Truist Foundation Fellowship

Applications are open.

Thank you for your interest in the Truist Foundation Fellowship! We’re thrilled to support impact-focused leaders and entrepreneurs like you. This application should take approximately 30-minutes to complete. Check the Fellowship eligibility here. The deadline to apply is January 12, 2026, however, we encourage you to apply early. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis after the deadline until all spots are filled.

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Step 1 of 2 - Tell us about yourself

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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 Truist Foundation 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.

Venture Overview

What is the name of your venture or project?*

When did you start working on this venture?*

MM slash DD slash YYYY

Briefly describe your venture.*

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

What is the current stage of your project/venture? If you are not sure what your current stage is, please indicate Not sure*

Please choose the ONE option that best describes the current stage of your venture.

Interest "I have strong interest in a particular social issue area, but do not have relevant experience or knowledge of the social issue area"

Research "I have identified a focus issue area and have conducted substantial and relevant research"

Idea “I have developed a basic concept and plan for my project”

Customer Discovery "I am leading discovery conversations with my potential market"

Prototyping "I will have a usable prototype within the next 3 months"

Piloting “I am actively using a Minimum Viable Product”

Problem-Solution Fit "I have active customers or users benefitting from my service"

Product-Market Fit "We have many customers and consistent revenue"

Growing "My team is growing and we have consistent revenue"

Scaling “I’m expanding into other geographical areas / new markets”

Not sure

Venture Website:*

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?*

Select all that apply:

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

In what state does your venture primarily create impact?*

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

Which category best describes your work?*

Select the one option that most closely aligns with your primary focus.

Supporting small business owners or entrepreneurs (e.g., business training, access to capital, mentorship, market access)

Building career pathways to economic mobility (e.g., workforce development, upskilling, job training, apprenticeships)

Other

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

If applicable, please describe how your work addresses these areas.*

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 venture's key goals for the next 1-3 years?*

Please describe your venture'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 venture.

Venture 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 state?*

What type of organization is your venture?*

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 revenue from all sources 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 amount of funding your organization has received since its founding? (Include all sources such as sales, grants, donations, investments.)*

Clarifications: Include all funding sources, such as sales, grants, donations, and investments. Enter exact numbers without symbols (e.g., 50000). Use USD currency only. If no funds have been raised yet, enter 0.

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

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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

Consent

By submitting this application, I confirm that all the information provided is accurate to the best of my knowledge. I understand that the Watson Institute reserves the right to request additional evidence to verify the information provided, if necessary. I also consent to the Privacy Policy governing the use of my personal information in accordance with the regulations.

Don’t Lose Your Progress!
Taking a break? Make sure to save your application so you can easily come back and finish later. Just click “Save and Continue” above, and you’ll receive a unique link to return and complete your application anytime!

Truist’s purpose is to inspire and build better lives and communities. By partnering with nonprofit organizations across our markets, we’re helping them innovate and make a meaningful difference in the lives of those they serve. The Foundation, an endowed private foundation established in 2020 whose operating budget is independent of Truist Financial Corporation, makes strategic investments in a wide variety of nonprofit organizations centered around three focus areas: building career pathways to economic mobility, strengthening small businessees, and disaster preparation, relief, and recovery. For more information about Truist Foundation, visit Truist.com/Foundation

This program is fully-funded through the generous support of the Truist Foundation.