The WE Empower UN SDG Challenge is not designed for early-stage startup ideas or pre-revenue ventures. It is a highly competitive, global capacity-building program targeting established women social entrepreneurs who have already proven their business models and are actively advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Because the final phase of this program involves an international pitch competition, the eligibility criteria are exceptionally strict and serve as a rigorous early filter. To use our eligibility checker, you will need to know your exact operational history, your calculated full-time employee equivalents (FTEs), and your annual revenue. Most importantly, you must be prepared to back up your financial claims with audited records if you progress to the finalist stage.
Understanding the $75,000 Revenue Floor
One of the most frequent disqualifiers is the revenue minimum. Your enterprise must generate at least $75,000 USD annually. For for-profit businesses, this must come from direct sales and services, not investment capital or loans. For nonprofits, the organizers allow a critical exception: grants, direct donations, and fundraising proceeds all count toward your revenue threshold. However, self-reported spreadsheets are insufficient. Finalists must provide verified tax returns or CPA-audited financial statements.
The Strict August 1 Cutoff Dates
Age and operational history are not flexible. You must be at least 21 years old, and your organization must have been in active operation for no less than three full years. Both of these metrics are strictly calculated against a hard cutoff date of August 1, 2026. If you miss this cutoff by even a few weeks, your application will be administratively rejected before it reaches the judges.
Travel and Visa Prerequisites
Unlike regional grants, this program demands international travel. While the marquee pitch event is traditionally held in New York City during UN Climate Week, organizers are actively maintaining Geneva, Switzerland, as a backup location due to complex U.S. visa environments. You must have a passport that allows you to legally and realistically travel to either destination, and you must commit to attending the virtual programming sessions leading up to the trip.
