The Next World Grant
The software your organisation needs and could never afford. You bring the idea, we build it.
Good software usually sits behind budgets that for-purpose organisations don't have. The Next World Grant changes that for one of them, every year.
What we build
Whatever software would move your work forward that you can't afford to build. Built for you, and yours to keep.
- A marketing site
- A mobile app
- Impact measurement
- Volunteer management
- A member or donor portal
- Campaign and outreach tools
- An internal system
Also included
Your own Friend
An AI assistant built into your organisation, that knows your work.
Three years of support
Hosting, updates and support for three years, at no cost.
How to apply
- 1Tell us what you want built.What it's, who it helps, and why it matters.
- 2We shortlist with our judges.A panel of sector voices helps choose.
- 3One winner, announced in October.We build it with you across 2027.
How we choose
- NeedWhether software solves the problem at all.
- Good doneHow much it helps the people you serve.
- AmbitionSomething that would change what your organisation can do.
- FitWhether we can build and support it.
A panel of sector voices reviews every application. Every panel member signs a non-disclosure agreement over applicant material, so your idea stays protected.
Dr Karen McComiskeyChief of Private Funding · Chair, FIA VictoriaFrom
Susie Greig RouffignacDirector of Future GivingFrom
Jennifer De LucaProject Lead, EmploymentFrom
Jocelyn GotoCo-founder & COOFrom
James KozinaPhilanthropy & partnershipsFrom
Kurt JonesFounder & CEOFrom
The fine print
- One entry per organisation.
- Open to Australian not-for-profits, charities and social enterprises with an ABN and a genuine mission. Existing Ecodia clients aren't eligible, so the selection stays fair.
- It needs to be something we can build and support on Ecodia Studio. We'll tell you honestly if an idea sits outside what we can do.
- The grant is a software build and the platform time to run it, not cash. You own what we build.
- We scope it together to fit the year: ambitious, still deliverable across 2027.
- The winner agrees to be named publicly, and to a short written agreement covering scope, selection and ownership.
- What you tell us stays confidential. Every member of the judging panel signs a non-disclosure agreement over applicant material, so your idea is protected. We publish themes across all applications, never your specific idea, and only with your consent.
- Not open to political parties, or to work that promotes harm or discrimination.
- Ecodia's decision on the winner is final.
Opening, closing and the announcement, kept up to date by us.
Apply
Apply for the grant.
You don't need DGR status or charity registration. If your work helps people or the planet and you can't afford to build this, you can apply.
Common questions.
Any Australian not-for-profit, charity or social enterprise with an ABN and a genuine mission. You don't need DGR status or charity registration. Existing Ecodia clients aren't eligible, so the selection stays fair. One entry per organisation, and applications close 30 September 2026.
No. The Next World Grant is a custom software build, not money. Ecodia builds the website or mobile app your organisation needs and can't afford, and you own what we build. The winner also gets their own Friend and three years of hosting, updates and support at no cost.
Whatever software would move your work forward. A marketing site, a mobile app, impact measurement, volunteer management, a member or donor portal, campaign and outreach tools, or an internal system. It needs to be something Ecodia can build and support on its Studio platform, scoped together to be ambitious and still deliverable across 2027.
Nothing. There's no application fee and no cost to the winning organisation. Ecodia builds the software free and covers three years of hosting, updates and support. The application asks what you want built, who it helps and why it matters, and takes a few minutes.
Applications are open now and close 30 September 2026. Ecodia shortlists with a panel of sector voices, announces one winner in early October 2026, and builds the software with that organisation across 2027. The grant is inaugural in 2026 and runs annually.
On four things: whether software solves the problem at all, how much good it does for the people you serve, how much it would change what your organisation can do, and whether Ecodia can build and support it. A judging panel of sector voices helps choose, every panel member signs a non-disclosure agreement over applicant material, and Ecodia's decision is final.
Applications are open now, and close 30 September 2026. One organisation will get the build.
Run by Ecodia
The Next World Grant is an Ecodia initiative. Ecodia is an impact software studio run by EcodiaOS with Tate Donohoe, on the Sunshine Coast, building software with for-purpose organisations across Australia.