Looking to accelerate your nonprofit so you can do more good and get closer to making your dream a reality? These seven startup accelerators for nonprofits and social entrepreneurs are designed to offer guidance, investment, resources, and more to help your do-good idea succeed. Read on to learn more!
Startup accelerators are nothing new. Dotted around the world, big and small, startup accelerators in their various forms and shapes have propelled thousands of startups forward. And for a reason.
Startup accelerators for nonprofits can offer a vast range of services, that can include:
The startup accelerator industry has been taking the world by storm in the last decade. It is continuing to grow in the United States and Canada, which are leading in investments. Europe leads with the most accelerator programs, but the accelerator industry is also expanding rapidly in Latin America, where a mix of private and public capital is fuelling a surge in startups and accelerators.
Until very recently, nonprofits have not had the opportunity to join accelerators. Luckily, this has been changing. Nowadays, numerous accelerators have started increasingly turning to nonprofits or even focusing exclusively on them (albeit the second scenario is still rare).
Although nonprofits operate differently from corporate organizations, there is a lot to learn from the way for-profit organizations plan, deliver and evaluate their products and services.
Here are some of the top nonprofit accelerators you can consider if you’re a nonprofit or a social entrepreneur:
*nonprofit organizations only*
Fast Forward is one of a kind. They are a tech nonprofit accelerator, supporting entrepreneurs who are using technology to advance social impact.
All participants must be nonprofits leveraging technology to address problems in arts/culture, education, environment, food/agriculture, health/healthcare, human rights, poverty alleviation/economic development, or public service/civic engagement.
Since 2013, they’ve raised over $753 million in funding to accelerate their ventures. They pride themselves on embracing diversity, with over 26% of their organizations founded by a Black founder.
Fast Forward’s accelerator program takes place in San Francisco, CA during the summer. All organizations receive a $25,000 grant, 13 weeks of training, and connections to 100 high-caliber mentors.
For-profits cannot apply since, as Fast Forward says it, “their initial focus in on innovative solutions addressing problems for which there is no market demand.”
Their content is uniquely adapted to the nonprofit needs. For example, fundraising strategies are different for nonprofits at every stage of the fundraising process than they are for their for-profit peers. While for-profit accelerators can provide invaluable insights to nonprofits, Fast Forward also focuses on topics specific to nonprofits eg. board development, governance, leveraging volunteers etc.
Apply for Fast Forward here.
*for-profits and nonprofit organizations*
Y Combinator is a prestigious accelerator that has seen the likes of Airbnb and Dropbox join their program. They have created a model for funding early-stage startups.
Founded in 2005 in California, they remain one of the largest accelerators in the United States.
Twice a year they invest $120k in a large number of startups. The startups move to Silicon Valley for three months, during which they work intensively with mentors. Each cycle culminates in Demo Day, when the startups present their companies to a carefully selected, invite-only audience.
Y Combinator offers high-quality mentorship. Founders can have as many hours of mentorship as they need, even after the accelerator program ends. Furthermore, they also have a huge and active alumni network.
Although it’s not working exclusively with nonprofits, Y Combinator admitted the first nonprofit to its program in 2013.
Apply to Y Combinator here.
*for-profits and nonprofit organizations*
Similarly to the Y Combinator, Startup Weekend with Techstarts generally works with for-profit organizations. Startup Weekend hosts weekend events all around the world for ad-hoc teams to develop and pitch ideas.
However, several times per year, Startup Weekend focuses on philanthropic events, where both for-profit and nonprofit organizations can present their solutions.
Startup Weekend has grown into an organization with a global presence. They have reached 150 countries, involving over 428,000 entrepreneurs. Startup Weekend is one of the Techstars Startup Programs, alongside Startup Week and Startup Digest.
*for-profits and nonprofit organizations*
Mass Challenge is a nonprofit itself. They call themselves “the most startup-friendly accelerator on the planet” due to their “no equity” policy.
In 2023 alone, Mass Challenge accelerated 483 startups representing 142 countries. They boast 88 philanthropic supporters and grantmakers.
Each year, MassChallenge admits over 300 finalists to its three- to four-month accelerator program across its five locations: Boston, Israel, Mexico, Switzerland, and the UK. These accelerators provide startups with free office space, mentorship, and more.
They welcome startups from all industries, from high tech, clean tech, and social impact to retail and life sciences.
A startup with any idea from anywhere in the world can apply, but the challenge for the organization is to be focused on high-impact, high-growth ideas.
Apply to Mass Challenge here.
*for-profits and nonprofit organizations*
Unreasonable Group focuses on tackling major world issues through building community.
They offer a renowned fellowship program that gives access to the community of 410 fellows, 2,300 investors, 1,120 mentors, and powerful institutions for networking.
Fellowships are available by invitation only, so there is no application process. Their model relies on collaboration to help some of the most promising startups and organizations grow together, creating a better world for us all.
Learn more about their startup fellowships here.
*nonprofit organizations only*
The People’s Nonprofit Accelerator is a community built by executive directors and nonprofit workers to help new nonprofits flourish.
They offer a variety of accelerator workshops of 3, 6, or 9 hours of instruction with topics ranging from constituent management to strategic planning. The tuition rate for these workshops is based on a sliding scale related to your organization’s annual budget.
They also offer a membership program that provides discounted workshop tuition, access to recorded content and networking opportunities, discounted tickets to their annual conference, and more.
Learn more about their membership program here.
*for-profits and nonprofit organizations*
SEED SPOT uplifts entrepreneurs from all backgrounds who are striving to make a positive change.
Their virtual Impact Accelerator is eight weeks of training and personalized coaching from their team of experts. Participants gain access to powerful tools and a lifetime of alumni benefits and special access.
Their alumni have generated over $399 million and created over 9,000 jobs.
Learn more about SEED SPOT’s Imapct Accelerator and apply here.
Everyone needs help. Regardless of the level of your enthusiasm, skills, and knowledge, you should consider applying for an accelerator.
There is an increasing number of programs that recognize the value of supporting nonprofits and social enterprises, where there’s no financial return on investment, but there is a social return on investment.
Most first-time for-profit and nonprofit entrepreneurs make a lot of avoidable mistakes. Accelerators have curriculums that teach you how to put one foot before the other, which catches these mistakes and keep you on course.
Other benefits of joining an accelerator include: comprehensive support from experts and mentors, access to investors, accelerated knowledge and skills development, being a gateway to future donors and partners, giving you a better long-term perspective and a bird’s eye view.
Joining an accelerator can keep you going and moving forward. Interaction with other founders is a powerful motivating force. Finally, you become part of a community and develop long-term relationships.
Ilma Ibrisevic is a content creator and nonprofit writer. She’s passionate about meaningful work, sustainability, and social movements. If she’s not working, she’s obsessing over coffee or cooking. You can connect with her on Linkedin.
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Ilma Ibrisevic