Nasdaq Foundation works to connect business, capital, and innovative ideas to advance global economies and local communities to champion diversity in investor engagement.

PROGRAM CRITERIA  

Grants will be given in this area to organizations and programs that deliver impact in one or more of the following ways:  

1. Regional Revitalization and Rural Wealth Building 

Supporting community development, improving infrastructure, and offering workforce training to strengthen economies and increase market opportunities in underresourced regions. 

Grants will be given to organizations and programs which deliver impact in one or more of the following ways:

• Promoting economic development initiatives in rural communities 

• Improving infrastructure and resources that support local business growth 

• Providing workforce training and development programs that enhance employability and entrepreneurship 

• Creating pathways for wealth building and economic resilience in revitalized regions 

2. Investor Identity 

Cultivating a new generation of investors equipped to shape the future of financial markets. 

Grants will be given to organizations and programs which deliver impact in one or more of the following ways: 

• Building confidence and identity among emerging investors 

• Expanding access to knowledge and tools for investing and wealth creation 

• Enhancing financial literacy, with an element of teaching participants how to invest in capital markets 

• Fostering investor mindset and long-term wealth-building strategies

3. Financial Literacy and Resilience 

Empowering individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed financial decisions, thus cultivating financially resilient communities. 

Grants will be given to organizations and programs which deliver impact in one or more of the following ways: 

• Delivering comprehensive financial education programs 

• Building financial capability and confidence through practical, actionable training

• Strengthening household and community financial resilience 

• Integrating financial literacy with pathways to investment and wealth creation 

*The Foundation generally does not fund financial literacy projects which focus exclusively on K-12 education.*

4. Access to Capital

Supplying financial resources that catalyze the growth of businesses and projects originating from revitalized regions, supporting both new and established ventures. 

Grants will be given to organizations and programs which deliver impact in one or more of the following ways: 

• Improving access to capital for founders and entrepreneurs 

• Supporting programs that prepare businesses for investment readiness 

• Facilitating access to alternative financing models and capital sources for under-resourced communities

5. Employee and Community Ownership 

Enabling individuals to directly control assets and promote shared ownership to achieve fairer distribution of wealth, resources, and economic opportunities. 

Grants will be given to organizations and programs which deliver impact in one or more of the following ways: 

• Supporting employee ownership models and transitions 

• Promoting community ownership structures and cooperative enterprises 

• Advancing equitable wealth distribution through shared ownership models 

• Building capacity for under-resourced communities to own and control local assets and enterprises

Evaluation of Proposals

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? 

• Does the project complement, rather than duplicate, the efforts of the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center or address an audience that the Entrepreneurial Center is currently not addressing? 

• 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 duplicated elsewhere, or scaled to serve more people?

There is no set minimum or maximum grant amount. The Foundation's Leadership Team will consider whether the amount requested is commensurate with the project proposed and appropriate for the Foundation's annual grantmaking target and charitable purposes

Generally, grants have one-year terms. The Nasdaq Foundation will consider a multiple-year commitment if the grant seeker can 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.