iF SOCIAL IMPACT PRIZE 2025

Organisation Name:

iF Design Foundation

Application Deadline:

1 September 2025

About Organisation

The iF Design Foundation, a globally recognized leader in promoting design excellence, aims to create positive social and environmental impact through creative solutions. Known for its emphasis on innovation, sustainability, and problem-solving, the foundation connects creative professionals, organizations, and the global community. Through its initiatives, iF Design encourages meaningful collaborations that address pressing global challenges aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Its platform supports not only outstanding design work but also projects that drive positive change across various sectors. By leveraging the power of design thinking, the foundation emphasizes social responsibility, cultural sensitivity, and ethical practices, promoting initiatives that prioritize human dignity and collective well-being. The iF SOCIAL IMPACT PRIZE stands as a testament to the foundation’s commitment to using design as a tool for societal transformation. Winning projects are showcased to an international audience, offering them exposure to a wide network of industry professionals, the media, and the global design community. The foundation strongly believes in rewarding impactful projects with the potential to foster long-term positive change, thereby inspiring others to innovate responsibly. By doing so, iF Design serves as a bridge between creativity and solutions for real-world problems.

About the Grant

The iF SOCIAL IMPACT PRIZE 2025 aims to honor projects that bring meaningful improvements to society through creative and sustainable solutions. Aligned with 15 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the prize supports initiatives addressing global challenges like poverty reduction, quality education, gender equality, climate action, and more. The award emphasizes projects that not only solve societal issues but also incorporate elements of design thinking, innovation, and user-centric solutions. With a prize pool of EUR 100,000, selected projects benefit from financial support as well as global recognition. Winners are featured on the iF Design platform, gaining visibility among industry leaders, design enthusiasts, and the international community. In addition to monetary rewards, awardees receive official certification, validating their efforts in driving positive social change. The evaluation process focuses on the degree of innovation, problem-solving approach, ethical standards, and long-term impact of the projects. By offering this grant, iF Design aims to empower NGOs, organizations, and entrepreneurs to scale their initiatives, improve their societal contributions, and inspire future changemakers.

Who can Apply?

The iF SOCIAL IMPACT PRIZE is open to organizations and professionals committed to creating meaningful societal impact. Eligible applicants include companies, design studios, NGOs, foundations, public institutions, social enterprises, and entrepreneurs working on innovative and socially relevant projects. However, student concepts or submissions from individuals not affiliated with an organization are not accepted. Projects must demonstrate alignment with at least one of the 15 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as quality education, sustainable communities, clean energy, or reduced inequalities. Additionally, the projects should be feasible, have measurable results, and showcase a strong connection to design—either by employing design principles, utilizing creative branding, or integrating design thinking into their solutions. Applications are evaluated based on five key criteria: problem-solving ability, degree of innovation, ethical standards, design relevance, and the ability to create positive user experiences. Applicants must ensure that their submissions address long-term sustainability and social responsibility, while also reflecting cultural sensitivity and moral-ethical values. This broad eligibility framework ensures that impactful projects from diverse sectors receive recognition and suppor

How to Apply?

Applicants must prepare a detailed submission showcasing their project’s alignment with the UN SDGs, its innovative approach, and its design elements. Entries are evaluated online by a jury.