Ford Philanthropy Fellowship 2026 (Fully Funded)

Overview

The Ford Philanthropy Fellowship 2026 is a fully funded global fellowship designed for entrepreneurs and community leaders who are working to create meaningful social impact.

It is powered by the Watson Institute and supported by Ford Philanthropy. The programme helps participants scale their ventures and strengthen communities through training, mentorship, and global networking.

The fellowship focuses on areas such as:

• Community development

• Education

• Economic opportunity

• Disaster preparedness and resilience

Purpose

The programme aims to:

• Support local changemakers and entrepreneurs

• Strengthen community-based solutions

• Help leaders scale their impact

• Provide leadership and business training

• Build global networks of social innovators

Programme Structure

The fellowship includes:

• Online intensive learning sessions

• Weekly workshops (business, leadership, and strategy)

• Mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs and experts

• Community “Basecamp” project (participants lead local impact workshops)

• Final Virtual Summit where fellows present their ventures

Duration

• September 8, 2026 – January 21, 2027

• Fully online programme

Funding

• Fully funded programme (no participation fees)

• Includes access to training, mentorship, and programme resources

• Basecamp activities may include a stipend/support

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Be 18 years or older

• Be a community leader or entrepreneur

• Have a venture operating for 1–5 years

• Have measurable social impact

• Have a small team (usually under 10 members)

• Show some form of funding or revenue (grants, donations, or income)

• Be ready to scale their work

Eligible countries are limited (varies by cycle), often including:

• Brazil

• Mexico

• South Africa

• Thailand

• Vietnam

• Germany (and others depending on year)

Application

• Apply online through the Watson Institute portal

• Application takes around 30 minutes

• Priority deadline: 15 August 2026

• Rolling admissions until spots are filled