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The Mastercard Foundation | MsingiLab

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FoundationGrantRolling

The Mastercard Foundation

$15K (FAST Program) to $100M+ (institutional partnerships)

RollingWebsiteEst. 2006

Strong Gender LensModerate Climate Lens

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What You Get

FAST Program: Up to $15,000 grant for alumni entrepreneurs

Africa Growth Fund: Capital for investment vehicles targeting SMEs

Fund for Resilience and Prosperity: US$126M over 7 years for youth employment across 20 countries

Scholars Program: Full scholarships for higher education

Associates Program: 12-month paid internships across Africa

Mentorship and business development support

Access to Mastercard Foundation's pan-African network

How to Apply

Varies by program. FAST Program has annual open call (2026 cohort deadline was March 20, 2026). Africa Growth Fund and institutional partnerships are typically by invitation or RFP. Check mastercardfdn.org for current opportunities.

Warm Intro

Recommended but not required

Geographic Focus

Pan-Africa — offices in Kigali, Accra, Nairobi, Kampala, Lagos, Dakar, Addis Ababa

Decision Timeline

FAST: 4-8 weeks; institutional partnerships: 3-12 months

Eligibility

Programs vary: FAST requires alumni of leading African leadership/scholarship programs
Africa Growth Fund targets gender-diverse African investment vehicle teams
Focus on organizations and individuals driving youth employment in Africa
Must align with Young Africa Works strategy goals

Traction Required

Varies: FAST requires early-stage venture; institutional partnerships require demonstrated track record

Team Requirements

Varies by program — FAST targets alumni entrepreneurs; institutional programs require experienced teams

Selection Criteria

Alignment with Young Africa Works strategy (30 million jobs by 2030)
Potential for dignified and fulfilling work creation for youth
Gender inclusion — particularly young women
Scalability and sustainability of proposed approach
Evidence of impact in target sectors

What They Look For

Organizations and entrepreneurs improving youth employment, financial inclusion, agriculture, and education in Africa. The Foundation's Young Africa Works strategy aims to enable 30 million young people — particularly young women — to access dignified work by 2030. They partner with visionary organizations rather than accepting unsolicited proposals for large grants.

Post-Investment Support

Mentorship, business development support, access to pan-African network, capacity building, Young Africa Summit

Insider Tip

The Foundation is one of Africa's largest private foundations with $40B+ endowment. For startups, the FAST Program is the most accessible entry point. For organizations, look for RFPs and expression of interest calls on their website. The Young Africa Summit in 2026 is a key networking opportunity.

2006

Active Since

Yes

Deploying

Opportunities

The Mastercard Foundation

What You Get

Application Details

Fit Criteria

Eligibility

Selection Criteria

Insights

What They Look For

Post-Investment Support

Insider Tip

Track Record