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Margaret McNamara Education Grants (MMEG), formerly known as MMMF, is a United States non-profit public charity founded in 1981. MMEG’s mission is to improve the lives of women and children by supporting the higher education of exceptional women from developing countries who will catalyse change.
- Registered name
- Margaret McNamara Education Grants (MMEG)
- Type
- US non-profit public charity (women’s education grants)
- Fields funded
- Any field, for women committed to improving the lives of women and children
- Website
- mmeg.org
- southafrica@mmeg.org
Who Margaret McNamara was
MMEG draws its inspiration from Margaret McNamara, wife of Robert McNamara, the World Bank’s fifth president. Margaret McNamara advocated for gender and education issues to be included in the World Bank’s development programmes, and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honour in the United States.
Forty-five years of grants
In its 45 years, MMEG has provided more than US$5.6 million in educational support to 639 grantees from 81 countries. MMEG grantees have studied engineering, information technology, health, science, education, social studies and law, and many have gone on to leadership roles in government, academia, civil society and the private sector. MMEG connects grantees through community events such as meet-and-greets, because many work on similar challenges.
Programmes in several countries
MMEG awards grants to women aged 25 or older who are enrolled at universities in the United States, Canada, France, South Africa and selected universities in Latin America and the Caribbean. Each programme has its own calendar: the US-Canada and Trinity Washington University programmes accept applications from 15 September to 15 January, and a newer France programme runs from 15 October to 15 January.
The South Africa programme
MMEG’s South Africa programme offers grants of up to about US$7 000 to women at approved universities, in any field. MMEG attaches no work-back obligation and no requirement to remain in South Africa, trusting grantees to apply what they learn for women and children. The 2027 round closed on 14 September 2026, and grants will be paid in February 2027.
How to research MMEG
Read the profiles of past grantees on MMEG’s website and notice how each connects her studies to women and children. Check MMEG’s list of approved South African universities before planning an application for 2028, and email MMEG’s South Africa programme with questions.
Because MMEG requires applicants to be at least 25, the grant suits women who return to study after working or raising children, a group many other bursaries overlook.
Women in science can also look at the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science grant.
