The "Vector of Development" program was launched for Nizhny Novgorod social entrepreneurs.

      September 22, 2025, 17:01 Economy — In the Nizhny Novgorod Region, a support program for social businesses and non-profit organizations, "Vector of Development," has been launched. This was reported by the Regional Center for Social Sphere Innovations (ANO "CISS NO"), which is organizing the initiative.

      The project is being implemented with the assistance of the Ministry of Social Policy of the Nizhny Novgorod Region and with the support of the general partner — the strategic marketing agency EiMarketing.

      The goal of the program is to strengthen marketing competence and provide resource support to small and medium-sized businesses operating in the social sphere, as well as socially oriented NGOs.

      As the region’s Minister of Social Policy, Igor Sedykh, noted, a full-fledged ecosystem for the development of social entrepreneurship is being created in the Nizhny Novgorod Region today.

      According to him, the region already holds a leading position in the country: 482 social enterprises are listed in the registry, and based on the results of 2025 the Nizhny Novgorod Region was recognized as one of the best federal subjects of the Russian Federation in this area by the "Impulse of Good" award.

      The "Vector of Development" program includes two key stages: an educational intensive and a competitive selection.

      During the intensive, participants will be able to receive training from federal experts, including specialists from the Fund for the Support of Social Projects. Topics will cover sustainability, marketing, and social impact assessment.

      The Director of the Fund’s Department for the Development of Social Entrepreneurship, Alexey Maslov, emphasized that in leading regions such as the Nizhny Novgorod Region, entrepreneurs gain access to unique tools capable of increasing the effectiveness of their projects.

      Winners will be determined based on the results of the competitive selection. Participation in the educational part will give additional points. The winner will receive a certificate for 300,000 rubles for services from the EiMarketing agency. Three more projects will receive 100,000 rubles each, and ten finalists — 50,000 rubles each.

      The funds will be directed to marketing, advertising and PR support for social initiatives.

      According to the director of ANO "CISS NO", Svetlana Kashina, special attention is being paid to the promotion of social projects this year. Participation in competitions helps entrepreneurs not only tell about their mission but also expand their audience.

      Those eligible to participate in the program are socially oriented small and medium-sized businesses registered in the Nizhny Novgorod Region, non-profit organizations, as well as individuals planning to start activities in the social sphere.

      The program is being implemented within the framework of the federal project "Small and Medium Entrepreneurship" of the national project "Effective and Competitive Economy", initiated by the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin. The activities of the Center for Social Sphere Innovations, established in 2017, contribute to achieving the goals of the national project.

      Earlier it was reported that four Nizhny Novgorod social initiatives won prize places at the All-Russian competition of socially responsible initiatives of entrepreneurs and socially oriented non-profit organizations.

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