MCAN is seeking scalable, high-impact college attainment strategies or ideas to expand across the state to move Michigan closer our Sixty by 30 goal!
During MCAN’s 2nd annual pitch competition, individuals will present an idea that has the potential to impact Michigan’s college attainment rate. The top 3 finalists will all win a cash prize for their inspiring ideas! Don’t worry – you won’t be responsible for actually implementing the idea or demonstrating impact (it’s not a grant).
Eligibility: Ideas can be submitted either by individuals or organizations (see considerations below). We welcome and encourage collaborative submissions. Entities are welcome to submit more than one pitch idea.
Timeline:
- May 12: Two-Part Application Process Opens (Interest Form and Video Application)
- May 21: Webinar for interested applicants
- June 30: Deadline to submit Interest Form
- July: Feedback from MCAN and opportunity for technical assistance
- August 1: Deadline to submit Pitch Video Application
- August 1-31: MCAN review and finalists’ selection
- September 1: Top 3 finalists announced
- September – October: Finalists perfect pitches with MCAN assistance
- November 4-5: Pitches presented at MCAN conference and winners determined
Goals: To foster creativity and celebrate innovative, potentially high-impact college attainment ideas in the state of Michigan. MCAN uses the term college to refer to attainment of education beyond high school, including postsecondary certificates and academic degrees. Ideas may be direct service or systems change interventions.
Theme: College Still Matters
Pitch Details: We welcome ideas around any of the college attainment indicators:
- Pathways and Transitions
- College-Going Culture
- Credential Completion
- College Affordability
- Adult Student Attainment
In particular, we welcome ideas that encourage cross-sector collaboration (K-12, higher ed, workforce). We’d love if strategies could align with the theme of College Still Matters.
All ideas should focus on advancing equity through education with a particular emphasis eliminating barriers and improving systems for students from low-income background, students of color, and first-generation college-going students.
Ideas may fall into one or more of the following categories:
- Innovative — practice has not been implemented yet (new idea)
- Emerging — practice has been implemented for 0-1 year (scalable pilot)
- Established — practice has been implemented for over 2-3 years (replicable new strategy)
Process: Applicants should complete the interest form ASAP. This is not the full application, but just gives the MCAN team a little bit of information about the idea that you are proposing. If the MCAN team has big picture suggestions to help make the idea as strong as possible and in alignment with the type of big ideas we are looking for, we may provide written feedback for consideration as you prepare your video submission.
Technical assistance calls (optional) with the MCAN team are available if you’d like to ask questions or even use us as thought partners. To set up a call with the MCAN team about your pitch idea, reach out to Noon at noon@micollegeaccess.org.
The submission of the pitch idea actually comes in video form! No fancy technological skills will be required. Just capture a short (3 minute max.) video of yourself talking about the idea and upload it to the application site.
Considerations for entities: We recognize that some ideas may come from the collective brain power of an organization, and some may be the thoughts of an individual. In some instances, individuals may be representing an LLC or nonprofit organization. Submissions by any of these are acceptable. During the pitch presentation at the MCAN conference, only 1 individual per idea is allowed to present the idea on-stage. When it comes to the cash prizes, there are different tax considerations if the award goes to an individual or an organization. We will ask all finalists to submit a W9, and the entity represented on that form is the entity to whom the check will be made out.
Cash Prize: The top three finalists will attend the MCAN conference Nov. 4-5 at the Lansing Center in downtown Lansing. MCAN will cover the registration fee.
At the conference, each finalist will present their pitch on the main stage to the conference attendees, and attendees will vote to identify the first, second, and third place ideas.
- First place: $5,000
- Second place: $2,500
- Third place: $1,000
As this is not a grant, finalists have no reporting requirements and are not required to use the cash prize to implement the idea they pitched.
Ready to throw us your idea? Complete the interest form today!
Questions? Contact Jenny McArdle at jenny@micollegeaccess.org or 517-896-1773.
