Economic Opportunity Grant Program

The Nasdaq Foundation Economic Opportunity Grant Program is a philanthropic initiative established by the Nasdaq Philanthropic Foundation, which was founded in 1994 to connect business, capital, and innovative ideas to advance global economies and local communities. The Foundation’s mission centers on expanding access to investor engagement and fostering equitable economic participation. Through this grant program, the Foundation seeks to support scalable programs that align with its broader purpose of empowering economic opportunity while responding to evolving market conditions and community needs. The program focuses on five primary areas of impact: regional revitalization and rural wealth building, investor identity, financial literacy and resilience, access to capital, and employee and community ownership. These focus areas are designed to strengthen economic ecosystems by supporting community development, expanding financial education, and enabling broader participation in wealth creation. Projects may include workforce development initiatives, financial literacy programs with investment education components, support for entrepreneurs in underserved regions, and models that promote shared ownership and equitable asset distribution. Funding under this program is flexible, with no predefined minimum or maximum award amounts. Applicants are encouraged to request funding commensurate with the scale and impact of their proposed projects. Grants are typically awarded for a one-year term, although multi-year commitments may be considered if applicants can demonstrate the necessity or long-term benefit of extended funding. Reasonable overhead costs may be included in the proposed budget, provided they are clearly specified and justified. Eligibility is limited primarily to organizations recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. For-profit entities may participate only if they are acting on behalf of or in partnership with a qualified tax-exempt organization, such as through a fiscal sponsorship arrangement. Ineligible applicants include standalone for-profit entities without nonprofit affiliation, individuals or entities classified as disqualified persons under IRS rules, organizations with unresolved compliance issues from prior grants, and those presenting conflicts of interest with Nasdaq or its affiliated entities. The application process begins with the submission of an Expression of Interest through the GrantsConnect online portal. This initial step serves as a screening mechanism, and only selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal. The Foundation evaluates proposals based on organizational capacity, alignment with program priorities, potential for measurable impact, scalability, and the extent to which the project complements existing initiatives rather than duplicating them. Additional considerations include governance structure, financial sustainability, and leadership expertise. The program operates on a biannual cycle with two primary submission deadlines each year. For 2026, Expressions of Interest are due on February 13 and July 31. Selected applicants may be invited to submit full proposals approximately one month later, with final proposal deadlines and award notifications occurring within the same cycle. Awards are generally announced within several months of submission, and funded projects are expected to commence shortly thereafter. Organizations may submit multiple Expressions of Interest, and there is no limit to the number of proposals per entity. For inquiries, applicants may contact the Foundation directly via email at foundation@nasdaq.com. Additional guidance, including detailed application requirements and evaluation criteria, is provided in the official grant guidelines document. The program is recurring and intended to continue supporting innovative, community-driven economic development efforts on an ongoing basis.

Align proposal clearly with one or more impact areas; demonstrate measurable outcomes and scalability; highlight organizational capacity and community impact