For several decades, the Mensa Foundation has presented awards on an annual basis to individuals around the world. Some awards are specifically for Mensa members who are contributing to the Foundation's mission, but others recognize the advancement of knowledge and education without membership limits.
The Mensa Foundation's Awards for Excellence in Research are given internationally for outstanding research on intelligence, intellectual giftedness and related fields.
A Mensan who truly valued creativity, Copper Black left in her will a legacy funding a special annual award to recognize an outstanding creative achievement by a member of American Mensa.
The Mensa Foundation's Distinguished Teacher Award recognizes a teacher, professor, or instructor at any educational level who has had an especially positive influence on the education or life of a Mensa member. Nominations due March 1.
The Foundation’s Gifted Education Fellowship is intended to help teachers to acquire a graduate degree in gifted education or a closely related field from an accredited institution of higher education. The Fellowship has a value of $5,000 per year, renewable for one year.
The Intellectual Benefits to Society Award program recognizes the application of Mensans' intellectual abilities that result in tangible benefit to society.
The Laura Joyner Award is given to recognize outstanding work, theoretical or applied, in the areas of education, literacy, work with the gifted, or identifying threats to, or preventing loss of, intelligence.
The Mensa Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award is presented every other year in recognition of a lifetime of contributions to the field of intelligence and related subjects.
The Mensa Foundation Prize is awarded biennially for the best scientific discovery in the field of intelligence or creativity. Endowed by the estate of Kenneth Douglas Thomson, the award includes a $10,000 prize, personal plaque and medal.
The Mensa Press Award recognizes excellence in writing about human intelligence and giftedness; it is designed to encourage reporters and editors to spread the latest news about intelligence to lay audiences.