- Grant Amount – €500,000–€5,000,000
- Deadline – September 30, 2025
- CLICK HERE TO APPLY
The Coalition for Sustainable Development through Sport has launched its first Expression of Interest (EOI) to identify high-potential, investment-ready projects that could form part of the initial pipeline of the Global Sport Impact Fund (GSIF), an innovative blended finance vehicle currently under structuring.
.
To be considered, projects must demonstrate a credible revenue-generation model, even if supported by patient or concessional financing structures. While the Fund maintains a strong impact-first orientation, it will only support projects that present a realistic capacity to repay the financing provided, aligned with their operational model and context. Initiatives relying exclusively on grant-based income models will not be eligible for financing through the GSIF’s core investment instruments.
.
Purpose
The purpose of the EOI is to:
- Prepare a high-quality project pipeline ahead of the Fund’s first closing
- Identify investment-ready opportunities or projects needing targeted technical structuring
- Build confidence and transparency with future investors and partners
- Accelerate the future deployment phase of the Fund (post-closing)
Funding Information
Projects must request an investment amount from the Fund within one of the following two categories:
- Between EUR 500,000 and EUR 1.5 million for a broad range of initiatives, including pilot projects and targeted scale-up operations.
- Between EUR 1.5 million and EUR 5 million mainly for, but not limited to, infrastructure-based initiatives or interventions with a broader ecosystem or territorial scope.
Eligibility:
- The Fund embraces the principles of blended finance, aiming to crowd in public, philanthropic, and private capital toward high-impact sport-for-development projects. As such, a wide range of institutional applicants may be eligible, provided they meet the Fund’s criteria for impact alignment, financial sustainability, and governance.
- Lead applicants may include:
- 1. Public authorities or entities
- – Local or municipal governments
- – National or regional government bodies (e.g. ministries, sport agencies)
- – State-owned enterprises or public operators
- 2. Civil society organizations
- – NGOs, foundations, or community-based organizations with legal status
- – Must demonstrate fiduciary capacity and implementation track record
- 3. Sport federations/Olympic committees
- – Must operate under a non-profit or public legal structure
- 4. Social enterprises/private operators
- – Eligible only if the project clearly serves a public interest, with a strong developmental and social impact rationale;
- – Structure subject to enhanced governance, accountability, and impact transparency requirements, including:
- * A clearly defined social mission, preferably embedded in the entity’s legal statutes;
- * Asset lock mechanisms, ensuring that profits and assets remain dedicated to the with restrictions on dividend distribution and provisions for asset allocation in case of wind-downs;
- * Impact reporting obligations aligned with the Fund’s MEL framework;
- * Inclusive governance (e.g. representation of beneficiaries or independent stakeholders in advisory boards or oversight structures).
- 1. Public authorities or entities
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
At Funding Square, we help African entrepreneurs and organizations access funding through three expert services:
.
- Grant Research Service – Get 50 tailored grant opportunities handpicked for your business or nonprofit, saving you time and effort.
- Grant Proposal Writing – We craft compelling, funder-friendly proposals that grab attention and increase your chances of success.
- Fundraising Business Plan – A powerful, funding-ready business plan designed to attract grants, loans, and investors.
Let’s turn your funding goals into reality!
.
Contact us today by sending us an email at hello@fundingsquare.org