Our Mission
To improve the lives of women and children by supporting the higher education of exceptional women from developing countries who will catalyze change.
Margaret McNamara Education Grants (formerly known as MMMF) is a nonprofit, public charity founded in 1981 that awards education grants to exceptional women from developing countries who are at least 25 years old and enrolled at universities in the United States, Canada, France, and South Africa, and select universities in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Our organization draws inspiration from Margaret McNamara and her vision of education and gender equality. Margaret—wife of Robert McNamara, the World Bank's fifth president—advocated for the inclusion of gender and education issues in the Bank’s development programs. She was awarded the highest civilian distinction in the United States, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in recognition of her important contributions.
“MMEG has supported over 500 exceptional women from nearly 80 countries, who are inspired to improve the lives of women and children around the world.”
What We've Achieved
In 1983, we awarded our first education grant to a Liberian woman who was studying nursing at Catholic University. Since then, our program has grown as word of our mission has spread.
To date, 562 grants have been awarded to women from 79 countries.
$5 million has been distributed through education grants.
Applications are received from hundreds of accredited universities in the United States and Canada.
In 2007 we added a South Africa program.
In 2011, we expanded to Latin America and the Caribbean
In 2016, we acknowledged our local community in Washington DC by adding a program for Trinity Washington University.
In 2023, we introduced a program for women studying in France.
We Can't Do It Without You!
MMEG financing comes from a large number of individual donors, corporate donors, and small family foundations. Your contribution directly supports women from developing countries in the pursuit of their university studies.
