Grant and Funding Programs Offered by ICSC Foundation Canada (ICSC)

Role of ICSC Foundation in the funding ecosystem

ICSC Foundation and ICSC Foundation Canada are the nonprofit, charitable arms of ICSC, the member organization for the marketplaces and retail real estate industry. Established in 1988 in the United States and in 2015 in Canada, the Foundations focus on talent development as their primary mission and operate a portfolio of funding and support programs to build a diverse pipeline of future industry leaders.

Through their Talent Incubator Project, the Foundations invest in undergraduate and graduate students, as well as early‑career professionals, across the United States and Canada. Since 2018 they have awarded more than $2.4 million to students, and their programs are designed to combine financial support with mentoring, networking and hands‑on industry exposure.

Main funding programs and supports

• Academic scholarships: Over 100 scholarships are awarded annually to students studying retail real estate or related fields. These include general scholarships granted directly by ICSC Foundation or ICSC Foundation Canada, as well as scholarships funded at select universities. Many awards also provide ICSC student membership, an industry mentor and a complimentary trip to an ICSC conference.
• Professional development fellowship: The Lisa Palmer Fellowship offers a year‑long leadership and professional development experience for high‑potential women professionals in the United States and Canada working in retail and real estate.
• Entrepreneurial prize: The Roslyn & Elliot Jaffe Retail Entrepreneur Prize provides a $10,000 cash award to an undergraduate or graduate student, or team, launching an innovative retail concept, product, idea or pre‑seed company.
• Mentorship programs: The ICSC Foundation Mentorship Program matches student members with experienced ICSC professionals for an academic year, giving mentees structured guidance, regular meetings and access to the industry beyond the classroom.
• Internship and career readiness programs: Through the Internship Preparation Program (iPrep), the Foundations offer resources such as event‑based coaching, expert‑led webinars, and ICSC Career Connections, an internship and job platform for student members. ICSC Launch Academy further supports students from underrepresented backgrounds with skills training and exposure to employers.
• University partnerships: The Foundations partner with dozens of colleges and universities, providing ICSC memberships for students and faculty, discounted technical trainings, competition opportunities and on‑campus programming at ICSC events.

Beneficiaries and impact

The main beneficiaries are undergraduate and graduate students in the United States and Canada who are studying retail real estate or related disciplines, along with emerging professionals seeking leadership roles in the sector. Programs intentionally emphasize diversity and inclusion, aiming to reflect the communities served by the marketplaces industry.

Impact metrics shared by the Foundations highlight that a large majority of scholarship and mentorship participants go on to pursue careers in real estate. Hundreds of mentor‑mentee pairings and thousands of student members have been supported through this growing portfolio of programs.

Governance and member involvement

The Foundations are funded primarily through donations and campaigns led within the ICSC membership community. A major capital campaign in the United States raised $5 million for programs and services, while ICSC Foundation Canada launched a $2.5 million campaign supported by leading real estate companies. Members contribute not only financially but also by serving as mentors, hosting interns, and participating in university outreach.