Social Innovation Seed Funding

What is Social Innovation Seed Funding?

Student Social Innovation Projects are initiatives, ventures, products, programs or processes intended to create positive social, economic or environmental transformation for SFU and/or its communities.

The Social Innovation Seed Fund provides financial support to help get your project off the ground. The funding is offered in partnership by RADIUS and Embark and is inspired by our shared mission to advance the sustainability of SFU and its communities.

To ensure that this generation of young people are equipped with the support and tools they need to address complex social and sustainability challenges, the fund was created to unlock the potential and seed the development of social innovation projects by SFU students. Further, it is also intended to contribute to the development of a robust social innovation zone at SFU, enhancing student access to early stage financial support and accelerating the development of sustainable innovations and student social innovators emerging from SFU.

General seed funding application deadline: May 8, 2020​

*New COVID-19 Community Relief funding now available:

RADIUS SFU, Embark, and the Charles Chang Institute for Entrepreneurship are teaming up to provide seed funding for exceptional ideas that help shift our economy towards equity, sustainability, and resilience during COVID-19.

Read more below.

COVID-19 Community relief funding application deadline: May 20, 2020​

Who Should Apply?

All students from across SFU are encouraged to apply for the Seed Fund. A primary team member must be an active student at SFU or a recent alumni (i.e. within six months of their convocation date).

Please keep in mind that:

  • Academic research projects and conference fees are not usually funded.
  • Projects that are already funded by other SFU student organizations are less likely to be considered.
  • One-time events can be funded up to a maximum of $500.

*New COVID-19 Community Relief Fund application process:

The Charles Chang Institute for Entrepreneurship has generously contributed an additional $5,000 for SFU student projects that indirectly or directly address systemic issues exacerbated by COVID-19. This includes but is not limited to:

  • Economic inclusion and sustainability
  • Health promotion
  • Strengthening communities
  • Poverty reduction 
  • Reduced inequalities
  • Justice, civic engagement, and partnerships 
  • And more

Not sure if your idea fits? Email us at seedfund@radiussfu.com  with your questions. 

Applications open on Wednesday, April 29th for 4 weeks and will be reviewed on a weekly basis.

TO APPLY:

  1. Create a copy of this document and write your responses below each question
  2. Email the document with your responses as a PDF to seedfund@radiussfu.com with the subject line “COVID Relief Application – [Project Name]”

General Social Innovation Seed Fund application process:

Applications will be reviewed by an internal committee co-led by Embark and RADIUS according to the following criteria:

  • Their eligibility — according to the terms described above.
  • Project potential — including demonstrated understanding of the problem being solved, communities served, need for funding requested, and strength of the individual/team making the request
  • Impact — to what degree might this create lasting economic, social and/or environmental transformation?

Application Deadlines

General Social Innovation Seed Funding:

Round 1: October 13, 2019

Round 2: November 24, 2019

Round 3: February 9, 2020

Round 4: May 8, 2020

Covid-19 Community Relief Funding: May 20, 2020

Applications now closed

Contact

Read through these Frequently Asked Questions before you apply.

Should you have any further questions, contact the Embark SI Seed Fund Co-Chair at info@embarksustainability.org

RADIUS SFU’s student programs are supported through funding from the following partners: