Nasdaq – Economic Opportunity Grant Program (2026)
Advancing Economic Opportunity, Investor Engagement & Wealth Building
The Nasdaq Foundation’s Economic Opportunity Grant Program supports organizations working to expand access to capital, financial literacy, investor identity, and regional economic development. The next Expression of Interest deadline is July 31.
Organization: Nasdaq Philanthropic Foundation, Inc.
Support Type: Corporate foundation grants
Geographic Focus: U.S. (and programs aligned with Foundation priorities)
Next Deadline: 📅 July 31 (Expression of Interest – July Cycle)
About the Funder
Established in 1994, the Nasdaq Philanthropic Foundation works to connect business, capital, and innovative ideas to advance global economies and local communities. Guided by Nasdaq’s purpose to empower economic opportunity, the Foundation champions broader access to investor engagement and wealth-building pathways.
The Foundation adapts its grantmaking to market conditions and community needs through its Economic Opportunity Grant Program.
What This Program Supports
Grants are awarded to organizations delivering impact in one or more of the following focus areas:
1️⃣ Regional Revitalization & Rural Wealth Building
Supporting under-resourced regions through:
- Economic development initiatives in rural communities
- Infrastructure improvements supporting local business growth
- Workforce training and entrepreneurship programs
- Pathways for wealth building and long-term economic resilience
2️⃣ Investor Identity
Cultivating a new generation of investors by:
- Building confidence among emerging investors
- Expanding access to investing knowledge and tools
- Enhancing financial literacy with a focus on capital markets participation
- Fostering long-term wealth-building mindsets
3️⃣ Financial Literacy & Resilience
Empowering financially resilient communities through:
- Comprehensive financial education programs
- Practical, actionable financial capability training
- Strengthening household and community financial stability
- Integrating financial literacy with investment pathways
Note: The Foundation generally does not fund financial literacy projects focused exclusively on K–12 education.
4️⃣ Access to Capital
Supporting capital access for under-resourced founders and regions by:
- Improving access to capital for entrepreneurs
- Preparing businesses for investment readiness
- Expanding alternative financing models
- Catalyzing economic growth in revitalized communities
5️⃣ Employee & Community Ownership
Advancing shared ownership models that promote equitable wealth distribution:
- Employee ownership transitions
- Community ownership and cooperative enterprises
- Shared ownership structures
- Asset control strategies for under-resourced communities
Eligibility
The Nasdaq Foundation accepts requests from:
- Organizations designated as tax-exempt under §501(c)(3)
- For-profit businesses acting on behalf of a qualified tax-exempt entity or through a fiscal sponsor
Ineligible applicants include:
- For-profit businesses without a nonprofit partner
- Disqualified persons under IRS §4946
- Former grantees who did not fulfill prior grant terms
- Organizations presenting conflicts of interest with Nasdaq or the Foundation
Funding Amounts & Terms
- No set minimum or maximum award amount
- Requests must be commensurate with the proposed project
- Reasonable, specified overhead costs are allowed
- Grants are typically one-year terms
- Multi-year commitments may be considered with strong justification
- No limit to the number of proposals submitted
Evaluation Criteria
Proposals may be evaluated based on:
- Organizational capacity and leadership expertise
- Alignment with Nasdaq Foundation priorities
- Complementarity (not duplication) with the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center
- Measurable impact and clearly defined objectives
- Scalability or replicability of the project
- Broader community influence
2026 July Cycle Timeline
📅 Expression of Interest Deadline: July 31
📅 Invitations to Submit Full Proposal (select applicants): August 31
📅 Full Proposal Deadline (invited applicants only): October 16
📅 Notification of Outcomes: November 30
Expressions of Interest must be submitted through the GrantsConnect online portal prior to the deadline.
Apply / Learn More
➡️ https://www.nasdaq.com/nasdaq-foundation/grant-program
Why This Opportunity Is a Good Fit
This program is a strong fit for organizations that:
- Work in economic mobility, capital access, or rural revitalization
- Support emerging investors or financial empowerment initiatives
- Advance employee ownership or cooperative wealth-building models
- Provide scalable programs with measurable economic outcomes
- Operate nationally or in under-resourced regions
The July 31 deadline offers an opportunity for economic opportunity–focused nonprofits to secure foundation funding aligned with market-based wealth creation and access strategies.
Corporate Grants Guide Notes
Review Type: Bi-annual competitive cycle
Next Deadline: July 31 (Expression of Interest)
Funding Range: No published minimum or maximum
Best Suited For: Economic mobility, financial literacy, access to capital, and regional revitalization nonprofits
