Calling all nonprofits with bold ideas and big hearts…
SEED20 is your stage!
Whether you are launching a new nonprofit, growing an existing one, or introducing a new program within an established organization, SEED20 is designed to elevate your impact. Each year, we select a cohort of ten nonprofit leaders to participate in a yearlong journey of growth, connection, and community exposure.
As the region’s premier platform for social innovation, SEED20 offers much more than a prize pool. Participants receive dedicated coaching to craft a compelling pitch, gain visibility in front of a live audience, and connect with potential funders, volunteers, and collaborators. Through Social Venture Partners Charlotte, you’ll also access workshops, training sessions, and free consulting to strengthen your mission. Plus, you’ll walk away with marketing assets and community support that extend far beyond the event.
Every participant is a winner, and every idea has the power to spark lasting change.
The funds have directly impacted our community already. The exposure, the awareness that has been created as a result of the SEED20 opportunity, has been phenomenal; it creates more opportunities for volunteerism and donations. It has been a full scope of support.
MaShonna Hughes, Chief Dignity Officer of Project Outpour, SEED20 Class of 2025
Ready to Apply?
If you’re ready to expand your reach, amplify your story, and join a network of changemakers, we invite you to apply to the SEED20 program. Please review the Important Dates and FAQs below to confirm you meet the eligibility requirements and that you will be available for all required events.
New for the 2026 Application Season:
We now offer three distinct application paths tailored to the maturity of your organization or initiative. Please review the descriptions below and select the option that best aligns with your current stage. You can preview all three sets of questions HERE. We welcome organizations at every stage of development and do not prioritize one maturity level over another.
Choose the Application That Best Fits Your Stage:
Well-Formed Idea or New Nonprofit: You’re in the early stages, perhaps just launching or piloting your initiative. You may be operating for less than two years and might not yet have 501(c)(3) status.
Emerging Nonprofit: You’re a relatively young 501(c)(3), typically operating for fewer than ten years, and bringing a fresh, innovative approach to your work.
New Program in an Established Nonprofit: You’re introducing a new initiative within a long-standing 501(c)(3) organization that’s been operating for more than ten years with a new, innovative program to present
Once you’ve identified the application path that best fits your organization or initiative, click the corresponding Apply button below to begin.
Looking for more details about the program or application process? We invite you to join one of our upcoming informational webinars or office hours using the links in the Important Dates section below.
Important Dates
| FOR THE SEED20 2026 SEASON: | |
| 9/2/25 | Applications open |
| 9/4/25 | Application webinar (12 pm, virtual), register HERE |
| 9/8/25 | Application office hours 11:00a.m. – 1:00pm (drop-in, virtual), access HERE |
| 9/18/25 | Application office hours 3:00pm – 5:00pm (drop-in, virtual), access HERE |
| 9/25/25 | Application deadline (submit by 5 pm EST) |
| 12/10/25 | SEED20 Class of 2025 Announced |
| 1/8/26 | Kickoff and marketing preparation session (12 pm, virtual) required |
| 1/11/26 | Photo shoot and video shoot (9 am – 3 pm, in person in two-hour time slots) required |
| 1/13/26 | Coaches’ training (virtual, coaches only) |
| 1/20/26 | Orientation and coaching workshop (6 pm – 9 pm at Central Piedmont’s Parr Center) required |
| 1/20-3/23/26 | Virtual coaching session(s) as scheduled by each team |
| 2/3/26 | Coaching session #1 (6 pm – 8:30 pm at Central Piedmont’s Parr Center) required |
| 2/17/26 | Coaching session #2 (6 pm – 8:30 pm at Central Piedmont’s Parr Center) required |
| 3/3/26 | Coaching session #3 (6 pm – 8:30 pm at Central Piedmont’s Parr Center) required |
| 3/24/26 | Dress rehearsal and celebration (5:45 pm – 9:30 pm at Central Piedmont’s Parr Center) required |
| 3/31/26 | SEED20 OnStage at Central Piedmont Parr Center (3 pm – 10 pm) required |
| 4/22/26 | Welcome to alumni network (11:30 am – 1:30 pm, in person) |
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
Who can apply?
Whether an individual or start up with a well-formed idea, an emerging nonprofit, or a well-established nonprofit with a new program, SEED20 applicants should
- have a vision for tackling pressing social challenges and be committed to building or leveraging strong, sustainable organizations to achieve that vision
- be innovative and resourceful
Anyone in the greater Charlotte area with a passionate commitment to deliver meaningful social change can apply. Your main focus must be to have a significant impact in our region. If improving our community is part of your life’s journey, we’re here to help you realize your mission. We are looking for people and organizations with great ideas!
Why should I apply?
