Deadline: February 28, 2025
Applications are open for the McKinsey & Company Fast Grants 2025. McKinsey & Company (“McKinsey”) is a global Management Consulting Firm that seeks to create positive, enduring change in the world. Through the Fast Grants initiative, McKinsey’s Chicago office helps local organizations with underrepresented founders tackle their toughest challenges and achieve sustainable, inclusive growth at scale. Underrepresented founders include first generation business owners and/or founders from economically disadvantaged communities.
To accomplish this, McKinsey is partnering with Allies for Community Business (A4CB), an Illinois nonprofit organization that provides the capital, coaching, and connections entrepreneurs need to grow great businesses that create jobs and wealth in their communities.
Benefits
- Together, McKinsey and A4CB will provide a $10,000 grant to four organizations whose founders show significant promise for impact.
- Grantees will also have access to McKinsey expertise/support to help refine and scale their organizations over a six-month period (May through November 2025). Examples of McKinsey support include regular checks-ins with McKinsey colleagues (e.g., bi-monthly meetings) to answer questions and discuss ideas. The goal of this support is to help founders solve business challenges.
Eligibility
- Open to business owners and/or founders from economically disadvantaged communities;
- Organizations should demonstrate significant promise for community impact in Chicago.
Applications will be evaluated based on both qualitative and quantitative answers submitted. A selection committee identified by McKinsey will review all eligible submissions received during the application window and use the following criteria to determine top finalists:
- Completeness of application
- Demonstrated potential for community impact as described in Section 4 of the application including compelling personal story, strong vision for the future of the organization, and a clearly defined opportunity for McKinsey (e.g., focus areas, resources needed).
Application
The application period for the current cycle will close on February 28, 2025, at 11:59pm CT. Ensure that all required documents and information are submitted by this deadline.
For more information, visit McKinsey Fast Grants.
