Yunus Social Business - Social Enterprise Support

Enriched Foundation · Found: 2026-03-11 12:52

Founded by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, supports social enterprises addressing global challenges including plastic pollution. Works in developing countries with social procurement and circular economy models.

Source: https://www.yunussb.com

Funding Details

Funder

Yunus Social Business

Funding Goal

Support and grow social businesses that address poverty and the climate crisis through investment, capacity building, and corporate innovation partnerships in developing countries.

Funding Amount

Not specified on homepage; fund sizes vary by program and geography

How to Apply

Contact via the "Get in touch" form on the website. Specific fund applications are managed through regional YSB offices (Brazil, Colombia, East Africa, India).

Target Region

Global, with active programs in Brazil, Colombia, East Africa, India

Contact

c/o EDGE Grand Central, Invalidenstraße 65, 10557 Berlin. Contact form: https://www.yunussb.com/contact-us. Social: LinkedIn, Twitter (@Yunus_SB), Facebook, Instagram, YouTube.

Last Checked

2026-03-11 16:11

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Applicant must be a social business (profits reinvested into social/environmental mission, not distributed to shareholders)
• Operations must be based in or focused on one of YSB's active regions: Brazil, Colombia, East Africa, or India
• Corporate partnership applications require a company with existing CSR/innovation budget seeking social impact programs

Project Scope

• Project must address poverty alleviation or climate crisis in a developing country context

Required Documents

• Submit initial contact and project overview through the YSB website contact form

Constraints

• Social enterprises with market-based, financially self-sustaining models are preferred over purely grant-dependent NGOs

Summary

Yunus Social Business (YSB), founded by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, is a global social enterprise support organization that harnesses the power of business to end poverty and tackle the climate crisis. YSB provides financing and operational support to social businesses — enterprises that prioritize social and environmental impact over profit maximization — through dedicated funds and corporate partnership programs. YSB operates across multiple geographies including Brazil, Colombia, East Africa, and India, partnering with multinational corporations (BCG, IKEA Foundation, SAP, Vodafone, World Economic Forum) to deploy capital and expertise into social enterprises. Their model combines direct investment, corporate innovation programs, and capacity-building to create scalable solutions to pressing global problems including climate change, poverty, and environmental degradation. The organization's "Funds" arm is the primary vehicle through which social businesses can access financing and support. YSB is particularly active in developing country contexts where social enterprise models can address circular economy challenges, including waste management and plastic pollution, through market-based approaches. Their work spans social procurement, local value chain development, and blended finance structures.

Historical Context

Founded by Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and pioneer of microcredit/Grameen Bank. YSB has established regional presences across four continents. Organizational partners include IKEA Foundation, BCG, SAP, Vodafone, Schwab Foundation, and World Economic Forum.

Why it was added

Social enterprise accelerator with plastic pollution focus in developing countries, relevant for NGO capacity building

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