The MIT Women’s League Thrive Fund was established in 2025 to support the Institute’s staff in pursuing interests and endeavors outside of work. The fund awards grants to assist staff at MIT who have worked at the Institute for at least 1 year in the pursuit of their health, wellness, fitness, and educational goals.
Types of courses funded
Funding may be available for courses that support health, wellness, fitness, or educational development, provided they involve professional instruction, training, or tuition. Eligible courses can take place at accredited institutions, non-accredited organizations, or with private instructors. When not offered through an accredited institution, the course must be led by a certified professional instructor. There are no restrictions on where the course is located geographically.
Examples of courses typically eligible for funding include:
Tuition for classes at accredited colleges or universities
Adult education and continuing education
Instructional workshops or lessons led by a certified professional
Fitness classes or sessions with a certified personal trainer
Hobby-related workshops taught by credentialed professionals
Conferences that include documented instructional sessions or workshops
Expenses that are not covered under the fund’s guidelines include:
Travel, transportation costs or accommodation associated with a course
Course-related materials such as books, supplies, or subscriptions
Fitness club or organization membership dues
MIT athletic membership or athletic card
Medical treatments or services, including chiropractic care, acupuncture, or physical therapy
Counseling services or therapeutic treatment programs
Alumni travel programs
Insurance-related costs
The Thrive Fund reimburses up to $500 toward the cost of a course. Two awards of up to $500 will be awarded per semester. There is no minimum course fee. The maximum amount a grant recipient may receive is $500 per 12-month period for one or more classes.
The maximum amount that a recipient can receive in his or her lifetime is $2,000.
Grant applications will be anonymized. The Board may act with discretion to distribute the funds as equitably as possible, and may consider the following criteria:
First-time applicants
Length of service at MIT
Active member and attendee of Women’s League events. To note, membership and events are open to all.
Applying for a grant
Applications will be reviewed once per semester. The Spring 2026 application deadline is:
January 30 (applicant notified by Feb 15)
Submit your application online and our board will review your application. You may only submit one application per year. If you submit multiple applications, only the first received will be reviewed. We ask you to consider your financial need in comparison to others in our community before applying.
Receiving a grant
Applicants will be notified by email if their application has been approved and the amount of the grant.
Grants are awarded in the form of a tuition reimbursement check. Checks only will be issued with proof of original payment, registration, and course completion. Sufficient proof of payment can be demonstrated with any of the following: credit card bill statement, cash receipt, or billing statement from the educational institution.
Applicants will be required to provide a short summary of the course experience and what was learned, what skills were gained, and what results were achieved from taking the course.
It is the responsibility of the grant recipient to determine whether or not any taxes need to be paid on the grant.
All documentation should be sent to wleague@mit.edu.
Applications open on January 5th, 2026. Submit your application online.