Mensa Foundation awards

One of the Mensa Education & Research Foundation's purposes is to identify and foster human intelligence for the benefit of humanity.

To further this goal, several awards programs have been established to recognize the research and support of intelligence both nationally and internationally.

Copper Black: Copper Black was a Mensan who valued creativity. In her will she left a legacy funding a special annual award to recognize an outstanding creative achievement by a member of American Mensa.

Excellence in Research: These annual awards are given internationally for outstanding research on intelligence, intellectual giftedness and related fields.

Lifetime Achievement: This award is presented every other year in recognition of a lifetime of contributions to the field of intelligence and related subjects.

Mensa Foundation Prize: The Mensa Foundation Prize is awarded biennially for the best scientific discovery in the field of intelligence or creativity. Endowed by the estate of Kenneth Douglas Thomson (1934-2013), the award includes a $10,000 prize, personal plaque and medal.

Scholarships: The Mensa Foundation's Scholarship Program bases its awards totally on essays written by the applicants. Consideration is not given to grades, academic program or financial need.