Comparison · 19 material differences
Kauffman Fellows vs Milken Institute Young Leaders Circle
This comparison was generated on request from the records. It carries no editorial verdict and is not indexed. The published comparisons are listed on the compare page.
Read down each column for one organization, across a row for the difference. A bronze mark at the left of a cell means the organizations differ on that row. A dash or “not published” means the organization does not disclose the fact — it is not a zero.
Verified September 2026
Leadership network
Verified September 2026 Kauffman Fellows
Working venture capital investors — typically partner-level GPs, emerging fund founders, LPs and corporate venture investors — who already deploy capital
Leadership network
Milken Institute Young Leaders Circle
Professionals aged 25 to 40 who support the Milken Institute and want access to its conferences and research programmes
What the records say
- Maximum age at joining — Kauffman Fellows: No published maximum age at joining; Milken Institute Young Leaders Circle: Aged 25 to 40.
- Minimum age — Kauffman Fellows: No published minimum age; Milken Institute Young Leaders Circle: Aged 25 to 40.
- Role or title — Kauffman Fellows: Working venture investor — direct VC investor, emerging or established GP, LP, corporate VC or ecosystem contributor; Milken Institute Young Leaders Circle: No published role or title.
- Geographic restriction — Kauffman Fellows: No published geographic restriction; Milken Institute Young Leaders Circle: Based in the United States, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa region, or Asia.
- Annual dues — Kauffman Fellows: Not publicly disclosed — the organization does not publish alumni society dues, if any; Milken Institute Young Leaders Circle: Not publicly disclosed. The Institute states that admission involves an "Annual tax-deductible contribution" but publishes no amount. Because it is framed as a charitable contribution rather than dues, it may be a minimum rather than a fixed price..
Side by side
| Kauffman Fellows | Milken Institute Young Leaders Circle | |
|---|---|---|
| Profile | ||
| Type | Leadership network | Leadership network |
| Founded | 1995 (Started inside the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation in 1995; spun out as an independent organization in 2000 and run by the Center for Venture Education) | Not documented |
| Headquarters | Palo Alto, United States | Santa Monica, United States |
| Geographic footprint | Fellows in 62 countries across six continents; in-person modules and treks rotate between global locations | Members in the United States, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa region, and Asia |
| Members | 1,060as of September 2026 | 300as of September 2026 |
| Chapters | 11 | No chapters; members are grouped by the five regions the Institute names rather than by local branch |
| Primary audience | Working venture capital investors — typically partner-level GPs, emerging fund founders, LPs and corporate venture investors — who already deploy capital | Professionals aged 25 to 40 who support the Milken Institute and want access to its conferences and research programmes |
| Typical member | Recent classes are roughly 86% direct VC investors, 72% partner-level or above and 43% founders. Across the whole society, about 55–60% of Fellows are firm founders, roughly 80% are partner-level or above, and about one in three is female. | Members are described as intellectually curious, motivated and philanthropic young professionals aged 25 to 40, drawn from a wide range of industries and based in the United States, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa region, and Asia. |
| Qualification | ||
| Maximum age at joining | No published maximum age at joining | Aged 25 to 40Stated as a requirement on the Young Leaders Circle page.verified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Minimum age | No published minimum age | Aged 25 to 40Stated as a requirement on the Young Leaders Circle page.verified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Role or title | Working venture investor — direct VC investor, emerging or established GP, LP, corporate VC or ecosystem contributorPartner-level or above is preferred but not stated as mandatory; 72% of a recent class were partner-level or higherverified September 2026 · source ↗ | No published role or title |
| Geographic restriction | No published geographic restriction | Based in the United States, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa region, or AsiaListed as a requirement alongside age and referral.verified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Invitation required | No | Yes |
| Sponsor required | Not documented | Yes |
| Application process | Applications run on an annual class cycle. Step one is an online form that the organization estimates takes about an hour, submitted with an application fee. Step two is a set of video interviews with current Fellows. Step three is selection by an admissions committee. For the Class 31 cycle, interviews began in mid-February 2026 and acceptances went out in early April 2026. | Three published steps. A prospective member is referred by a Milken Institute member or supporter; the application form itself is made available only by invitation; and a current Young Leaders Circle member conducts an interview. Admission also carries an annual tax-deductible contribution. Enquiries go to the Institute's Young Leaders Circle contact address. |
| Selectivity | Not publicly disclosed — Kauffman Fellows publishes detailed class composition data but no acceptance rate or applicant volume | Not publicly disclosed. The Institute publishes its requirements and process but no acceptance rate or applicant volume. |
| Cost | ||
| Annual dues | Not publicly disclosed — the organization does not publish alumni society dues, if anyverified September 2026 | Not publicly disclosed. The Institute states that admission involves an "Annual tax-deductible contribution" but publishes no amount. Because it is framed as a charitable contribution rather than dues, it may be a minimum rather than a fixed price.verified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Initiation fee | Tuition is the material cost; travel and lodging for five modules, a summit and two treks are additional and not quantified by the organization. | Not publicly disclosedverified September 2026 |
| Programme fee | $80,000 one-timeTuition for the full two-year programme, due before Module 1. Covers venues, meals, materials and mentoring; excludes transportation and lodging. Non-refundable and non-transferable. Limited needs-based scholarships are available.verified September 2026 · source ↗ | The only stated financial requirement is an annual tax-deductible contribution of unpublished size, made to the Milken Institute, a 501(c)(3) organisation based in Santa Monica, California (EIN 95-4240775). |
| Event costs | Tuition is the material cost; travel and lodging for five modules, a summit and two treks are additional and not quantified by the organization. | Members are stated to be "provided access" to the annual Global Conference and select regional summits; whether any separate event charge applies is not disclosed.verified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Membership term | Two-year programme followed by lifelong membership of the Kauffman Fellows society | Annual, renewed through the yearly contribution |
| Structure | ||
| Meeting frequency | Five four-day in-person modules, one Global Summit and two Global Treks over two years, plus roughly 24 virtual forum meetings; Special Interest Groups meet monthly for alumni | Access to the annual Milken Institute Global Conference and select regional summits, plus special invitations to private events through the year |
| Peer forums | Class members meet in virtual Forum groups roughly twice a month during the programme; alumni join topic-based Special Interest Groups and regional chapters | Conference and event access rather than standing peer forums |
| Confidentiality | Could not be independently verified — no published confidentiality policy was found | Not publicly disclosed |
| Time commitment | Approximately 20–25 days over the two-year programme, per the application details page | Not documented |
| Organized as | Cohort-based, Event-focused, Virtual | Event-focused, Virtual |
| Confidential peer forums | Yes | No |
| Local chapters | Yes | No |
| Virtual membership | No | Not documented |
| Online community | Yes | Not documented |
| Member directory | Yes | Not documented |
| Events | Yes | Yes |
| Programming | ||
| Educational programming | Yes | Yes |
| Leadership development | Yes | Partial |
| Retreats | Yes | No |
| Travel | Yes | Partial |
| Family programming | Not documented | No |
| Spouse and partner programming | Not documented | No |
| Next-generation programming | No | No |
| Investment discussions | Yes | Yes |
| Investment opportunities | Partial | No |
| Philanthropic component | Not documented | Yes |
| Networking emphasis | High | High |
| Social emphasis | Medium | Medium |
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Sources
Drawn from the sources listed on each page: Kauffman Fellows · Milken Institute Young Leaders Circle