Through the SEED20 program, nonprofit participants have the opportunity to share their compelling work with the community and gain:
- Valuable strategic advice and resources
- Greater confidence and effectiveness when making presentations
- Opportunities to cultivate long-term, cross-sector relationships with sponsors, businesses, other nonprofits, and community leaders
- Access to new donors and funding opportunities
- Exposure to a large audience, a strong social media community, and potential volunteers
- Professional marketing and communications advice and assets
- A succinct and compelling pitch
- Membership in the SEED20 alumni network, which provides access to programming from Social Venture Partners Charlotte including learning opportunities and pro bono consulting
How do I apply?
Applications are currently being accepted. To apply, carefully read through all the information on this Apply page including the FAQs to determine your eligibility for the program. Be sure to confirm that the Important Dates (listed above) work with your schedule. Click on the Application button to access the application page, which will give you the option to preview the questions before submitting by the deadline. All applications will be reviewed by a selection committee from Social Venture Partners Charlotte. Interviews may be requested. Social Venture Partners will then invite ten applicants to begin their SEED20 journey.
What are the eligibility requirements for the program?
Any participant in the program must be an individual who will serve as the sole representative of the initiative, develop the pitch, attend all required sessions, and present at SEED20 OnStage. This person should be the Executive Director or equivalent.
There are no restrictions based on size, budget, or age of the initiative and there is no cost to participate in the program.
Nonprofits do not have to have 501(c)(3) status to participate in the SEED20 program. However, if you do not have your 501(c)(3) status yet, you must have a fiscal sponsor or 501(c)(3) status by January 31 to receive online donations from the community. To receive SEED20 prizes you must have your 501(c)(3) status by December 31.
Applicants may employ revenue-generating strategies for some or all of their income but cannot be a for-profit initiative or L3C.
For SEED20 alums interested in applying, the following requirements must be met
- Must have new initiative
- Must have been at least 5 years since the nonprofit last participated
- Must have a different person participating in the SEED20 program
Nonprofits may participate if they are nonpartisan, and do not proselytize or restrict services to those of a specific faith.
Nonprofits must provide services in at least one of the following counties in the Greater Charlotte area
- North Carolina: Cabarrus, Catawba, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Union
- South Carolina: Lancaster, York
How are applicants selected to participate?
Selection criteria includes
- Is this initiative serving a real and recognizable need in the community?
- Innovation: Is this initiative something new or unique?
- Potential for lasting impact: Is this initiative addressing a root cause?
- Potential for sustainability: Is this initiative likely to get strong community support to serve the mission over the long term?
Who has participated in SEED20 in the past?
Please click here for a list of SEED20 alumni in alphabetical order or browse the Meet Our Nonprofits page for profiles of each participant sorted by year of participation.
Do I have to be good at public speaking to be selected?
SEED20 participants are not selected based on their public speaking talent. Our program is designed to give every participant the support, encouragement, tools, and strategies to not only develop but deliver a compelling three-minute pitch. Every year, we are blown away by the progress our participants make. Many who came in fearful, end up sharing their stories with passion and confidence.
Do I need to have a pitch before the program starts?
No. All participants receive an orientation to the SEED20 program, along with a practical workshop on delivering an engaging three-minute pitch. Through the coaching sessions each participant receives individualized support, encouragement, feedback, and strategies to help them develop an effective, compelling, and memorable pitch.
What is the coaching process?
During the orientation and coaching workshop, the nonprofit participants will meet their coaches (volunteer community members) and every nonprofit team (nonprofit participant + their coaches) will hear the same guidance on how to give a compelling pitch. Additional coaching sessions after the orientation and before coaching session #3 are to be scheduled among the nonprofit team members and may be virtual or in any location agreed to by the team members.
I’m concerned that SEED20 may take too much time away from my day to day work. Should I still apply?
Like all leadership development programs, SEED20 is a time commitment. Our program schedule is intentionally developed to give participants and their coaching teams ample time between sessions to incorporate feedback and practice, practice, practice! Our alumni consistently tell us that SEED20 is absolutely time well spent—resulting in increased exposure, connections to new donors and volunteers, potential cash awards, and clarity of purpose.
I’m a social entrepreneur, but my idea would work best on a for-profit model. Can I compete in SEED20?
No. SEED20 is designed for nonprofit initiatives. We know that great social entrepreneurs can also adopt for-profit or L3C models, but our competition is limited to nonprofit organizations to ensure that all the ideas can be evaluated on a comparable basis.
What prizes are given away at SEED20 OnStage?
Our program alums have consistently told us that the awards handed out at SEED20 OnStage aren’t even the most valuable part of the program. The coaching, connections, advice, and assets represent the real benefits to participants, but the OnStage awards do have a lot of appeal as well! The exact prizes, including cash awards and in-kind services, will be determined as we get closer to the OnStage event. Historically, we have had a $20,000 grand prize along with other awards.
Still have questions? Attend the informational webinar and/or office hours listed in the Important Dates section above, then contact SVP Charlotte’s SEED20 Director Heather-Camille Hewett
SEED20 opened so many doors for us and continues to affect our work to this day.
Sil Ganzo, Founder of ourBRIDGE, SEED20 Class of 2014