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. Open to anyone, from any background, with an idea worth exploring.

Origin

A Grant Born From Belief

Good ideas deserve a chance to move forward.

Promising ideas can come from anywhere, but not everyone has the resources to explore them.

Inspired by the vision and generosity of Deborah L. Stone and the Stone Family Memorial Fund, the Catalyst Grant helps bridge that gap.

The program provides early-stage ideas with funding and support at a moment when a relatively small investment can make a meaningful difference.

At its core, the Mensa Foundation’s Catalyst Grant is about expanding opportunity. More people should have the chance to explore an idea, test what is possible, and take the next step.

Details

Giving Ideas a First Chance

$10,000 in annual funding helps promising ideas take their next step.

The Catalyst Grant supports early-stage ideas that demonstrate originality and the potential for meaningful impact.

Funding may support one project or be shared among several, depending on the applications received and where funding can make the greatest difference.

Ideas can come from any discipline or background. They may grow from lived experience, independent inquiry, academic research, creative work, or connections between fields.

Funded projects should broadly align with the Mensa Foundation’s mission to unleash intelligence for the benefit of humanity.

Application

A Two-Stage Application

Start With the Idea

You do not need to have everything figured out before you begin.The Catalyst Grant uses a simple two-stage application designed to make it easier to take the first step.

You do not need institutional backing or previous grant experience. We want to understand your idea, why it matters, and what Catalyst funding could help you do.

Stage 1: Share Your Idea

Start with a brief concept submission. Tell us what you want to explore, why it matters, and how Catalyst funding could help move it forward.

We’ll ask about:

Your idea and what you hope to explore
The problem or opportunity behind it
Why the idea matters
How funding could help
You and your team, if applicable

At this stage, we are looking for clarity, not completeness.

Stage 2: Develop the Idea

Selected applicants will be invited to submit an expanded proposal.

We will provide guidance on the additional information needed, including how the idea could develop, how funding would be used, and what you hope to learn or accomplish.

You are not expected to have everything figured out. The goal is to develop the idea, not perfect it.

Not every idea will move forward, but every submission will be considered with care and curiosity.

Criteria

What We Look For

We are looking for strong ideas, not perfectly polished proposals.

Proposals are reviewed through a thoughtful process that considers both the strength of the idea and its potential to become something meaningful.

Because ideas may come from different fields and experiences, reviewers use shared criteria alongside discussion and qualitative judgment.

Clarity

Is there a clear idea and a clear reason it matters?

Creativity and Originality

Does the proposal offer new thinking or a fresh approach?

Potential Impact

What meaningful benefit, insight, or change could result?

Feasibility

Can Catalyst funding realistically help move the idea forward?

Potential to Grow

Could the idea lead to further work, broader influence, or new possibilities?

Mission Alignment

Does the idea broadly align with the Mensa Foundation’s mission?

Because the Catalyst Grant supports early-stage ideas, potential matters as much as polish.

Applications open soon.

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? Start Here

You have the idea. Here is what you need to know before you apply.

Who can apply?

You can.

The Catalyst Grant is open to Mensa members and nonmembers alike. You do not need an institutional affiliation or previous grant experience. You simply need an idea worth exploring.

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 come from lived experience, independent inquiry, academic research, creative work, or connections between fields.

Do I need a fully developed plan?

No.

Catalyst is designed for early-stage ideas. You need a clear sense of what you want to explore and why it matters, not a finished plan.

How does the two-stage process work?

Everyone begins with a short concept proposal.

Selected applicants will then be invited to submit an expanded proposal, with guidance on the additional information needed for review.

How are proposals reviewed?

Reviewers consider each proposal using the Catalyst Grant’s core criteria. The strongest proposals are then discussed by the Review Committee.

Because the program supports early-stage ideas, potential matters as much as polish.

Who makes the final award decision?

The Mensa Foundation Board of Trustees makes the final award decision.

The Review Committee develops funding recommendations.

What does receiving a grant involve?

Recipients provide a brief progress update and a final reflection on what they learned, including challenges and possible next steps.

Projects may change along the way. That is part of experimentation, and what is learned through the process matters too.

What if my idea does not fit a traditional category?

That may be exactly where the Catalyst Grant can help.

Ideas that cross disciplines or come from nontraditional paths are welcome.

Community

More Than a Grant

The goal is not only to fund ideas. It is to help them grow and connect the people behind them.

The Catalyst Grant is just beginning, but the vision extends beyond individual awards.

Over time, recipients can become part of a growing community of people exploring ideas with the potential to make a difference.

As projects develop, recipients can learn from one another, share what they discover, and create new opportunities for collaboration.

Together, those ideas and the people behind them can help shape what comes next.