Priority Applications Deadline: August 15, 2026.
Mzikhona Mgedle, 2024-2025 Alum
Empowering local entrepreneurs and leaders with entrepreneurial training, expert-led workshops, and a powerful network to build stronger, more resilient communities.
The Fellowship Offers
The Ford Philanthropy Fellowship, powered by Watson Institute, is a fully-funded program designed for entrepreneurs and local leaders who are advancing solutions focused on community development, education, and disaster preparedness and response. The Fellowship includes entrepreneurship training, committed mentorship, access to financial tools, a vast network of resources, and long-term alumni support.
Business & Leadership Workshops
Participate in hands-on sessions focused on entrepreneurship, business acumen, and financial skills led by expert practitioners who are successful entrepreneurs and leaders themselves.
Financial Tools & Resources
Access practical financial tools, frameworks, and workshops designed to strengthen your venture’s financial foundation. Benefit from the expertise of practitioners and Watson Institute’s broader network of specialists supporting entrepreneurs at every stage.
Experts You Will Learn From
We recruit experts and entrepreneurs with the specific expertise needed to best serve you. They are brought on to share their insights, facilitate our workshops, and provide 1-on-1 guidance. Preceptors from the 2024-2025 Ford Philanthropy Fellowship included:
Cole Hoover
Designer of Impact Networks | Strategic Facilitator | Purpose Coach
Kimberly Moore
EdTech CEO | Chronic Absenteeism & Mobility Strategist | Advisor to Schools Ready for Change
Sarah Windrum
Head of Clister Development | UKSPA Committee Chair | Nachural Business Woman of the Year 2021
Key Dates
- Program: September 8 – January 21, 2027
- Immersive: September 8–14, 2026 | Virtual
- Week 1: 9/8–9/11 (Tuesday–Friday)
- Week 2: 9/14–9/17 (Monday–Thursday)
- Virtual Summit: January 21, 2027. Selected Fellows present their venture pitches to an engaged audience of entrepreneurs, community leaders, Ford Philanthropy representatives, and peers.
Schedule & Weekly Time Commitment
- Weekly Workshops: Fellows participate in virtual workshops each Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM MT.
- Weekly Time Commitment: 8–10 hours per week, including workshops, community building events, optional mentorship sessions, Basecamp planning and implementation, and Summit preparations.
Eligibility: Is This Fellowship for Me?
Here is who we are looking for
Don’t take our word for it
Meet The Alumni
Laca City is a machine learning-powered platform that improves safety for pedestrians in low-income communities. Returning to Vietnam after a decade living abroad, Mai witnessed that parking shortages caused dangers to pedestrians because sidewalks were often repurposed as parking spaces leaving pedestrians with no safe passage. This danger is particularly prevalent in low-income communities of Vietnam which tend to have narrower streets and less safe passageways. Mai drew on her background in urban planning and personal experience growing up in Vietnam to found Laca City, which connects drivers in need of parking to unused parking spaces to open up more space for pedestrians to commute more safely. Laca City’s innovation will significantly improve the safety of pedestrians living in low income communities across Vietnam, including in the Ford Plant City of Hai Duong.
Shuttle Central’s mission is to allow anyone to travel at affordable prices and in the option that best suits them. To achieve this, they have developed a platform that brings together all independent providers of tourist transport, providing them with the necessary technology to grow their business and access large clients. The platform is free for transporters and creates a seamless and digitized experience for travelers and last-mile ground transportation companies around Mexico. In the 5 years since its inception, Shuttle Central has raised over $1,100,000, empowered over 100 small transportation businesses across Mexico, fostered partnerships with major travel brands like Expedia Group, Booking.com, and VivaAerobus, and received global media attention, including a feature in Forbes.
To make sustainable mobility more accessible to low-income communities across South Africa, MLPC is currently pioneering solar-powered EV charging stations tailored for low-income communities, particularly rural and agricultural. Their solar-powered EV charging stations harness free energy from the sun and require less extensive electrical infrastructure, thereby reducing operational costs. To offer farmers and low-income communities generally a more affordable entry point, MLPC Project is partnering with renewable energy companies and EV manufacturers to explore subsidized or lower-cost charging solutions for low-income communities. With $200,000 in seed funding and a team of 8, Sibongile aims to reduce energy costs in low-income communities by up to 40% over the next 1-3 years, including in Ford’s Plant City of Pretoria to ensure their solar-powered EV charging are affordable and accessible to low-income communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the costs associated with this program (travel, fees, deposit, etc.)?
No fees are collected or directly associated with this Fellowship.
Can I apply if my country or state is not listed under the priority geographies?
Unfortunately, we are not able to consider applications outside the geographies listed above. However, we run numerous programs a year and are likely to have an opportunity for you in the future. We encourage you to check back regularly and reach out to Watson Institute’s team members for more information.
What is the community development stipend?
The community development stipend supports Fellows in organizing and facilitating Basecamps, a required outcome of the program. Basecamps are community events, fostering collaboration, and advancing initiatives that accelerate collective growth in the communities the Fellows are impacting. Whether hosting workshops, networking events, or collaborative projects, this stipend provides resources to engage your community, build connections, and drive meaningful impact.
What is the application review timeline?
We understand the substantial interest in the program and strive to provide prompt responses. Decisions will be communicated by August 20, 2026. We appreciate your patience throughout this process.
How does this program open doors to funding?
Watson Institute connects Fellows to a robust network of potential investors, grantmakers, and partners dedicated to supporting ventures with impact. Through mentorship, pitch opportunities, and relationship-building events, Fellows gain access to introductions and resources that can accelerate their growth and sustainability.
What is the long-term impact on Fellows and Alumni?
After completing the program, Fellows join a vibrant community of changemakers with ongoing access to resources, learning opportunities, and peer support beyond the program. Alumni often report increased revenue, expanded networks, stronger leadership skills, and greater community impact as a result of their Watson Institute experience.
Alumni of Watson Institute’s Fellowships have raised over $190 million, created over 2,300 paid jobs, and impacted over 11 million people around the world through initiatives they have helped lead. 93% of Watson Institute alums are employed, continuing their education, or building a venture. 85% of Watson Institute Alumni use a skill they learned while in a Watson Institute-powered program up to 12 years later. Watson Institute’s Alumni have been selected to Y Combinator, the Echoing Green Fellowship, and 11 have been named to Forbes’ 30 under 30 lists. Alums continue their education at Harvard University, New York University, and Princeton University, among others.
What if I’m not admitted?
If you are not admitted this cycle, we encourage you to stay engaged with Watson Institute through our newsletters, events, and future programs. Many Fellows apply multiple times and continue to develop their ventures with the resources and support we offer. We value your commitment and look forward to your future involvement. Explore other Fellowships.
I have another question and need assistance.
For all other questions, please reach out to Angelique Newhouse at milena@watson.is.
The Ford Philanthropy Fellowship is a program designed to provide comprehensive, advanced entrepreneurial training, financial stipends, committed mentorship, a vast network of resources, and long-term Alumni support to entrepreneurs and local leaders who are the champions of their communities. These entrepreneurs and local leaders are leading forward solutions to build thriving and skilled communities and to rebuild resilient communities, with a specific focus on disaster preparedness and response, across Ford’s priority markets globally. This program is fully-funded through the generous support of Ford Philanthropy.
