Seeking applications for the 2025-2026 Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Mentorship Matching Program
The Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative is seeking a partner organization(s) to create and implement a mentorship matching program for YLAI alumni and U.S. partners.
Purpose
The Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) is the U.S. Department of State’s flagship entrepreneurship program for emerging business leaders and entrepreneurs from Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada. YLAI is a competitive fellowship program structured as an international exchange funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and implemented by IREX, a non-profit based in Washington D.C.
IREX is seeking applications for the YLAI Mentorship Matching Program, a competitive opportunity for organizations with proven experience in sourcing, vetting, and training business leaders to deliver targeted, one-on-one mentoring engagements that help mentees develop actionable plans and measurable outcomes.
The Mentorship Matching Program will strengthen professional ties between 2025 YLAI Alumni and U.S. business leaders, advancing both entrepreneurial growth and learning. Partners will design and deliver tailored mentorship engagements, establish pipelines for future collaboration that may lead to successful Collaboration Grants, and support the identification of new Fellowship Placement Organizations. Working closely with the YLAI Team, the mentorship partner(s) will enhance the professional development of Alumni while expanding the reach and sustainability of YLAI’s entrepreneurial network.
The Mentorship Matching Program will kick off in October 2025, and the selected mentorship partner(s) will implement the Mentorship Matching program between December 2025 – February 2026.
Eligibility requirements
We welcome applications from a wide range of organizations with strong networks in the American business community, entrepreneurship training expertise, and a demonstrated ability to foster cross-cultural exchange. Entrepreneurship centers, innovation hubs, universities, professional associations, and organizations with prior engagement in the YLAI community are encouraged to apply.
Deadline
Issue Date: July 14, 2026
Proposal Due Date: August 4, 2025, at 11:59 PM EDT
Anticipated Award Date: September 15th, 2025
Award Ceiling: $40,000
How to submit a concept note
Download the FY24 YLAI Mentorship Matching Subaward RFA document for more information on YLAI Mentorship Matching Program roles and responsibilities, program timeline, application submission requirements (with links to application materials), application evaluation, and other subaward-related details.
If you are interested in furnishing this service, please send an email with your application materials attached to Kate Kattula at kkattula@irex.org. Applications must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on the extended closing date indicated above with the subject line “YLAI Fellowship Mentorship Matching Application”.
Questions?
Questions should be addressed to Katie Kattula with the following subject line: YLAI Mentorship Matching Application. Contact to Kate Kattula at kkattula@irex.org. Questions will be accepted until July 25, 2025, and responses will be shared with all interested applicants by July 29, 2025.