The Mastercard Foundation is one of the largest, private foundations in the world with a mission to advance learning and promote financial inclusion to create an inclusive and equitable world. The Foundation works with visionary organizations to enable young people in Africa and in Indigenous communities in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work.

Learn more about the Mastercard Foundation ❯

The Mastercard Foundation was established in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard, but it is a separate and independent entity with its own Board of Directors and management.

The Mastercard Foundation was established in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard when it became a public company. At the time, Mastercard contributed a percentage of its assets (a one-time gift) to create an independent foundation that bears the Mastercard name. However, the Mastercard Foundation and Mastercard are two distinct organizations that operate independently of one another.

Mastercard is a leading global payments and technology company; a for-profit company widely respected in the private sector.

The Mastercard Foundation is a non-profit organization that operates independently of Mastercard and has its own Board of Directors and management.

Learn more about the Mastercard Foundation ❯

For access to the FLUXX Portal, partners should contact their Program point person for support.

If you have technical issues related to the FLUXX Portal, please submit your questions through the Contact Us form.

While at this time, we do not have any open calls for proposals, we encourage interested organizations to follow our social media channels and visit our website for future opportunities to collaborate.

In addition, you can discover more about our country initiatives and work ❯

The Mastercard Foundation is unable to sponsor travel or accommodation costs for individuals to participate in symposiums, conferences, or other events. The Mastercard Foundation works through partners and does not work directly with individuals.

We are motivated by the passion and drive demonstrated by individuals seeking to learn and engage about ideas, issues, and concepts related to the Mastercard Foundation’s key areas of work.

We encourage interested participants to reach out directly to event organizers and find out whether there is support available for attendees.

To learn more about the work being done in each country where the Mastercard Foundation operates, and for any questions related to existing country programs or country-related inquiries, please visit the appropriate country page on our website.

If you have further questions, please submit them through the Contact Us form.

Or visit our country pages:

• – Ethiopia
• – Ghana
• – Kenya
• – Nigeria
• – Rwanda
• – Senegal
• – Uganda
• – Canada 

Young Africa Works is the Foundation’s 10-year strategy to enable 30 million young people to access dignified and fulfilling work by 2030. Young women make up 70 percent of this target.

The strategy was formulated in consultation with young people, the private and public sectors, ministries of government, and educational institutions and experts. It was also informed by the Mastercard Foundation’s extensive work on the continent over the course of a decade.

Under Young Africa Works, the Foundation will focus on:

1. Improving the quality of education and vocational training so young people are equipped with skills employers need;

2. Leveraging technology to connect employers and job seekers; and

3. Enabling entrepreneurs and small businesses to expand through access to financial services, mentoring, and leadership development skills.

In addition, you can discover more about Young Africa Works ❯

Currently, our team and existing partners are focused on implementing our Young Africa Works strategy to enable young people, especially young women, to access dignified and fulfilling work in the Foundation’s priority countries. We regrettably cannot accept new requests for partnerships at this time. We encourage interested organizations to follow our social media channels and visit our website for future opportunities to collaborate.

Learn more about existing partners and current efforts ❯

Please visit the Young Africa Works section of our website to read about the strategy and to learn more about our programs.

To learn how the strategy is being implemented in the countries where the Foundation works or for information on specific country partners and programs, please visit the country pages.

If you have further questions, please submit them through the Contact Us form.

Saving Lives and Livelihoods is a $1.5 billion partnership with the Africa CDC that will enable the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines for at least 65 million people and support the delivery to millions more across the continent. It will also lay the groundwork for vaccine manufacturing in Africa through a focus on human capital development, and strengthen the Africa CDC.

Learn more about the Saving Lives and Livelihoods initiative ❯

The Mastercard Foundation is working in partnership with the Africa CDC on the Saving Lives and Livelihoods initiative. The Africa CDC is the implementing partner on this initiative, and has been recruiting partners through a public and transparent process, to support the deployment of vaccinations.

Interested organizations can refer to the websites of the African Union (www.au.int) and the Africa CDC (www.africacdc.org) where requests for proposals will be posted as this initiative progresses.

Please visit the Saving Lives and Livelihoods section of our website or refer to our Saving Lives and Livelihoods FAQ to learn more.

If you have further questions, please submit them through the Contact Us form.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is the largest scholarship initiative of its kind in Africa. Its focus is to enable talented and diverse young people, particularly young women, to lead, pursue their aspirations, and enrich their communities. 

Working with a pan-African and global network of partners enables diverse and relevant approaches that strengthen the higher education ecosystem in ways that drive learning, opportunity, and leadership at scale across the continent.

The Scholars Program was launched in 2012 with a goal to develop 50,000 transformative leaders by 2030.  The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program will double its target by 2030 to reach 100,000 Scholars, as it accompanies the next generation of diverse young African leaders and higher education institutions on their journey to creating a new era of equitable and inclusive prosperity and growth.

Launched with nine partners and a first cohort of 145 Scholars, the Scholars Program has enabled over 45,000 scholarships for young people to pursue secondary or tertiary education, and brought together a robust pan-African and global network of partners.

