There are two deadlines for applications for the Tamer Fund for Social Ventures: the spring application deadline is March 1 at 11:59 p.m. ET and the fall application deadline is September 15 at 11:59 p.m. Begin the application process. We suggest using your LinkedIn profile to create your login. Applicants selected for screening will be contacted shortly after these deadlines.
The Tamer Fund for Social Ventures process is rigorous, and will require some of your time. However, this process should be useful to you as you prepare to talk with future funders:
- All applications go through an initial screening process by the Tamer institute, and ventures are notified by email whether or not they are invited to participate in the next round.
- Selected ventures are matched with Columbia University student due diligence teams that are working for the Tamer Fund for Social Ventures. Their job is to present an impartial view of each venture. Each selected venture is required to pitch their idea to the Investing in Social Ventures course and work with their assigned due diligence team, which assesses the venture over the course of six weeks. Please note that student teams should not be asked by client organizations to sign confidentiality agreements.
- A limited number of ventures that participate in the due diligence round are recommended to present to the Investment Board for grant consideration. We anticipate ventures will be selected by the Investment Board around mid-fall and late-spring each year.
We encourage international ventures to apply. Ideally, social venture management teams will be able to meet in person in New York City during the due diligence process and with the Investment Board. However, we will work with each venture throughout the process if an in person meeting is not possible.
Investment Board Members
Mindy Aviles-Kelly
Stuart Ellman
Arrun Kapoor
Julius Mokrauer
Shaiza Rizavi ’96
S. Mona Sinha ’93
Sandra Tamer
Tony Tamer
Bruce Usher (chair)