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IMG’s Leave Your Mark Grant: Eligibility, Application Process, Deadline, and Award Details

August 20, 2026
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Jason Brooks

Quick Answer: What Is the IMG Leave Your Mark Grant?

IMG’s Leave Your Mark Grant is an annual funding opportunity from International Medical Group (IMG) that supports mission, volunteer, and service-trip work around the world. Each year, IMG awards funding to a mix of individuals and mission or social good organizations. Applicants submit a short essay or video, and winners are chosen through a judged selection process. Below is what current and prospective applicants need to know before applying.

This guide covers everything you need to know about the IMG’s Leave Your Mark Grant:

Quick Facts Table

Detail	Information
Grant name	Leave Your Mark Grant (LYM)
Organization	International Medical Group (IMG), a SiriusPoint company
2026 status	Open (tenth annual Leave Your Mark Grant)
Award amount	Two organizations receive $3,500 each; three individuals receive $1,000 each
Eligible applicants	Individuals (18+) participating in a mission, volunteer, or service trip, and mission or social good organizations
Geographic eligibility	Open to participants worldwide
Application period	August 1 – September 13, 2026
Application deadline	September 13, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time
Application method	Online entry form or email to marketing@imglobal.com
Essay requirement	Approximately 500-word written essay (or video, see below)
Video requirement	Approximately 3-minute video essay, submitted via a shareable link
Number of winners	Five (two organizations and three individuals)
Selection process	Judged scoring based on content, passion, human impact, and completeness
Use of funds	Supporting the applicant's mission, volunteer, or service trip and related outreach work
Official source	imglobal.com/leave-your-mark

What Is the IMG Leave Your Mark Grant?

The Leave Your Mark Grant is a funding opportunity created by IMG to invest in mission and social good work happening around the world. The funding program was created to give back to people and organizations already doing meaningful outreach, not to fund new, unrelated projects.

Each year, IMG’s LYM Grant provides financial support to a combination of individuals and organizations engaged in mission, volunteer, or service trips. The 2026 edition celebrates the program’s tenth anniversary, with applications now being accepted. Because program details can shift from one cycle to the next, applicants should always confirm current terms directly through IMG before submitting.

Visit the Official Grant Page

About IMG and the Leave Your Mark Program

International Medical Group®, a SiriusPoint company, is a global insurance benefits and assistance services company that has served members worldwide since 1990. IMG offers a range of insurance programs, including travel medical insurance and travel insurance, along with travel assistance and emergency support services for people living, working, or traveling abroad, including missionaries and mission organizations.

Because International Medical Group has long insured mission and social good organizations, the Leave Your Mark Grant grew naturally out of that relationship. The program is IMG’s way of supporting the individuals and groups it already serves through its travel and health safety solutions.

Who Can Apply for the Leave Your Mark Grant?

Both individuals and mission or social good organizations may apply, subject to eligibility rules confirmed by IMG. Two applicant categories exist:

To qualify, applicants must:

Groups, clubs, newsletters, or organizations cannot enter on behalf of the organization itself under the individual category, organizational entries must apply as an organization. The grant is open to participants worldwide, so there is no country restriction, though applicants should confirm eligibility details for their specific situation on IMG’s official page.

IMG Leave Your Mark Grant Eligibility Requirements

Applicants choose one of two submission formats:

Both formats must answer a specific prompt depending on applicant type:

Organizations:

Individuals:

Submissions must be original work, free of third-party intellectual property, and free of offensive or objectionable content.

IMG LYM Grant Requirements

Applicant eligibility: Individuals must be 18 or older and involved in a qualifying mission, volunteer, or service trip. Organizations must be a mission or social good organization engaged in global outreach.

Project or mission eligibility: The initiative should relate to mission work, volunteering, or a service trip with a social good component.

Application eligibility: Applicants must submit a complete entry, either a written essay or video essay, that answers the required prompt, along with the requested contact and organizational information.

Other restrictions: IMG employees cannot participate. Only one entry is permitted per person during the entry period, and duplicate entries are disqualified.

How to Apply for IMG's Leave Your Mark Grant

Step 1: Confirm Your Eligibility

Review the eligibility criteria to make sure you meet the requirements for IMG’s Leave Your Mark Grant. Grant research services can help you verify eligibility requirements and stay informed about application deadlines and program updates.

Step 2: Review the Current-Year Requirements

Visit IMG’s official grant page to check the latest eligibility rules, application requirements, and submission deadline.

Step 3: Choose Your Submission Format

Select the format that best suits your application, either a written essay or a video submission. Grant submission support can help you review the submission requirements and ensure your materials are properly prepared for the selected format.

Step 4: Prepare Your Response

Draft your response to the required prompt based on your specific applicant category, making sure your submission clearly addresses the question. Grant proposal writing services can help organize your ideas and present your response in a clear, well-structured manner.

Step 5: Gather Required Information

Prepare any supporting contact details or organizational information requested as part of the application.

Step 6: Complete the Official Entry Form

Fill out the official entry form with accurate information, or submit your application by email to marketing@imglobal.com with the required details.

Step 7: Review Your Submission

Check your application for accuracy, completeness, clarity, and any missing information before submitting it.