The Scholars Program provides financial, social, and academic support to Scholars.

Learn more about the Scholars Program ❯

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is implemented through our partner universities and non-governmental organizations. The application process and decision-making are managed by each partner in the Program. If you are interested in becoming a Scholar, please apply to the university you are interested in. Please visit the Scholars Program section of our website for a list of partners, their contact information, eligibility information, and more program details on how to apply.

Each partner institution offers different programs and has their own timelines for admission, fees, and application guidelines. We recommend that you research the program of your choice and contact the relevant institution for more information.

Please visit our tips on who is eligible to apply, what to consider before you apply, and guidelines when applying on our website.

We currently have partners primarily in Africa, but there are also partner organizations in North and Central America, Europe, and the Middle East. Please visit the Scholars Program section of our website for a list of partners.

The Scholars Program provides financial, social, and academic support to Scholars. Financial support includes, but is not limited to, tuition fees, accommodation, books and other scholastic materials, mentoring, counselling, leadership development, and a return air ticket to their country of origin if necessary.

Learn more about the Scholars Program ❯

Each partner in the Scholars Program sets their own deadline. Please check the Program website of the partner institution(s) of your choice for the specific deadline. Please visit the Scholars Program section of our website for a list of partners and their website links.

The Scholars Program is managed individually by our partners; each sets their own admissions fees. Please research the application guidelines and/or contact the partner institution(s) of your choice for more information. For schools that require application fees as part of the admissions process, the fees will be reimbursed if the student is selected for the Scholars Program. Please visit the Scholars Program section of our website for a list of partners and their website links.

Admission fees are required by many of our implementing partners as part of the application process. North American universities require  TOEFL and/or  SAT scores as part of their application process for international students. Understandably, these costs can be a barrier for many potential Scholars. Although we are unable to change these admission requirements, we have found the following options to be helpful to some applicants:

– In some cases, universities may be able to assist with the completion of tests. For applicants confident that they can fulfill the requirements of the SAT and TOEFL, they should ask their counsellor or principal for a letter of support or similar documentation that expresses their confidence in the student’s academic achievements. These letters of support along with the student’s own story should be shared with the admissions office of the university to which they are applying.

– Some students have also found support to cover the costs of the SAT or TOEFL through Education USA.

– We have partnered with African-based universities that offer undergraduate or graduate programs and do not require SAT or TOEFL scores.

Majors and degrees eligible for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program vary by partner. To learn more about the eligible majors at a specific partner institution, please read the application instruction on the Program website(s) and contact the partner institution(s) of interest for inquiries. Please visit the Scholars Program section of our website for a list of partners and their website links.

The scholarship is highly competitive. Gaining admission to a partner institution does not guarantee selection for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.

Learn more about the Scholars Program ❯

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program provides scholarships at the secondary, undergraduate, and Master’s levels. At present, scholarships are not available to PhD students. For more information on our Scholars Program, please visit the Scholars Program section of our website.

The Foundation does not provide sponsorship for students who are not selected to the Scholars Program.

Learn more about the Scholars Program ❯

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is implemented through our partner universities and NGOs that serve young people from vulnerable backgrounds. The application process and decision-making are managed by each partner university in the Program.

Regrettably, exceptions cannot be made as the Scholars Program scholarships are only offered through the individual partner institutions or organizations. The Foundation does not provide sponsorship for students that are not selected to the Scholars Program. Youth interested in becoming Mastercard Foundation Scholars should apply to the university of their choice.

For a list of partner universities and more information, please visit the Scholars Program section of our website. We also recommend that applicants reach out to the academic institution of their choice directly to inquire about any other scholarships, grants, bursaries, or financial aid opportunities.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is implemented through our partner universities and NGOs that serve young people from vulnerable backgrounds. The application process and decision-making are managed by each partner university in the Program. We recommend that applicants research the application guidelines or contact the institution of their choice directly for more information. For a list of partner universities and more information, please visit the Scholars Program section of our website.

Each partner university in the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program manages their own application process and thus students can apply to as many universities as they wish. However, we remind applicants that while there is no limit to the number of schools you can apply to, it is important to note that it takes a great deal of effort to complete an application submission package, and there may also be application fees required. For more information, please visit the Scholars Program section of our website.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is an active scholarship program at the undergraduate and graduate level. We have university partners around the world who recruit students, mainly from Africa. Students are welcome to apply directly to the university of their choice, including young women, refugees, displaced populations, and persons with disabilities. The criteria for admissions include academic excellence, leadership, give back potential, and economic need. To apply, students should directly contact the university or institution where they would like to study.

Learn more about our partner universities here❯

The Foundation conducts significant research to identify institutions whose vision and work are aligned with our strategy. At this time, the Foundation is unable to accept unsolicited proposals. Currently, our team is focused on expanding the Scholars Program to universities in Africa. We recently circulated a request for proposals to a closed group of universities and submissions for expressions of interest are now closed. We encourage interested organizations to follow our social media channels and visit the Scholars Program section of the website for future opportunities to collaborate.

