Why Applying to the Charity Entrepreneurship Program Can Transform Your Career - Even If You Don’t End Up Founding

TL;DR: Not everyone who applies to or participates in the AIM Charity Entrepreneurship Program ends up founding a new nonprofit. But thanks to our mentorship, Plan B support, and network - our Silver Medalists - those who apply but don’t found, make it to the final round, or who found and later pivot - go on to impactful careers across the nonprofit ecosystem. From program directors to researchers to recruitment managers, our track record of connecting participants to high-impact opportunities is near 100%.

What We Mean by Silver Medalists

Each year, AIM meets hundreds of people who want to launch high-impact charities. Some become founders through the Charity Entrepreneurship Program. Others - whether they reach the final rounds, complete the program but don’t found, or even launch a charity that later winds down - take a different path.

We call them Silver Medalists.

And being a Silver Medalist isn’t second place. It means joining a broader ecosystem of people dedicated to impact. Through coaching, introductions, and community, many Silver Medalists step into roles where they continue to drive meaningful change - just not as founders.

Why It Matters

Starting a charity is one powerful way to make a difference. But the program is designed not just to launch organizations - it’s built to connect people with opportunities across the sector.

As one alum shared when asked what was most positively surprising:

“The great support CE provides for Plan Bs – including coaching, matchmaking with other charities, and helping incubates think through alternate paths.”

We know not everyone will end up founding, and we’ve built robust systems to ensure Silver Medalists thrive. We offer:

Career mentorship tailored to your skills and goals.
Introductions to funders and employers in our network.
Structured support for Plan Bs - including direct matchmaking with our existing charities.
Ongoing community that stays with you long after the program.

The result: whether you found or not, you’ll leave with a clear, impactful next step.

Silver Medalist Stories

Final-Round Applicants

Some candidates reach the final stage of our selection process but don’t join as founders. Even so, they often go on to impactful roles:

Selina Schreiner became Recruitment Manager at Ambitious Impact, where she helps build the pipeline of future founders.

Went Through the Program but Didn’t Found

Many participants complete the program but choose not to launch a charity. With AIM’s support, they transition into high-impact careers:

Jessica Gamez now works as Corporate Engagement & LATAM Coordinator at Shrimp Welfare Project, driving corporate change in animal welfare.
Emma Stoks went through the program with the potential to found, but instead joined AIM as a Recruitment Manager, where she recruits top talent to launch high-impact charities.
Stuart Craig started as a Research Fellow and later a contract aquatic welfare researcher. He went on to join the Centre for Aquaculture Progress (an AIM org) and also serves as Programme and Research Manager at Animal Advocacy Africa.
Adnaan Ghanchi joined ARMoR (Alliance for Reducing Microbial Resistance) as a director, leading EU policy work in Brussels. Additionally, he supports ARK philanthropy with advisory and research capacity.

Founded but Later Shut Down

Sometimes founders launch a charity but later close it down. These transitions still lead to major contributions in the sector:

Sarah Eustis-Guthrie, co-founder of the Maternal Health Initiative, is now a Senior Program Associate (Vector Control) at GiveWell.
Ben Williamson, her co-founder, is now Director of Recruitment at AIM, helping bring in the next wave of entrepreneurs.

Returned to the CE Program:

Oli Munns participated in the program in 2024. After not pairing for founding, he was offered a senior role in supply chain for another AIM-incubated charity, Clear Solutions. He returned to the program in 2025 and co-founded Respira Health to create mobile-based rehabilitation programs for people suffering from chronic respiratory diseases.

A Broader Vision of Impact

At AIM, we measure success not only by the number of charities founded but also by the number of people working on the world’s most pressing problems.

Silver Medalist outcomes prove that the program creates pathways into research, policy, advocacy, and leadership roles that shape the sector. Founders may grab headlines, but Silver Medalists are often just as influential in building the ecosystem that enables those charities to succeed. And sometimes, it is even more impactful not to be found at all, but instead to pursue opportunities—whether in research, advocacy, or leadership—where a person can achieve the greatest impact.

Excited?

If you’re considering applying to the AIM Charity Entrepreneurship Program, know this: the journey is valuable whether you end up with a gold medal (founding a charity) or a silver one (finding your path elsewhere in the ecosystem). Either way, you’ll leave with skills, opportunities, and a powerful network to maximize your impact.

Applications for the next cohort are open now until Oct 5th. Join us, and discover where your path leads.

Apply now!