Sands Family Social Venturing Fellowship

Bill and Susan Sands, proud University of Minnesota alumni, have dedicated their lives to strengthening the Twin Cities community. Through their leadership and support of organizations like Western Bank, the Neighborhood Development Center, Jeremiah Program, and many other social and economic development initiatives, they have created opportunities and provided vital assistance to individuals in need. 

With the Sands Family Social Venturing Fellowship, Bill and Susan aim to inspire future generations of Carlson MBA students to carry forward this legacy by making meaningful, positive impacts in their local communities.

The Sands Fellowship offers Carlson MBA students the opportunity to develop and launch transformative social enterprises that create meaningful impact in the local community. MBA students are invited to propose plans for new social ventures addressing community needs and challenges. Grants of $5,000 will be awarded to ventures that demonstrate tangible benefits to the local community. Examples of impact areas include economic development, affordable housing, health and wellness, education, environmental sustainability, and poverty alleviation—but ventures making a positive difference in any aspect of community life are encouraged to apply. Additional funding is available for students whose ventures advance beyond the experiential STARTUP course, supporting sustained growth and impact.

Sands Fellows participating in this program have launched innovative ventures tackling critical issues such as workforce training, affordable housing, homelessness, nutrition, social justice, mental health, youth education, gun violence prevention, women’s shelters, nonprofit capitalization, health care services, medical devices, and many other social impact areas.

Now in its 13th year, the program has supported 89 Sands Fellows who have either partnered with existing organizations or created new ventures addressing vital societal challenges in the Twin Cities. Through their fellowships, these students have sharpened their entrepreneurial skills and taken meaningful steps toward becoming recognized leaders driving positive change in the community.

Aliciana Bezdicek

Plate it Forward

Empowering families to overcome food insecurity through cooking literacy, accessible meal prep resources, and essential kitchen tools.

Teddy Sims 

SCI Youth Initiative

Adaptive sports program helping youth with spinal cord injuries rebuild community, confidence, and belonging through play.

Mireille Ghassan 

Patchwork

Community-driven circular fashion initiative that teaches sewing and upcycling to reduce textile waste and make sustainability accessible.

Mee Thao-Frederick

Beyond the Bubble

Inclusive space where Hmong women can connect, grow, and thrive beyond traditional expectations while remaining culturally grounded.

Kailin Oliver

LGBTQ+ Mentor Network

Statewide mentorship program connecting LGBTQ+ young adults with affirming queer role models.

Joey Kaufman 

Mondiant Initiative

Empowering young adults in the Twin Cities East African diaspora to build economic mobility and deeper community connection.

Jabari Knox 

Saving Space

Culturally grounded mental wellness model creating safe, community-centered spaces for Black male college students.

Deborah Brister

Stanley’s Startups

Empowering Northeast Minneapolis youth to launch sustainable food ventures through training, storytelling, and micro-grants.

Ashanti Soldier 

NeedYou 

Improving access and continuity of care for communities disproportionately affected by substance use disorders.

Robbie Latta 

Water Quality Enhancement 

Protecting waterways and improving water quality through agriculture and urban runoff mitigation solutions.

Aydan Yarano 

Zero-Waste Campus Initiative 

Campus-wide circularity initiative advancing zero-waste systems to prepare the UofM for the State’s 2032 packaging standards.