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.
Disconnected institutions.
Efforts remain fragmented, with little structure for follow-up, synthesis, or sustained collaboration.
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.
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, collaboration with partners and s scholars who care.
Innovative Tech
To manage 100’ s of globally dist events and processes efficiently Lean Team: Cross-functional skills and exper global programming.
There is power in a long-term community.
Members turn into alumni who continue to work on global challenges at increasing levels of influence. Once established, they come to serve as mentors and provide new pathways for next cohort.
Meet Cecilia Rik
Cecilia joined us in 2018. had limited access to the In YSI, her working group agenda on the political ec hundreds of young scholar She became the head of In Public Purpose at Univers Mariana Mazzucato. Today she is a leading voi publishing widely and advi Her department has h
Projections for FY 2025
We are on track to hit our targets.
$250k keeps us going. $500k scales.
Partner with us to boost our impact.
Program costs
> Member-led projects
> Regional Convening
Overhead and ops
Expected outcomes
+500 project participants
+100 community leaders +25 new partnerships
Your gift unlocks:
We’re ready to execute. We just need the right partners. Let’s make this possible.
Critical programming for 2026
A convening with long-term reach
Pathways for hundreds of under-resourced scholars
Appendix
YSI Team
Based in different parts of the world, each team member brings a wide range of skills and knowledge.
rategy Grants
Operations Community
y Pocklington Christina Mosalagae
eske van Doornen
Manuel Valencia
Our partners include
Finance Ministry of Saarland
Regional Convening Track Record
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
Participant travel and accommodation
We cover speakers’ expenses, and meals as well as social events for all participants.
$40,000
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 Participants connect directly with leading voices on a level that would otherwise not be available to them.
Strengthens local knowledge systems
New connections are created between scholars and institutions that are local to the continent
Kickstart relationships and projects
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.
