Catalyst Grant | $10,000 for Early-Stage Funding for Bold, Innovative Ideas

Grants & Fellowships

Early-stage funding for bold ideas that deserve a chance to move forward.

Origin

A Grant Born From Belief

Deborah “Deb” Stone believed that the most promising ideas don’t always come from the most expected places. She knew that access, not merit, is often what separates the ideas that get a chance from the ones that don’t.

She also knew that the gap between a good idea and a realized one is rarely about talent. It is about resources, timing, and whether anyone believed in you early enough to help you take the first step.

Details

The Catalyst Grant makes $10,000 available each year to support early-stage ideas that demonstrate creativity, originality, and the potential for meaningful impact.

Funding is distributed based on the strength and nature of applications received. A single project may receive the full award, or several projects may receive smaller amounts.

The program welcomes ideas from across disciplines and backgrounds. Proposals may emerge from lived experience, independent inquiry, academic exploration, creative practice, or new combinations of existing fields. All supported projects should broadly align with the Mensa Foundation’s mission of unleashing intelligence for the benefit of humanity.

Process

A Two-Stage Application

We designed the application process to be accessible. You do not need formal grant writing experience. You do not need institutional backing. You just need an idea worth exploring.

Stage 1

Tell Us Your Idea

The idea or project
The problem or opportunity it addresses
Why the idea is meaningful or innovative
How Catalyst Grant funding would help move it forward
Basic background information about yourself or your team

Stage 2

Tell Us More

If your concept is selected for further review, we will invite you to submit an expanded proposal. We will tell you exactly what we are looking for at that stage. You will not be left guessing.

Because this program supports early-stage ideas, you are not expected to have everything figured out. That is the point.

Criteria

How We Evaluate Proposals

The Catalyst Grant Review Committee evaluates every proposal on six criteria. There are no right answers. We are looking for ideas worth believing in.

Clarity of Purpose

Does the applicant have a clear sense of what they are trying to accomplish and why it matters?

Creativity & Originality

Does the idea represent genuinely new thinking or a fresh approach to a real challenge?

Potential Impact

Could this idea produce meaningful benefits for individuals, communities, or society?

Feasibility

Can Catalyst Grant funding realistically help move this project forward right now?

Scalable Vision

Does the idea have the potential to grow, influence other work, or inspire something bigger?

Values Alignment

Does the project reflect the Mensa Foundation’s mission of fostering human intelligence for the benefit of society?

Ready to apply?

The first Catalyst Grant cycle opens later this year. Enter your email and we will notify you when applications open.

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FAQ

Questions About the Catalyst Grant

Have any more questions? Contact us.

Who can apply?

The program is open to individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and disciplines. You do not need formal institutional affiliation or prior grant experience.

What kinds of ideas are eligible?

Any early-stage idea with the potential for meaningful impact and broad alignment with the Mensa Foundation’s mission. Ideas may emerge from lived experience, independent inquiry, academic exploration, creative practice, or new combinations of existing fields.

Do I need a fully developed plan?

No. The Catalyst Grant is specifically designed to support ideas at an early stage. You are not expected to have complete plans, formal backing, or institutional affiliation.

How does the two-stage process work?

All applicants begin with a short concept proposal. Selected applicants are then invited to submit an expanded proposal. The Review Committee tells you exactly what additional information would be helpful at that stage.

How are proposals reviewed?

Proposals are evaluated using six criteria: Clarity of Purpose, Creativity & Originality, Potential Impact, Feasibility, Scalable Vision, and Values Alignment. Reviewers score independently before the full committee deliberates.

Who makes the final award decision?

The Review Committee submits a recommendation to the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, which makes the final award decision.

What does receiving a grant involve?

Recipients provide a brief progress update and a final report covering lessons learned, challenges encountered, and potential next steps. This program supports experimentation. Partial or unexpected outcomes are fully expected and considered valuable.

Community

A Community Built Around Bold Ideas

The Catalyst Grant is just getting started.

Over time, we hope recipients will become a community, connected by a shared belief that the right idea, given the right chance, can change things for the better.