Empowering Diversity: Partner with the 2025 IVCA Scholar Program

November 6, 2024

Join Us in Shaping a Diverse Future: The 2025 IVCA Scholar Program

We invite additional firms to join us in supporting the IVCA Scholar Program. By participating, you will help shape the future of the private equity and venture capital industries, ensuring they are more inclusive and representative. Your involvement will provide talented students with the opportunity to gain industry experience and mentorship.

To learn more about how your firm can participate in the IVCA Scholar Program, please contact Christie Pruyn at cpruyn@illinoisvc.org

Celebrating Diversity: The 2025 IVCA Scholar Program

The IVCA Scholar Program is proud to announce its largest and most diverse applicant pool yet for the summer 2025 internship program. This initiative is dedicated to increasing gender, racial, and ethnic diversity within the private equity and venture capital industries by providing underrepresented undergraduate students with invaluable exposure to potential careers in these fields.

A Record-Breaking Year

This year, the program received an impressive 87 applications, marking a 68% increase from the previous year. This surge in interest underscores the growing awareness and appeal of the IVCA Scholar Program. Applicants come from 23 different schools, including 11 universities based in Illinois.

Expanding Our Reach & Partnerships

The success of the program is enhanced by our expanding network of partnerships. We continue to strengthen our collaboration with Illinois universities but also extended our reach through external programs such as Career Spring, Greenwood Scholars, Chicago Scholars, and the Keeley Center Academy, which significantly enrich the diversity of our candidate pool.  

Demographic Breakdown

The diversity of our applicants is a testament to achieving the program’s mission. Here is a snapshot of the demographic breakdown:

• African American: 10.34%
• African American Women: 3.45%
• Asian: 31.03%
• Asian Women: 13.79%
• Latino: 20.69%
• Women: 19.54%
• Pacific Islander: 1.15%

Academic Excellence

Our applicants come from prestigious institutions such as the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and many more. They are pursuing a wide range of majors, including Economics, Finance, Accounting, Data Science, and Engineering, reflecting the diverse academic interests and strengths of our candidates.

The Impact of the IVCA Scholar Program

The IVCA Scholar Program not only provides students with a $10,000 scholarship but also offers them a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in private equity and venture capital firms. This 10-week summer internship is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in these competitive industries.

Join Us in Making a Difference

To learn more about how your firm can participate in the IVCA Scholar Program, please contact Christie Pruyn at cpruyn@illinoisvc.org. Together, we can make a significant impact on the lives of these students and the future of our industry.

Thank you for your continued support and commitment to diversity and inclusion.