The Scholars Program will celebrate its decennial in 2022. It was officially launched in September 2012. The Scholars Program 10-year anniversary is themed Scholars@10: A Decade of Transformative Impact and Learning. This is an opportunity to demonstrate the impact of the Program, share our learning over the last decade, and look to the future through a series of initiatives co-created with Scholars, partner institutions, and Foundation staff. Celebrating this important milestone provides the Mastercard Foundation with an opportunity to recognize the efforts of our diverse and dynamic partner network and our brilliant and resilient Scholars.

More information about how this anniversary is being marked will be available on the Scholars@10 webpage.

Please visit the Scholars Program section of our website to learn more.

If you have further questions, please submit them through the Contact Us form.

Launched in Canada in 2017, EleV is a Mastercard Foundation program aimed at transforming education and employment systems to enable 30,000 Indigenous young people to access post-secondary education and transition to meaningful work and livelihoods reflecting their values, traditions, and aspirations. Indigenous youth will drive meaningful and lasting impact in their communities and across Canada.

The Mastercard Foundation will work with Indigenous youth and partners towards two strategic outcomes: Indigenous youth access and succeed in transformed education and training systems reflecting Indigenous ways of knowing, being and learning; and Indigenous youth have access to opportunities, and can successfully transition to meaningful livelihoods.

The Mastercard Foundation is also providing effective supports to strengthen Indigenous entrepreneurship as a strategy for achieving broader social and economic growth.

Learn more about EleV ❯

Thank you for your interest in partnering with EleV. We are currently working with partners in all regions of Canada to advance our goals of supporting Indigenous youth in accessing and succeeding in transformed education; training systems reflecting Indigenous ways of knowing, being and learning; and supporting access and opportunities for Indigenous youth to successfully transition to meaningful livelihoods. The EleV Program does not accept unsolicited project or investment proposals or participate in sponsorship opportunities. We encourage you to visit the EleV section of our website and follow our social media channels for future opportunities to collaborate.

Learn more about EleV ❯

Please visit the EleV section of our website to learn more.

If you have further questions, please submit them through the Contact Us form.

The Foundation does not endorse or sponsor independent special events (including conferences and summits), research, or projects. It also does not accept unsolicited proposals to sponsor events.

Learn more about the Mastercard Foundation and the work we do❯

Regrettably, the Foundation is not able to support individual requests for funding. We work with several organizations to advance financial inclusion and support education. Please visit the Partners page on our website to learn more about our partners and their work.

In addition, learn more about the Mastercard Foundation and the work we do ❯

If you have further questions please submit them to the appropriate country contact in the Contact Us form.

All of our active job opportunities are listed on our Careers Page with the application process being managed through our Greenhouse system. We encourage interested individuals to apply to any opportunity of interest through the Careers Page portal. Applicants being considered for a position at the Foundation will be contacted directly by a member of our People & Culture team.

Applicants being considered for an opportunity will be contacted directly by a member of the People & Culture team.

Internship opportunities are available at the Mastercard Foundation for Mastercard Foundation Scholars who have completed tertiary education under the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.

The Mastercard Foundation Graduate Internship Program aims to provide 6 to 12 months of meaningful work experience, along with professional development training, to eligible Scholars. We recently launched the second phase of our Graduate Internship Program, which will place the Mastercard Foundation Scholars, who have graduated from tertiary education, with our Young Africa Works partner institutions across the continent.

Kindly note that only Mastercard Foundation Scholars who have completed tertiary education are eligible to apply. This includes Secondary Scholars who have gone on to complete tertiary education with or without the Mastercard Foundation’s support. Please visit the Scholars Program section of our website to learn more about the program.

Volunteer positions are not available at the Foundation. There are, however, many exciting career opportunities.

Learn more about all of our active job opportunities that are listed on our Careers Page.

Please direct all employment verification requests to the People & Culture team through the Contact Us form.

All employment verification requests should be directed to the People & Culture team through the Contact Us form.

At this time, we are unable to accommodate requests to support studies or research initiatives due to the volume of requests we receive.

Learn more about our research by reviewing our Strategy, our Work (including programs and partnerships), and the Publication Library on our website.

If you have further questions, please submit them through the Contact Us form.

Those interested in the Mastercard Foundation’s open data, can visit the following websites:

• International Aid Transparency Initiative
• OECD Stats Portal

If you have questions related to Knowledge Management or Business Intelligence and Open Data, please submit them through the Contact Us form.

All whistleblower-related questions should be forwarded to Legal & Compliance through the Contact Us form.

If you have further questions, please submit them through the Contact Us form.

If you are trying to reach Mastercard Inc, the financial services corporation, please visit their website. The Mastercard Foundation and Mastercard are two independent organizations, and each organization has its own Board of Directors and management teams. The Foundation cannot speak on behalf of Mastercard, and we kindly request that they be contacted directly for any inquiries.

If you have further questions, please reach out to Mastercard.