What is it
The Alumni Ventures Fund is an exclusive opportunity open to all graduates of the Young Leaders Programs (Young Leaders Fellowship and/or Young Leaders Conference). This Fund offers Young Leaders Program graduates a unique opportunity to scale their community development work in health, education, or economic security with the support of a start-up grant.
With more than 50 recipients and more than $100,000 granted since its founding in 2009, the Alumni Ventures Fund has helped young leaders achieve their personal goals of becoming changemakers in their communities.
The Alumni Ventures Fund is fully supported by The Claire Friedlander Family Foundation and Hyman R. and Ruth Shapiro Foundation, Inc.
What We Offer
Two (2) Grants of up to $5.000 each
- The two recipients will receive up to $5,000 each, coupled with direct mentorship from an expert in their project’s field. The mentor will guide the mentee to strategically scale their project, from a resource mobilization perspective to a project management and team-building angle.
Ten (10) Small-Size Grants up to $500 each
- The ten recipients will receive up to $500 each to carry out a three- to five-month-long project with no mentorship assigned.
Eligibility Requirements
Am I Eligible?
Alumni Ventures Fund Recipients Must:
- Have participated in a Young Leaders Fellowship or Young Leaders Conference (1999 to 2025).
- Demonstrate commitment to your community.
- Have a community-based project in mind or have established a project in your community in the area of health, education, or economic security.
- Have access to email or other Internet platforms for ongoing and direct communication with the MCW Global team and, if applicable, their professional mentor for the duration of the grant.
- Submit your completed application on or before November 30, 2026, at 11:59 PM (EST / NY time).
Timeline
Stay on Track
- October 28, 2026 – The application process opens.
- November 30, 2026 – Application deadline – applications must be received by 11:59 PM (EST / NY time).
- December 18, 2026 – Winners are contacted and announced.
- December 28, 2026 – Grants dispersed and professional mentors assigned.
Application Information
Ace Your Application!
- Application (required): Open and fill out the application below;
- Budget (required): Download the budget template and fill it out. Upon completion, upload the budget as part of the application;
- Additional documents (optional) – You are welcome to submit supplemental materials, such as photos, videos, organization charters or constitutions, promotional materials, etc. To submit, email them to apply@mcwglobal.org with your full name as it appears on your application in the subject line, for example, “John Smith, Alumni Ventures Fund 2026 Application.”
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