Step 8: Submit Before the Deadline

Send your completed application before the stated deadline and keep a record of your submission for your records. Submission support services can help verify that your application is complete and facilitate the final submission process.

If you’re new to the grant application process, our How to Apply for Grants: Beginner’s Guide can help you understand the basic steps involved.

What If You Need Help With Your Grant Application?

Preparing a competitive application takes more than filling out a form. Grant Writing Company can simplify the funding process and help you develop a clear, competitive application. Professional grant writing support can help you present your project clearly and strategically, research funding sources, identify relevant opportunities, and determine whether a grant aligns with your goals and eligibility.

Professional grant writing company can assist with:

Grant & Funding Research: Identify relevant funding programs and potential sources of financial assistance.
Eligibility Review: Assess requirements and determine whether an opportunity is a suitable fit.
Application Strategy: Develop an approach that addresses the funder’s priorities.
Application Development: Help create compelling narratives, personal statements, essays, and impact statements.
Supporting Information: Organize and present required documents and information effectively.
Editing & Proofreading: Improve clarity, structure, grammar, formatting, and consistency.
Application Review: Conduct a final review to identify gaps or areas that may need strengthening.

Professional funding support can make the application process more organized and effective while helping you present your goals and proposed project clearly.

IMG Grant Application Process

Applicants apply directly through IMG’s online entry form, which asks for contact details, applicant type, and the written essay or video link. After the entry period closes, IMG’s selection process begins. A panel of judges reviews entries, and winners are announced publicly once selected. IMG has not published confirmation of individual entry receipts, so applicants should save a copy of their submission for their own records.

IMG's Leave Your Mark Grant Deadline

The application timeline for the current cycle is:

Milestone	Date / Time
Entry period opens	August 1, 2026
Application deadline	September 13, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time
Winners announced	October 16, 2026

IMG Leave Your Mark Grant Award Amount and Funding

For the current cycle, IMG is granting funds to five winners:

Only one prize is awarded per person, and prizes are not exchangeable, refundable, or transferable. Winners are responsible for any taxes associated with the award.

What Can Grant Funding Be Used For?

The grant is intended to support the applicant’s mission, volunteer, or service trip and related global outreach efforts. Past individual winners have used their funds to support initiatives including:

Past organizational winners have used funds to support:

Specific approved uses can vary by applicant and are not guaranteed or restricted to any particular expense category beyond supporting the applicant’s outreach work. For more guidance on allowable expenses and how grant recipients should use awarded funds, see our guide on How Grant Funds Must Be Used.

What Does the Selection Process Look Like?

IMG’s selection process uses judges who score each submission on a 1–100 scale, evaluating four categories worth up to 25 points each:

The entries with the top five scores receive the five available prizes. Selection decisions are made at IMG’s discretion.

How to Create a Strong IMG Grant Application

A strong application communicates purpose clearly. Consider these elements:

IMG Grant Application Tips

Common Mistakes Applicants Should Avoid

Avoiding these mistakes can help you submit a more complete and compelling application. For more guidance on identifying and preventing common errors, read our guide on Top Grant Application Mistakes and How to Avoid Them.

Leave Your Mark Grant vs. Other Funding Options

Funding Option	Typical Purpose	Potential Applicant	Best For
Leave Your Mark Grant	Support mission, volunteer, or service trip outreach	Individuals (18+) and mission/social good organizations	Applicants already engaged in global outreach work
Scholarships and grants	Support educational costs	Students	Tuition, coursework, or academic expenses
Nonprofit grants	Support organizational programs	Registered nonprofits	Broader program or operating funding
Creative grants	Support artistic or creative projects	Individual creators	Project-based creative work

Conclusion: Make Your Mark Through the Right Funding Opportunity

The LYM Grant offers real financial support for people and organizations already doing mission, volunteer, and service-trip work. Because eligibility, deadlines, and requirements can shift each cycle, always verify the latest details on IMG’s official page before applying. A clear, well-prepared application, one that communicates your purpose and impact, gives your submission the best chance of standing out. If you’d like help sharpening your essay or funding strategy before the deadline, professional grant-writing support is available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply for the Leave Your Mark Grant?

Individuals 18 and older participating in a mission, volunteer, or service trip, and mission or social good organizations, may apply, subject to IMG’s official eligibility rules.

What are the LYM award requirements?

Applicants submit a 500-word essay or a 3-minute video answering a specific prompt for their applicant category, along with contact and organizational details.

What is the Leave Your Mark deadline?

The current deadline is September 13, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

How much is the LYM funding award?

Two organizations receive $3,500 each, and three individuals receive $1,000 each.

How are Leave Your Mark recipients selected?

A panel of judges scores each entry on content, passion, human impact, and completeness; the top five scores win.

What documents are needed for the grant?

Applicants need a completed entry form, along with either a written essay or a video link, plus basic contact information.

How can I improve my grant application?

Answer the specific prompt directly, use concrete examples, explain expected impact, and proofread carefully before submitting.

Is the LYM Grant open to applicants worldwide?

Yes, the funding support is open to participants worldwide, subject to the age and eligibility requirements.

Note: This guide is for informational purposes only. Grant details, eligibility requirements, deadlines, and funding availability may change at any time. Always verify the most current program information through official sources before making any business or funding decisions.

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