The Greater Sum is a private operating foundation that awards grants via a pitch competition and a matching gifts campaign. Both grant award programs are open to graduates of our free Virtual Incubator Program. VIPs also receive access to our network of subject matter experts.

Greater Sum’s Virtual Incubator

We asked successful nonprofit founders what they wish they’d known in their early days, and built our Virtual Incubator experience around their answers. Put together the puzzle pieces of mission, strategy, and finance with help from Greater Sum skills-based volunteers. The free 6-week program is comprised of:

• Work at your own pace video curriculum
• Weekly discussions with non-profit peers
• Individual coaching sessions available on the topics you request

The time commitment is approximately two hours per week for 6 weeks. We hold weekly discussion sessions and participants are expected to be up-to-date on a self-paced virtual curriculum before each peer chat session. The program is designed for leaders of early-stage nonprofits doing innovative and scalable work:

• Early stage = a nonprofit that is early enough that you would benefit from mentorship and a small amount of funding. You must have a US 501(c)(3), have submitted paperwork for the 501(c)(3), or operate under fiscal sponsorship.
• Innovative = a nonprofit that approaches an existing problem with a new and impactful idea that will be meaningfully positive. For example, an existing solution applied to a population previously without access; a new service offering, or a new technology.
• Scalable = service delivery model that becomes more cost-effective as you expand your service area. Nonprofits accomplish this in a variety of ways including branching, franchising, strategic partnerships, and distributing best practices. SMART goals are good inspiration for the types of growth plan we’re looking for (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound)

Greater Sum makes grants to graduates of the virtual incubator program through a pitch competition: the grand prize is $10,000 and a cohort of participants are invited to our annual fundraising accelerator, which awards matching grants of up to $5,000.

Participants must complete all six modules and attend at least 4 peer chat sessions in order to complete the incubator and be eligible for the pitch competition. Contact info@thegreatersum.org with questions.

Preview a copy of the application

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Timeline

May/June Cohort: Deadline 4/7/2025

Aug/Sep Cohort: Deadline 6/23/2025

Sep/Oct Cohort: Deadline 8/15/2025

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Apply now: https://thegreatersum.org/incubator-2025-application

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