Are you an RSM student with a great idea for positive change in your surroundings? Could your idea make a difference if only you had some seed money to start? Are you prepared to GO FOR IT, next to studying?

Then apply to the Hummingbird Fundthe next application deadline will be 18 December 2023, at 23:59.

You can pitch your idea to receive funding of between €500 and €3,000 to design your own learning experiences and spark local positive change.

To be eligible for the fund, your project must:

  • help you to have a positive impact on the world
  • directly or indirectly help you and your classmates to learn more about business, management or leadership
  • not directly benefit you or a for-profit business (social enterprises and charities can benefit)
  • encourage learning-by-doing and involve as many RSM students as possible

If your project application is successful, you will receive guidance on how to get started, keep track of its progress, and must agree to be featured in marketing related to the fund.

For questions, please contact us: positivechange@rsm.nl

To make a positive change, apply to the Hummingbird Fund now!

Download the Hummingbird Fund application form

All categories

Any current student at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, is entitled to apply for a grant.

Last update:
Wednesday, 14 October 2020

Applications must be submitted in the format of a video, and by filling in the application package (download here, or via the button on the right of this page).

Videos should be maximum 2 minutes long.

Last update:
Friday, 28 July 2023

Your project must be aimed to make a positive change, be not-for-profit or a social entreprise, and help you gain real-world business/management/leadership experience. Examples of the kinds of costs you may need funding for could include: web/digital/software, training, physical materials/equipment, travel (in accordance with COVID-19 restrictions).

Last update:
Thursday, 12 November 2020

Yes – so long as everyone in the group is currently enrolled on a programme at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University.

Last update:
Thursday, 16 December 2021

The next application deadline will be in November 2023. The exact date and time will be announced on this page at a later date.

Last update:
Friday, 28 July 2023

We aim to communicate our decisions within a month.

Last update:
Friday, 3 June 2022

A member of RSM’s Positive Change Initiative, Two RSM alumni, a member of RSM faculty.

Last update:
Wednesday, 14 October 2020

The Positive Change Initiative are on hand to help and answer any questions you may have, please contact the email on this page.

Last update:
Wednesday, 14 October 2020

Yes, Successful applicants must produce a max. two-page report on the outcomes of their project, and justify their spendings, within 6 and 12 months after receiving the grant. Extracts from the reports may be featured in Alumni Relations communications.

Last update:
Friday, 3 June 2022

Be judicious about how much money you realistically need for your project. Any remainder that cannot be spent will be subsumed back into the Hummingbird Fund.

Last update:
Wednesday, 14 October 2020

Be judicious about how much money you realistically need for your project. Grantees cannot reapply for additional funds in the same grant year. If you are on a multi-year programme, you may re-apply to the Hummingbird Fund for academic year 2022/23 to scale-up your project.

Last update:
Thursday, 16 December 2021

  • Projects that heavily rely on expertise taken outside of the team (e.g. hiring a software-engineering to develop an app)
  • Projects that do not comply to COVID-19 restrictions
  • Projects that have commercial or for-profit purposes
  • Projects that are discriminatory in any sort
  • Projects that involve political campaigns or lobbying efforts
  • Projects that have religious purposes
Last update:
Friday, 29 January 2021

Examples funded in our first round (December 2020) include projects encouraging community engagement and local impact such as building planters throughout the city to enhance biodiversity and bring people closer to nature, upcycling textile waste in various products, or breaking the taboos of mental illnesses. You can find them here.

Last update:
Friday, 13 May 2022

Here you can find information about the Graduate Entrepreneur Fund.

 

Here you can find an overview of all their Startup Programmes at ECE:  

  • For those at the idea phase and exploring the possibilities of starting up their own business or interested in entrepreneurship and innovation in general: check out Erasmus Start It Up and activities organised by ECE Students
  • For (aspiring) student entrepreneurs specifically:   
  • For (early-stage) entrepreneurs in general: there is the Erasmus Business Membership for entrepreneurs interested in joining the community at ECE Campus and the Erasmus Incubation Programme for entrepreneurs interested to learn how to grow their startups and transform it into a successful and sustainable business. 

For non-European students interested in staying in the country after graduation: there is the Startup Visa Facilitator Programme to help establish and grow your company the Netherlands. 

Last update:
Thursday, 20 July 2023

Contact us

Manuela Zajk

Manuela Zajk

Positive Change Initiative