Social Equity Initiative

The Program does not provide any direct financial contribution, but the various resources offered have significant value and provide concrete benefits to the organizations.

The program includes mandatory in-person activities, such as workshops (2 per semester). Additionally, master's courses and executive training sessions are mostly in-person at the Nova SBE campus in Carcavelos.

Participation in the Program is completely free. However, any costs arising from travel and accommodation for staff visiting Nova SBE are the responsibility of the participating organizations.

The training and support offered during the Experience Phase (spanning five semesters, after the Diagnostic Phase) are customized to the needs and specificities of each organization.
Please note that the support provided within the Program is based on the areas of expertise of Nova SBE.

Organizations benefit from personalized training and support in management, tailored to their needs and characteristics, using the resources available within the Nova SBE community.

These resources include student talent, faculty expertise, the experience of alumni and partners, support from the Leapfrog team, as well as opportunities for networking and collaboration.

It is important to note that the practical benefits for organizations directly depend on the level of time and commitment invested in Program activities.

The Program includes mandatory in-person activities, such as workshops (two per semester). Most executive training sessions also take place on campus at Nova SBE in Carcavelos. However, several Program activities are conducted online.

Yes, provided that at least one of the following criteria is met:

1. Have a dedicated team member spending at least 50% of his/her time developing own revenue streams; or
2. Allocate a minimum of €20,000 in the budget, from fundraising or other sources, to invest in developing new products or services.

Full details on all eligibility criteria are available in the Regulations of the Program.

Yes, applications from organizations based in Portugal (including the islands) are eligible. In addition, one of the criteria is that the majority of the organization’s beneficiaries must be in this territory (at least 60%).

• The application process includes five phases:

• Phase 1 – Submission of Applications via the application form: March 23 – April 26, 2026
• Phase 2 – Application Evaluation: April 27 – May 4, 2026
• Phase 3 – Interviews with selected organizations and video pitch: May 11 – 29, 2026
• Phase 4 – Jury evaluation and selection of the 10 organizations to participate in the Program: June 8 – 29, 2026
• Phase 5 – Communication of results: July 10, 2026

It is recommended to consult the Regulations of the Program for detailed information on each phase of the application process.

Not guaranteed, but it is expected that they will progress to the Experience Phase.

During the Diagnostic Phase, organizations must demonstrate that:

• They have no legal, tax, or accounting issues that could affect their participation in the Program.
• They face challenges in management, business, and/or finance that can be addressed within the Program.
• The Board and Executive leadership are aligned with the Program and open to change.

If any of these conditions are not met, the organization will not proceed to the next phase and its participation in the Program will end.

It is recommended to consult the Program Regulations for detailed information on the different phases of the Program journey.

Organizations are asked to designate five team members to closely follow the Program, acting as the main points of contact. This team must include the Executive Director (or equivalent) and at least one member of the Board.

Yes, ideally all members participate in all Program activities. However, it is understood that this may not always be possible.

Consistent involvement and alignment among team members is essential. Participation requires commitment, and the designated members must be available and motivated to contribute actively throughout the Program.

In some activities, other members of the organization may be invited to participate if their expertise is relevant to the session’s content.

Yes, staff who participate in training sessions will receive a certificate of participation indicating the number of hours completed.