Competition / awardFoundation / NGO

SAB Foundation Social Innovation and Disability Empowerment Awards

SAB Foundation

Annual awards with cash prizes for innovations that solve social problems and for businesses that empower people with disabilities.

Amount

Prizes up to R1.3 million, plus development funding for finalists

Deadline

Rolling: apply any time

Where

National

Who it is for

NGOs & social enterprises, Start-ups, People with disabilities

Sectors

Social enterprises and innovations serving low-income communities

Every year the SAB Foundation awards prize money to social innovations (products, services and business models that improve life for low-income South Africans) and, in a parallel track, to businesses owned by or serving people with disabilities. Grand prizes have reached R1.3 million, and all finalists get seed funding and a year of support.

Winners join the Social Innovation Fund, which can provide further grant or loan capital. Entries open early in the year; the finalist bootcamp and awards run in the second half.

Who qualifies

South African social enterprises, innovators and businesses with a prototype or early traction; disability track for entrepreneurs with disabilities or products serving them.

How to apply

Enter online at sabfoundation.co.za when the annual call opens.

Apply on the funder's site

Insly is not the funder and charges nothing. Amounts and rules are as published by SAB Foundation and were last checked 15 Sept 2026; confirm on their site before applying. No legitimate funder charges an application fee.

SAB Foundation Social Innovation and Disability Empowerment Awards | SAB Foundation | Insly Funding