The Ford Philanthropy Fellowship

Thank you for your interest in The Ford Philanthropy Fellowship. We are excited to continue our work supporting impact-focused leaders and entrepreneurs like you!

Applications are open, priority Application Deadline: August 15, 2026.

Check if you’re eligible for the Fellowship –click here.

"*" indicates required fields

Tell Us About Yourself

Our organization values diversity. The collection of demographic information is essential to us, as it helps us ensure that our processes are fair and inclusive. Our objective is to make certain that our programs fully represent and cater to the diverse populations we work with. We invite you to voluntarily provide demographic information below.

Name*

First Last

Email*

Enter Email Confirm Email

Country of Citizenship*

Phone*

Please include a country code.

Date of Birth*

Month

Day

Year

Gender Identity*

Other, Gender Identity*

Pronouns*

Other, Pronouns*

Race/Ethnicity*

Other, Race*

Address*

Street Address City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country

What is your highest level of education?*

Share your LinkedIn Profile*

If you don't have a LinkedIn profile, please put N/A.

How did you first learn about the Ford Philanthropy Fellowship powered by Watson Institute?*

Please review the list carefully and select one option below. Use the following questions to add any additional details.

Please elaborate on your answer to the question above.*

For example: if referred, (tell us the full name of the person and Organization); if you marked a Social Media Group, (give us the name of the group); etc. Please be as specific as possible.

Organization Overview

What is the official name of your organization or business?*

When did you first start working on this venture or organization?*

MM slash DD slash YYYY

Briefly describe your organization.*

Describe your organization in 2-3 sentences. Include: What problem are you solving, and how does your solution work?

Organization Website:*

Please answer the following questions to help us understand where your venture is in its development journey.

Have you identified a clear problem your organization is trying to solve?*

Yes

Not Sure

Have you validated this problem with real people (e.g., interviews, surveys, prototype)?*

Yes

Not Sure

Do you currently have a product or service (Pilot or live offering)?*

Yes

Not Sure

Is your solution being used by real users, clients, or beneficiaries?*

Yes

Not Sure

Have people paid for your product/service, or has your program received funding?*

Yes

Not Sure

Do you have repeat customers, clients, or beneficiaries?*

This indicates consistent demand, such as repeat customers, recurring clients, or users or beneficiaries who return over time.

Yes

Not Sure

Impact Focus & Progress

What best describes your primary area of work?*

Technology & Innovation - Digital solutions, tech platforms, software, hardware innovation

Economic Development - Business development, financial services, market access, job creation

Environmental Solutions - Climate action, sustainability, conservation, clean energy

Education & Skills - Learning programs, training, capacity building, knowledge sharing

Health & Wellbeing - Healthcare, mental health, nutrition, wellness

Agriculture & Food Systems - Farming, food production, agricultural innovation

Social Justice - Rights, advocacy, civic engagement, community empowerment

Arts & Culture - Creative expression, cultural preservation, media, design, performing and visual arts

Other

Please elaborate:*

Does your work directly impact any of the following communities?

Focus on the primary population

Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)

Indigenous peoples

Justice Impacted communities

Low-income communities

People with disabilities

Rural communities

Small Business Owners & Entrepreneurs

Unbanked & Underbanked

Women and girls

Youth (under 25)

Other

Approximately what percentage of the people you serve are from the community you selected above?*

In what country does your venture primarily create impact?*

If you create impact in multiple countries, choose the most relevant one here.

Does your business primarily operate in or support skilled trades, vocational, technical, or STEM education (for example: trade schools, apprenticeship programs, technical training, or certification programs)?*

This is not required for the program - we're simply gathering information about the full scope of your work.

Yes

Not Sure

Please elaborate*

Does your venture include disaster relief, recovery, or resilience-building?*

This is not required for the program - we're simply gathering information about the full scope of your work.

Yes

Not sure

Please elaborate*

Current Impact Metrics*

Select the primary metrics you track and provide current data

Lives impacted/individuals served

Environmental impact

Economic value created

Jobs created/supported

Number of businesses served

Other

Tell us about your impact so far.*

Based on the metrics you selected, share how your work makes a difference in your communities, and include numbers that show your progress. Focus on metrics that demonstrate your contribution to the economic development of the region. We want to understand both the changes you're creating and specific results (like the number of people served or other key outcomes).

What are your organization's key goals for the next 1-3 years?*

Please describe your organization's specific 1-3 year objectives and explain how the resources, network, and opportunities provided by this fellowship will directly contribute to achieving those milestones.

What is your personal connection to the issue you are trying to solve through your work?*

Please include a personal story, 2-3 key moments or milestones that shaped your work, and concrete examples from your past experiences that not only demonstrate your fit for the program but also showcase your passion for your organization.

Organization Structure & Financials

Full-time team members (paid):*

Please add the total number.

Part-time team members (paid):*

Please add the total number.

Regular volunteers/unpaid team members:*

Please add the total number.

Is your organization officially registered?*

Yes - fully registered/incorporated

In process - working on registration

No - operating informally

Not yet - planning to register

Not sure - need guidance

Not required for our work

If yes, what country?*

What is the legal structure of your organization?*

Please choose the ONE option that best describes your venture.

If Other, Please describe your structure:*

How have you funded your work so far? Select all that apply:*

Revenue from Sales/Services (Income from your products or services)

Grants (Funding from foundations, organizations, or government that doesn't need to be repaid)

Individual Donations (Support from community members, friends, family, or crowdfunding)

Investment Capital (Including seed funding, equity investment, or SAFE notes from investors)

Loans (Money borrowed that needs to be repaid)

Community Support (Non-monetary support, in-kind donations, or volunteer time)

Personal Funds (Your own money or resources invested)

Haven't Raised Funds Yet (Still in planning or early stages)

Other

If Other, please specify how have you funded your work so far*

What is your organization’s total income in the past 12 months? (Include all income sources such as grants, donations, sales, and other funding)*

Clarifications: Nonprofits: Include grants, donations, earned income, and any other funding. | For-profits: Include sales, investments, and any revenue-generating activities. | Enter exact numbers without symbols (e.g., 50000). Use USD currency only. If no funds have been raised yet, enter 0.

What is the total income your organization has received since its founding? (Include all income sources such as grants, donations, sales, and other funding)*

List up to 3 of your most significant funders/investors and the type of support they provided. For example: "XYZ Foundation - Grant" or "Community Cooperative - Investment"*

Note: - Include organizations, investors, or major donors - If you haven't received external funding yet, write "N/A" - If you prefer not to name specific funders, you can describe the type of organization (e.g., "Local Foundation" or "Impact Investor")

Additional Information

Are you confident that you understand and agree to the time commitments, scheduling expectations, and consideration for time zones necessary to successfully participate in the Program?*

Yes

Not sure

Please read more about time commitment expectations here.

Do you agree to facilitate a Basecamp in one of the required locations?*

Yes

Not sure