The Sloan Scholars Mentoring Network (SSMN) serves the over 1,800 alumni of the Sloan Scholar graduate fellowship programs. To support scholars’ professional success after graduation, the SSMN provides includes a strategic mix of workshops, grants, and networking and mentoring opportunities, both in person and virtually. 

Since 2018, the SSMN has awarded more than $850,000 in grants for research startup, career development, and conference travel to Sloan Scholar alumni, the majority of whom are at early stages in their career and are able to use the funding to secure additional long-term support for their research. In 2024, the program established the SSMN Awards to recognize the dedication, impact, and accomplishments of exemplary Sloan Scholar alumni. Through its website, newsletter, and social media presence, the SSMN also shares alumni stories and publicly promotes their professional achievements.

The Sloan Foundation and the SSRC have developed the SSMN to:

1. Understand and support the evolving professional needs of Sloan Scholar alumni
2. Foster a community of alumni who see themselves as effective mentors within the Sloan Scholar community, in their workplaces, and throughout their fields
3. Continue to develop a prestigious and public Sloan Scholar brand identity for the benefit of the scholars