen’s global communications channels

Deadline: August 15, 2025

Terms:
– Small-to-Medium Business: Fewer than 50 full-time employees or annual revenue under $1 million, registered as small business in home country
– Community Impact: Demonstrated track record of tangible contributions to local community through partnerships, sustainable practices, job creation, or educational opportunities
– OFAC Sanctions: Office of Foreign Assets Control restrictions that prevent prize money transfer to certain countries and entities
– Quarterly Updates: Written progress reports required for one year after receiving award to track organizational development
– Local Community Service: Business must operate and primarily serve the geographic community where it’s based, not distant markets