Join us to boost our impact.

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.

Thats 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, in partnership 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 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

Projections for FY 2025 We are on track to hit our targets.

Current budget

Projected output Current USD

Program costs

Type

#

In-person projects

130

Virtual projects

150

> Member-led projects

$600,000

> Regional Convening

-

Local hubs

10

$400,000

Convenings

0

Overhead and ops Total

$1.2M

$250k keeps us going. $500k scales.

Partner with us to boost our impact.

Current Program costs > Member-led projects > Regional Convening Overhead and ops Total

with a gift of $500k

USD

USD

%

$600,000

$675,000

54%

$125,000

10%

$400,000

$450,000

36%

$1M

$1.25M

100%

-

We’ll grow our output.

And compound our impact.

At current budget #

+500 project participants

#

+100 community leaders

In-person projects

140

Virtual projects

150

175

Local hubs

10

20

Convenings

→

Expected outcomes

190

+25 new partnerships

0

1

→

Type

At target budget

Boosting alumni pipeline and influence

Let’s make this possible.

Your gift unlocks: Critical programming for 2026 A convening with long-term reach Pathways for hundreds of under-resourced scholars We’re ready to execute.

We just need the right partners.

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

Regional Convening Track Record

North America Los Angeles Asia Hanoi Latin America Buenos Aires

Year

Senior scholar partners

Participants

Community leaders gained

2019

George Akerlof, Julie Nelson, Perry Mehrling

300

37

2019

Naomi Klein, Jayati Ghosh, Katharina Pistor

400

50

2018

William Lazonick, Cecilia Nahon, Hyun Song Shin

After regional convenings on five continents, YSI’s membership base and leadership is globally distributed:

Europe Undisclosed 400

48 Other

Africa Harare Europe Trento

2018

2017

Fiona Tregenna, Camilla Toulmin, Eric Green Sheila Dow, Nadia Garbellini

Asia 250

150

47

24

Africa Latin America

North America

Regional Convening Program

Over 3 days, participants take part in: Senior scholar input talks

Participant presentations

Community-building activities

Senior scholars give input talks to on the big, societal questions that young scholars are grappling with.

Selected participants present their work and receive feedback from peers and a senior scholars.

An excursion or group activity creates shared memories and lasting relationships.

Regional Convening Budget A local partner provides the venue free of charge.

Senior speakers engage without honorariums.

Programming and venue

We cover speakers’ expenses, and meals as well as social events for all participants.

$40,000

Participant travel and accommodation

We cover a portion of participants’ flight costs and provide shared rooms in university housing or an affordable hotel

$60,000

Staffing and logistics

Staff presence, local transport, and AV equipment allows for a seamless execution.

$25,000

Total

$125,000

Regional Convening Impact

A convening builds local regional capacity by: Brings exposure to top scholars in the field

Strengthens local knowledge systems

Kickstart relationships and projects

Participants connect directly with leading voices on a level that would otherwise not be available to them.

New connections are created between scholars and institutions that are local to the continent

Participants make new connections and brainstorm projects they can roll out across the year, either virtually or online.

A typical member-led project Averaging 10-12 participants and a 3000 USD budget, most in-person projects include: Call for papers

Mini-program

The organizer publishes a call for papers, inviting peers to submit their work for presentation.

Scholars are selected based on merit and diversity.

Selected participants come together to present and get feedback from each other, and from a senior scholar. A shared meal allows participants to bond and make plans.

Parallel partner engagement Most organizers position their project next to a larger partner conference so they can make strategic connections and unlock free venue space.

Thank you.

We’d be excited to work together.