Businesses & Enterprises
SMEs, companies, start-ups and social enterprises.
Visa Card Foundation · 2026 Grant Challenge
Capital that creates employment and drives inclusive growth.
The Inclusive Growth & Development Grant Challenge 2026 is a Visa Card Foundation initiative designed to expand economic opportunity, strengthen enterprises and support organizations contributing to employment creation and sustainable economic activity across Africa.
- US$10,000 – US$1,000,000 indicative support
- Enterprises, community & non-profit organizations
Total fund sizeUS$20M
Regional focusAfrica
US$0M
Total fund size
US$10K–US$1M
Indicative individual support
Africa
Regional focus
What we aim to achieve
Turning capital into productive economic activity.
The Grant Challenge helps organizations expand, employ and grow — strengthening enterprises and the communities around them.
- Expand an existing business or organization
- Create or sustain employment
- Purchase equipment and productive assets
- Increase production or service capacity
- Develop new markets
- Support women and youth-led economic activity
- Strengthen community enterprises
- Expand inclusive economic participation
- Develop sustainable livelihoods
- Introduce technology and innovation
- Strengthen local supply chains and economic activity
Building stronger businesses, stronger communities and greater economic resilience across Africa.
Eligibility & requirements
Who can apply — and what we look at.
Five categories of organizations may be supported. All support is subject to eligibility assessment, due diligence and the final programme framework.
Community Organizations
Self-help groups, cooperatives, SACCOs and community organizations.
Non-Profit Organizations
NGOs, NPOs, foundations and other eligible non-profit institutions.
Inclusive Organizations
Women-led groups, youth organizations and organizations supporting persons with disabilities.
Education & Faith-Based Institutions
Eligible schools, educational organizations and faith-based organizations undertaking qualifying economic or community-development activities.
What we assess
Support is subject to eligibility assessment, due diligence, financial review and project evaluation.
- Nature and purpose of the proposed activity
- Scale, feasibility and delivery requirements
- Expected economic impact and employment effect
- Organizational capacity and governance
- Financial and reporting arrangements
Have this ready
Typical information requested in an application. Final requirements confirmed in the programme framework.
- Organization registration and legal details
- A short description of the proposed activity
- Indicative funding amount required
- Contact, leadership and governance information
- Basic financial information for review
Ready to begin your application?
You'll be guided through 8 short sections. Takes about 10 minutes.
Total fund size
US$20MILLION
The total capitalisation of the Grant Challenge is US$20 million, with funding supporting a portfolio of eligible initiatives across participating African countries.
Indicative individual support
US$10,000 – US$1,000,000
US$10KUS$1M
The amount available to an applicant depends on the nature, scale, feasibility, economic impact and requirements of the proposed activity.
Funding arrangements remain subject to the final programme framework.
Funding priorities
Where support is intended to focus.
These are priority areas — not separate funding products. They describe the kinds of activity the Grant Challenge aims to support.
SME growth
Business expansion, equipment, production and market development.
Employment creation
Projects capable of creating or sustaining meaningful employment.
Women & youth enterprise
Economic participation, entrepreneurship and enterprise development.
Community economic development
Cooperatives, self-help organizations and community enterprises.
Inclusive enterprise
Economic opportunities for persons with disabilities and underserved communities.
Innovation & technology
Digital businesses, technology-enabled services and innovative economic solutions.
Sustainable livelihoods
Agriculture, manufacturing, services, trade and other productive sectors.
The inclusive growth approach
Economic opportunity as a foundation for community resilience.
The Grant Challenge is based on the principle that economic opportunity contributes to community resilience.
Rather than treating economic development and inclusion as separate areas, the initiative connects them by supporting legitimate enterprises, employment, livelihoods and community economic activity.
1
Investment
2
Enterprise activity
3
Employment & livelihoods
4
Stronger communities
5
Greater economic resilience
Programme partners
A multi-partner approach to inclusive growth.
The Grant Challenge is built on a multi-partner model, bringing together complementary expertise across finance, enterprise support, government and impact investing.
Visa Card Foundation
Leading the programme — providing capital, setting impact standards and overseeing governance.
Regional Development Banks
Co-financing, guarantees and development expertise across participating countries.
Financial Inclusion Networks
Connecting enterprises to payments, credit and digital financial infrastructure.
Local Financial Institutions
On-the-ground disbursement, monitoring and enterprise support.
Governments & Regulators
Aligning with national priorities and local economic development frameworks.
Impact Investors & Co-funders
Blending capital to scale proven models and amplify impact.
Participating institutions, financing arrangements and programme governance are subject to formal agreements and approvals.
Accountability
Clear assessment. Careful oversight.
Funding is subject to eligibility assessment, organizational due diligence, financial review and project evaluation. Successful recipients are required to use approved funds for the purposes set out in their funding agreement and provide appropriate financial and programme reporting.
Eligibility
Confirmation that the applicant and proposed activity fall within the programme's scope.
Due diligence
Organizational, governance and financial review of the applicant.
Project assessment
Evaluation of feasibility, scale and expected economic impact.
Monitoring & reporting
Ongoing programme and financial reporting against the funding agreement.
- Jobs created
- Businesses strengthened
- People reached
- Enterprises expanded
- Economic activity generated
FAQ
Common questions.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible categories include businesses and enterprises, community organizations, non-profit organizations, inclusive organizations and eligible education or faith-based institutions undertaking qualifying economic or community-development activities.
How much can an organization receive?
Indicative individual support is in the range of US$10,000 to US$1,000,000. The amount available to an applicant depends on the nature, scale, feasibility, economic impact and requirements of the proposed activity.
What happens after I apply?
Applications go through eligibility assessment, organizational due diligence, project assessment and, if approved, monitoring and reporting against a funding agreement.
How do I submit my completed application?
Complete the application, download the generated PDF, attach your supporting documents, and email everything to grants@visacardfoundation.org, addressed to the Grants Committee.
Where can I ask questions about my application?
Please email grants@visacardfoundation.org. A member of the Grants Committee will respond as soon as possible.