15 projects shortlisted for Social Impact Awards – winner will receive €80,000

The shortlisted applicants for the second edition of The Social Impact Awards met for the first informative session earlier this week to be introduced to SIA and start their mentoring process. The count-down to see who will be awarded a grant to implement their social project begins now.
These awards, which will be held in November, aim to bring the private and not-for- profit sectors together to offer opportunities for financial and non-financial support to assist in the development and success of enterprises that will have a positive, social impact on Malta.
From an overwhelming number of applications received back in June, fifteen projects have been shortlisted to better develop the necessary skills through mentoring and support for their proposals, in preparation for the judged pitching event to be held in November.  The winners will be awarded both monetary and non-monetary grants.
This innovative action aims to offer better opportunities for social purpose organisations and their projects and help enhance the development of a platform for new public-spirited initiatives. The awards will recognize not-for-profit organisations and individuals who have submitted trailblazing, social projects with the potential of solving or supporting some community based issues for Malta.
The fifteen projects will receive non-financial support in the shape of mentoring services by some of the movers and shakers in sustainable entrepreneurship and Malta’s business community in order to help develop the projects. TAKEOFF@ the Enterprise Campus, University of Malta is partnering with the Social Impact Awards this year to work with all projects over three months to improve sustainability, impact and effectiveness of each project. TAKEOFF is Malta’s leading business incubator based within the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Business Incubation (CEBI) and is specifically modelled to help incubatees create successful businesses, through its Start-Up, Accelerator and Catapult programmes.
Leading chief executives from the Malta Academy for Chief Executives will be matched with the finalists for further mentoring and leadership. The purpose of the Academy for Chief Executives is to unlock the potential of successful business leaders and enable them to get more out of themselves and their businesses. The 11 members are here to lead by example, and make a difference through by triggering creativity and innovation, sharing of issues and ideas, supporting each other by listening and offering non-judgmental advice, embracing challenges, being curious and open to growth and learning, by reframing and shifting of mindsets.

“The Social Impact Awards reflects the Academy’s values and purpose and the Malta Chapter is proud to participate and contribute towards making this project a success” – Nathan Farrugia, Chair for Malta Academy of Chief Executives.

The Social Impact Awards believe long lasting impact could be created through relationships and networking between the private sector and social purpose organisations.
“It takes more than money to create social change. Social purpose organisations need to be effective and an efficient organisation first, in order to generate and scale social change” – Social Impact Awards Philosophy
These awards are organised by Gasan Foundation and the Inspirasia Foundation and are the fruits of a collaboration between Maltese businesses and company foundations which have raised 80,000 euros collectively to donate as grants to the best and most effective submissions. While non-financial support will be offered by PWC Malta, who is giving 20,000 euros worth of services and ZAAR Malta who are also offering their services to a finalist.
The projects cover a wide range of social issues focusing on education, health, environment, inclusion and other areas.
“This is the second year the awards are being held and we are excited that the amount of funds to be awarded has doubled, to Eur80,000 and finalists will be trained and mentored by TAKEOFF and also paired with mentors from the Malta Academy for Chief Executives. Apart from giving away grants to winning projects there is also a chance to win non-financial support from businesses. PWC is on board again this year and will be giving up to Eur20,000 worth of services to winning projects, along with ZAAR who will also offer non-financial support, while LovinMalta is SIA’s media partner.” – Louisa Attard, Assistant Director, Inspirasia Foundation.