Catalyst Fund Application & Eligibility

The Catalyst Fund, developed and managed in partnership with the Aspen Institute, recognizes organizations at critical junctures on their path to creating meaningful change.

Annually, $150,000 is awarded across five to seven recipients. In addition to financial support, recipients benefit from non-monetary support depending on their needs. Benefits may include opportunities at and scholarships to the annual Resnick Aspen Action Forum, leadership or organizational development consulting, coaching, and community building, as well as opportunities for storytelling, visibility, and networking.

Catalyst Fund Eligibility

Applicants are evaluated based on the following criteria:

• You must be a Fellow or participant of the Aspen Institute, with an organization influenced by your Fellowship or program experience in some way.
• Your organization must be operational and poised to continue for the foreseeable future.
• You must hold a leadership role, where you have taken decisive action to lead against a societal challenge.
• Organizations must prioritize social impact, whether they are nonprofit, for-profit, or hybrid models, and be able to receive grants.

To be considered for the Catalyst Fund, you must be invited to apply by the McNulty Foundation. Please consult your Fellowship Director if you are interested.

Submission Guidelines

Eligible applicants will be requested to respond to the following prompts in our application portal.

Problem & Approach

• Describe the critical issue your organization seeks to address. Include relevant context about the communities or systems affected.
• How do you do what you do? Describe your organization's model of change and how it is distinct.

Impact

• Describe the reach, depth, and/or scale of your impact on your intended beneficiaries, whether individuals, the community, and/or the ecosystem. We know there is no “one size fits all" approach to measuring social change — include the most compelling metrics and long-term outcomes you track that best reflect your priorities and impact.
• How are you poised to grow or deepen your impact, and how will you know when you are successful?

Critical Juncture

Through the Catalyst Fund, we strive to support efforts that are at a critical juncture where visibility, recognition and financial support will meaningfully advance your organization. Please share your current inflection point, detail any significant momentum and your vision for the future.

• What critical juncture are you at now? What milestones have you recently achieved, and what do you anticipate in the next year?
• Why is now the right time for support and recognition? How would funding make a difference at this particular stage?
• How is the organization funded now, and how do you envision it will be sustained?
• What is your vision for the future?

Courageous Leadership

The Catalyst Fund celebrates bold leaders who have leveraged their expertise and platforms to address the world’s toughest challenges.

• How are you uniquely positioned to address this issue - what lived experiences, talents, or resources do you bring to this work? What has been your role in the organization's achievements?
• In what way is leading this effort a stretch for you? How has your leadership journey been influenced by your Aspen experience?

Additional Materials

In an effort to reduce the application burden, we encourage you to share existing documentation whenever possible, per the descriptions below.

A. Financial Documents. Please share details about the financial structure of your organization and how it is funded. Include the following materials:

• Financial statements (audited statements preferred if available), annual reports, impact reports, or other materials for supporters or investors.
• If applicable, please share your organization’s W-9 form (US Certification) or W-8BEN form (Certificate of Foreign Status). Please upload an existing form dated within the last 12-18 months, or find the respective form at IRS.gov/forms.

B. Supporting Materials. You are invited but not required to share existing materials. This may include:

• Organizational charts, theory of change, or strategy / program area summaries
• Excerpts from impact or funder reports, case studies, and stories of impact
• Existing letters of recommendation or testimonials in support of your organization
• Press coverage and other recognition, photos, or pamphlets
• Your CV or long form bio

Short Video

Encouraged, not required—Youtube or Vimeo links accepted

• If you have one, please share an existing video that shows and tells about your organization.
• We are not looking for professional filmmaking but for a visual way to capture the power of the work or your personal story.

If your venture is more mature, with an effective model for change that’s now focused on scaling, deepening or institutionalizing, you may want to learn more about the McNulty Prize. Follow this link to learn more about the Prize.