YSI - Tiers of involvement

Empower young scholars as they rise to the challenges of our time.

Young scholars want to address the challenges facing society.

But neither their curricula nor their institutions are equipped to support them on that path.

This is where YSI comes in.

Barriers to progress

How we break them

Rigid thinking Conformist, competitive, method-centric.

Promotes the detached observer over the engaged citizen. Little interdisciplinary work.

Collaborative culture Creative, cooperative, question-driven. Rooted in service to society and driven by engaged, transdisciplinary thinkers.

Lack of support for innovative work Many scholars, especially in under-resourced regions, work in isolation without access to networks, mentorship, or funding.

Vibrant learning environment Mini-grants fuel 200+ member-led projects each year—on real-world challenges, with INET’s senior scholars and global allies.

Disconnected institutions.

Efforts remain fragmented, with little structure for follow-up, synthesis, or sustained collaboration.

Structure to bring learnings together A custom digital platform pools learnings, nurtures community, and drives forward a shared agenda for change.

We envision economic thinking that is free of intellectual barriers, resonates with reality, and serves our global society.

Rob Johnson (President of INET) at the YSI Plenary in Budapest, 2016:

“These people are setting an example of a community that can stay alive for a very long time.

I hope that 20 years from now, YSI is an enormous organization, a significant share of the population of people aspiring to be economists, in favor of dynamism and flexibility; all the things economists prescribe for the world, when they run their own profession like a politburo.”

In 2016, YSI had 2000 members.

Today, we are 25,000 members strong.

Our community of 25k members organized 190 projects in 2024.

How we do it.

We are resourceful.

Partners & Volunteers Projects are member-organized, in collaboration with partners and senior scholars who care.

Innovative Tech To manage 100’s of globally distributed events and processes efficiently Lean Team: Cross-functional skills and expertise in global programming.

There is power in a long-term community.

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Once established, they come to serve as mentors and provide new pathways for next cohort.

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increasing levels of influence

Members turn into alumni who continue to work on global challenges at increasing levels of influence.

Meet Cecilia Rikap, a YSI alumn.

Cecilia joined us in 2018. Based in Buenos Aires, she had limited access to the global discourse.

In YSI, her working group shaped a new research agenda on the political economy of big tech for hundreds of young scholars.

She became the head of research at the Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose at University College London, founded by Mariana Mazzucato.

Today she is a leading voice on digital sovereignty, publishing widely and advising governments.

→

Her department has hired 8 other YSI’ers

Levels of support

TIER 1: Steering Partner Receive: seat on the steering committee, with the opportunity to set 2-3 annual priorities bi-annual reporting Support goes to: core programming (50%) flagship programming (25%) key operations and wages (25%) Commitment: $1M/year for 3 years

TIER 2: Advisory Partner Receive: seat on the steering committee, with the opportunity to set 2-3 annual priorities bi-annual reporting Support goes to: core programming flagship programming key operations and wages Commitment: $100-500k/yr for 3 years May use a matching arrangement

TIER 3: Project Partner Receive: opportunity to set thematic direction and key partners for the project.

Support goes to: a specific project Commitment: $20-500k

Boost our impact for 2026+ Your gift would be transformative.

Current

with a gift of $1M

USD

USD

> Core programming

$400,000

$900,000

> Flagship Conferences

$50,000

$300,000

Overhead, platform, and ops

$400,000

$500,000

$850k

$1.75M

Program costs

Total

We face growing demand, but lack the resources to meet it.

current trajectory

2026

Membership

current trajectory

2026

2026

New organizers

Projects

With the right partner, we can meet the demand.

And continue to grow our impact.

with your support

2026

Membership

New organizers

with your support

with your support

2026

2026

Projects

We’ve built a strong, growing, and resilient community of global thinkers.

With this foundation in place, there is a unique opportunity to shape and evolve the trajectory of the community.

Partner with us to develop: New thematic areas (energy, AI, migration, etc) New formats (summer schools, policy workshops, publications) New collaborations (NGOs, ministries, corporations, etc)

Join us to support the next generation of economic thinkers.

And watch them change the world.

Thank you.

Appendix

YSI Team Based in different parts of the world, each team member brings a wide range of skills and knowledge.

Jay Pocklington Strategy

Christina Mosalagae Grants

Heske van Doornen Operations

Manuel Valencia Community

Our partners include

Finance Ministry of Saarland