Summer Program Incubator

Applications for the 2026–2027 Incubator cohort will open in November 2025.

To be notified when the application becomes available, please sign up here.

• Incubator activities begin: February 2026
• Incubator participants launch their programs: Summer 2027

Questions? Please email the Consortium's Incubator Committee. We would love to hear from you!

What is it?

The purpose of the Summer Program Incubator is to provide mentorship and assistance to individuals and organizations who want to start new summer programs aligned with the Consortium's mission and vision. The Incubator is free to participants and offers the following benefits:

• One-on-one mentorship by one of the Consortium's member or affiliate programs, with detailed guidance on all aspects of setting up a summer math program (administrative, logistical, pedagogical, philosophical). Your mentor will support you every step of the way for the next 18 months.
• The opportunity to visit one or more Consortium member programs in Summer 2026 and to attend the Consortium's annual conference in Fall 2026 and Fall 2027 (with all travel and conference expenses covered by the Incubator).
• Seed grants of up to $13,000 to help fund the first summer of your program, as well as introductions to other potential funders in this space.
• Access to Consortium resources and community, including our internal document repository and Consortium seminars. Many opportunities to network, ask questions, and get advice.
• Membership in a cohort of similar programs, to share ideas and experiences.

Each cohort of participants will join the Incubator for two years, with applications due in January 2026 for programs that plan to launch in Summer 2027.

Who is it for?

The eligibility requirements for the Incubator are similar to the criteria for Consortium membership, but somewhat more flexible. If your proposed program fits most but not all of the following criteria, please email us to discuss.

• The Incubator is intended to help start in-person, not-for-profit summer programs (residential or non-residential), at which participants do intensive mathematics with a focus on enrichment rather than remediation or acceleration.
• The Incubator is primarily geared toward programs serving middle and high school students; however, programs for elementary school students will also be considered.
• The ideal Incubator applicant will have already assembled a team of two or more people who are committed to seeing the project through to completion and who plan to be involved with it long-term.
• Important: At least one team member must have a strong background in advanced mathematics and/or extensive experience with math enrichment programs. The assistance provided by the Incubator is not primarily mathematical in nature: although we can offer some mentorship and support in this area, we rely on participants to bring their own mathematical vision to the project.
• Incubator participants must commit to making some effort at broadening participation in their programs and must plan to eventually offer financial assistance to students who need it.
• Non-US-based programs may be eligible if we can find a suitable Mentor for them. (Only a few Consortium members and affiliates have experience running programs in other countries.) Note, however, that funding for some Incubator activities may be available to US-based programs only.

When considering applying for the Incubator, please keep in mind that starting a new summer math program is a very ambitious undertaking! We are looking for applicants who are serious about their plans and fully committed to doing what it takes to launch their programs in the summer of 2027.

Timeline

Below is a timeline for the 2026–2027 Incubator cohort. For more detailed information, please see our Handbook for Incubator participants and Mentors.

January 2026

• Applications due January 20, 2026.

February 2026

• Incubator participants selected. Each participant is matched with a Consortium member or affiliate program that will act as their Mentor for the next two years.
• Participants receive access to all Consortium resources, including a set of introductory materials prepared especially for the Incubator.

Spring 2026

• Incubator participants meet individually with their Mentors at least monthly. They also meet with the Consortium's Incubator Committee as a cohort at least once during the spring. Cohort meetings are an opportunity for participants to get to know one another, share information, and ask for advice. The frequency of these meetings can range from monthly to quarterly and will depend on participants’ needs and interests.
• In consultation with their Mentor, Incubator participants work on developing a clear vision for their program and a concrete plan of action for the coming academic year. A detailed program plan is due to the Incubator Committee at the end of May.

Summer 2026

• Each program enrolled in the Incubator sends one or two team members to visit their Mentor's summer program and/or another Consortium program. Funding for these visits is provided by the Incubator.

Fall 2026

• Incubator participants attend the Consortium's annual conference, with funding for travel and housing provided by the Incubator.
• Cohort meetings and regular check-ins with Mentors continue, as each participant begins to implement the plan that they developed the previous spring.

Winter and spring 2027

• Mentors and the Consortium's Incubator Committee continue to be available to assist with program preparation as needed.

Summer 2027

• Incubator participants launch their summer programs.
• (Optional) Participants can request for someone from their Mentor program or another Consortium program to visit them during the summer, in order to observe and give feedback.

Fall 2027

• Participants attend the Consortium conference to debrief on their summer and to help support the next Incubator cohort. Funding is again provided by the Incubator.

Contact us

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions regarding the Summer Program Incubator, please email the Consortium's Incubator Committee. If you are considering applying but are not sure whether the Incubator is a good fit for you, please reach out as well!