| Yayasan Hasanah invites Malaysia’s purpose-driven entrepreneurs to apply – Up to RM100,000 in funding available |
Kuala Lumpur, 22 April 2025 — Applications are now open for the Hasanah Social Enterprise Fund 2025 (HSEF2025), a funding initiative by Yayasan Hasanah in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance (MoF) that supports mission-driven businesses with measurable social or environmental impact. Grants up to RM100,000 are available for each recipient.
Now entering its fourth year, HSEF2025 provides catalytic financial support to Malaysian social enterprises that blend commercial success with a strong sense of purpose—businesses that do not just generate profits but also create meaningful change. This year, HSEF2025 calls for proposal submission for its Seeding Path category, with priority sectors being Sustainable Agriculture (Food Security), Mental Health / Aged Care, Circularity (Circular Economy), Arts & Heritage, Ecotourism, Social Mobility and Education.
Funded by the MoF and Yayasan Hasanah, the impact-based foundation of Khazanah Nasional Berhad, the HSEF initiative reflects a growing evolution in the philanthropic and impact investment landscape—where the responsibility to address social challenges is no longer borne solely by the likes of government agencies or civil society organisations, but increasingly shared by a new generation of mission-driven entrepreneurs.
“We’re witnessing a paradigm shift in the role of business in society. Today, social impact is not the domain of a few—it is embedded in how businesses operate, employ, and innovate. These enterprises hire and upskill marginalised communities, design for inclusion, and integrate social and environmental goals into the very fabric of their business models. At Yayasan Hasanah, we’re proud to support social enterprises that are driving this transformation—pursuing commercial success grounded in purpose,” said Siti Kamariah Ahmad Subki, Trustee and Managing Director of Yayasan Hasanah.
Caption: Among existing recipients of Hasanah Social Enterprise Fund (HSEF): Vanilla Impact in Sibu, Sarawak, strives for sustainable heirloom vanilla farming while employing local communities
The fund is open to Malaysian enterprises that are proven, or have a strong potential, to become commercially viable with a clear social or environmental mission. HSEF2025 applications are available via the Seeding Path category with up to RM100,000 in grant for new applicants, whilst existing HSEF recipients can apply for a conditional grant that combines both grant and a zero-interest loan, as part of Yayasan Hasanah’s effort to continue supporting the growth of its partners.
Caption: Among existing recipients of Hasanah Social Enterprise Fund (HSEF): Teman Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur provides the service of trained caregivers for the elderlies, offering companionship and care
To widen and deepen its impact across Malaysia, the application and deployment of the Hasanah Social Enterprise Fund (HSEF) is facilitated through a network of trusted intermediary partners who possess deep local insights and strong community ties—enabling the programme to better meet the needs on the ground and reach high-potential applicants in underserved areas. The intermediary partners are Asia School of Business, Iskandar Investment Berhad, Youth Trust Foundation (myHarapan), Satu Creative, Sabah Creative Economy & Innovation Centre (SCENIC), Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation Berhad (SDEC), Selangor Information Technology & Digital Economy Corporation (SIDEC) and Petronas SEEd.Lab.
Projects will be evaluated on their innovation, scalability, and demonstrated outcomes that align with long-term social or environmental goals. All applications and evaluation processes are conducted in accordance with the highest standards of governance and audit, in line with Yayasan Hasanah’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
Since its inception, the Hasanah Social Enterprise Fund (HSEF) grant programme has supported a range of purpose-driven enterprises, enabling them to scale their impact and strengthen community outcomes. Through HSEF, over 10,000 underserved individuals including Special Needs and Orang Asal communities have been upskilled including provision of more than 500 jobs for these communities. The grant has also extended access to 690,000 litres of clean water in rural areas. In driving environmental innovation, HSEF-supported enterprises have saved 4,680 trees, offset 2,311 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂), and upcycled 1,794 tonnes of waste into alternative products—demonstrating the catalytic role of the fund in building sustainable, impact-led businesses.
HSEF has also supported non-conventional, unique business models that contribute to the people and planet. In Sibu, Sarawak, Vanilla Impact is reviving the heirloom tradition of vanilla farming by building a sustainable ecosystem that not only produces high-quality vanilla but also uplifts lives—employing local communities and ex-convicts for meaningful reintegration through agriculture. Meanwhile, in Kuala Lumpur, Teman is addressing the growing crisis of loneliness among Malaysia’s ageing population by providing trained caregivers—known as Temanions—to offer companionship and care, bridging generations and ensuring that no senior is left behind.
Businesses or social enterprises with bold ideas and the drive to scale their impact are encouraged to apply through our intermediaries. Review full eligibility criteria and how to apply at yayasanhasanah.org/hsef2025. Application openings are subject to the availability of funds.
Disclaimer
Yayasan Hasanah reserves the absolute and sole discretion to approve, defer, or reject any application without providing reasons or explanations. The awarding of grants or conditional funding is subject to the successful applicant’s compliance with Yayasan Hasanah’s prevailing terms, conditions, governance policies, due diligence processes, and risk management protocols. All information provided in this media release is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute a legally binding commitment or offer by Yayasan Hasanah. Yayasan Hasanah further reserves the right to amend, vary, or withdraw the terms, eligibility criteria, and funding mechanisms of the Hasanah Social Enterprise Fund 2025 at any time without prior notice. All applications and funding disbursements are subject to audit requirements and governance controls as established by Yayasan Hasanah and its regulatory obligations.
About Yayasan Hasanah
Yayasan Hasanah (“Hasanah”) is the impact-based foundation of Khazanah Nasional Berhad (“Khazanah”), the sovereign wealth fund of Malaysia. Hasanah was set up as an independent entity on 1 July 2015, building on nine years of Corporate Responsibility (CR) efforts previously driven by Khazanah. As a grant-giving organisation, Hasanah goes beyond ringgit and sen to facilitate an ecosystem of transformation, working in collaboration with multiple stakeholders, infusing a spirit of advocacy and developing capacity in five key focus areas: Education; Community Development; Environment; Arts and Public Spaces; and Knowledge. Collectively and collaboratively, Hasanah hopes to shift the needle of social and community reform for Malaysians, towards Advancing Malaysia. For further information, please visit www.yayasanhasanah.org.