Take Flight: 2025 Sixty by 30 Pitch Competition
MCAN is seeking scalable, high-impact college attainment strategies or ideas to expand across the state to move Michigan closer our Sixty by 30 goal!
During MCAN’s 2nd annual pitch competition, individuals will present an idea that has the potential to impact Michigan’s college attainment rate. The top 3 finalists will all win a cash prize for their inspiring ideas! Don’t worry – you won’t be responsible for actually implementing the idea or demonstrating impact (it’s not a grant).
Eligibility: Ideas can be submitted either by individuals or organizations (see considerations below). We welcome and encourage collaborative submissions. Entities are welcome to submit more than one pitch idea.
Timeline:
- May 12: Two-Part Application Process Opens (Interest Form and Video Application)
- May 21: Webinar for interested applicants
- June 30: Deadline to submit Interest Form
- July: Feedback from MCAN and opportunity for technical assistance
- August 1: Deadline to submit Pitch Video Application
- August 1-31: MCAN review and finalists’ selection
- September 1: Top 3 finalists announced
- September – October: Finalists perfect pitches with MCAN assistance
- November 4-5: Pitches presented at MCAN conference and winners determined
Goals: To foster creativity and celebrate innovative, potentially high-impact college attainment ideas in the state of Michigan. MCAN uses the term college to refer to attainment of education beyond high school, including postsecondary certificates and academic degrees. Ideas may be direct service or systems change interventions.
Theme: College Still Matters
Pitch Details: We welcome ideas around any of the college attainment indicators:
- Pathways and Transitions
- College-Going Culture
- Credential Completion
- College Affordability
- Adult Student Attainment
In particular, we welcome ideas that encourage cross-sector collaboration (K-12, higher ed, workforce). We’d love if strategies could align with the theme of College Still Matters.
All ideas should focus on advancing equity through education with a particular emphasis eliminating barriers and improving systems for students from low-income background, students of color, and first-generation college-going students.
Ideas may fall into one or more of the following categories:
- Innovative — practice has not been implemented yet (new idea)
- Emerging — practice has been implemented for 0-1 year (scalable pilot)
- Established — practice has been implemented for over 2-3 years (replicable new strategy)
Process: Applicants should complete the interest form ASAP. This is not the full application, but just gives the MCAN team a little bit of information about the idea that you are proposing. If the MCAN team has big picture suggestions to help make the idea as strong as possible and in alignment with the type of big ideas we are looking for, we may provide written feedback for consideration as you prepare your video submission.
Technical assistance calls (optional) with the MCAN team are available if you’d like to ask questions or even use us as thought partners. To set up a call with the MCAN team about your pitch idea, reach out to Noon at noon@micollegeaccess.org.
The submission of the pitch idea actually comes in video form! No fancy technological skills will be required. Just capture a short (3 minute max.) video of yourself talking about the idea and upload it to the application site.
Considerations for entities: We recognize that some ideas may come from the collective brain power of an organization, and some may be the thoughts of an individual. In some instances, individuals may be representing an LLC or nonprofit organization. Submissions by any of these are acceptable. During the pitch presentation at the MCAN conference, only 1 individual per idea is allowed to present the idea on-stage. When it comes to the cash prizes, there are different tax considerations if the award goes to an individual or an organization. We will ask all finalists to submit a W9, and the entity represented on that form is the entity to whom the check will be made out.
Cash Prize: The top three finalists will attend the MCAN conference Nov. 4-5 at the Lansing Center in downtown Lansing. MCAN will cover the registration fee.
At the conference, each finalist will present their pitch on the main stage to the conference attendees, and attendees will vote to identify the first, second, and third place ideas.
- First place: $5,000
- Second place: $2,500
- Third place: $1,000
As this is not a grant, finalists have no reporting requirements and are not required to use the cash prize to implement the idea they pitched.
Ready to throw us your idea? Complete the interest form today!
Questions? Contact Jenny McArdle at jenny@micollegeaccess.org or 517-896-1773.