Sage Foundation Launches $1M Enterprise Fund to Back the Brightest Ideas from Non-Profits Around the World

Atlanta (February 22, 2017)Sage, a market leader in cloud accounting software, today announces the launch of Sage Foundation’s Enterprise Fund. The new $1 million fund is open to non-profits with enterprise ideas that help improve the lives of military veterans, young people or women and girls.

Every day, inspiring non-profit leaders, volunteers and their supporters are working tirelessly to make their communities better places to live. Sage Foundation’s Enterprise Fund has been designed to support those organizations generate further income, create new initiatives or enhance existing and proven activity.

The $1 million will be split between two rounds of $500,000; with the second amount ready for release in July 2017. Applications for the first round are open until April 5; grants between $5,000 and $35,000 will then be awarded to successful applicants.

All applications that fulfil the eligibility criteria will be considered. However, Sage Foundation are especially keen to support organizations that are currently small but have ambitions to expand, grow and deliver sustainable change. It is also hoped that the fund will support traditionally hard-to-fundraise needs such as; capital projects, core running costs or new innovations.

"Supporting this thriving community of grassroots charities and non-profits is important to Sage," said Nancy Harris, EVP, Sage North America. "We believe some of the brightest, most innovative ideas come about when the local communities come together for the common good. Sage Foundation's Enterprise Fund will help these organizations take action on vital projects that create a better future."

Sage Foundation’s Enterprise Fund was introduced at Sage Summit in Chicago in July 2016 as part of a series of new initiatives to mobilize Sage colleagues, partners and customers around a common vision for change. As part of this year’s new Sage Summit Tour, Sage Foundation will be working with Sage’s brilliant network of business builders to take action together.

This year, at the Sage Summit in Atlanta, the Foundation will host a 5K challenge in partnership with ParkRun. In addition, the Foundation will host a "philanthropitch" to support local non-profit organizations through grants. The Foundation at the Summit will also host The Big Give, an activity that will allow Summit participants to vote with Sage Foundation coins to give funding away.

Sage Foundation is powered by the '2+2+2' model. Through this, Sage Foundation donates: 2% of employee time each year (up to 5 volunteer days), 2% of free cash flow in grants and 2 donated software licenses to eligible partners. To date, the Sage Foundation has given 13,000 volunteering days globally to Sage Employees and 100,000+ volunteering hours.

To check if your non-profit is eligible for Sage Foundation's Enterprise Fund, visit www.sage.com/enterprisefund. Follow @sagefoundation for the latest from our community.

About Sage

Sage is the market and technology leader for integrated accounting, payroll and payment systems, supporting the ambition of entrepreneurs and business builders.

Today, business builders measure success in strong relationships, partnerships, and communities. It‘s why Sage helps drive today’s business builders with the most intelligent and flexible cloud-enabled software, support and advice to manage everything from money to people.

Daily, more than 13,000 Sage colleagues in 23 countries work with a thriving global community of over 3 million entrepreneurs, business owners, tradespeople, accountants, partners and developers to champion the success of business builders everywhere. And as a FTSE 100 business, we are passionate about doing business the right way, supporting our local communities through the Sage Foundation.

Sage—a market leader for integrated accounting, payroll and payment systems, supporting the ambition of the world’s entrepreneurs. www.sage.com

Press contact:

Victoria Borges
PR Manager, North America
Sage
Office: 470-447-4086
Victoria.Borges@Sage.com

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