The 2026 Ford Philanthropy Fellowship

The 2026 Ford Philanthropy Fellowship is sponsored by Ford Philanthropy (powered by Watson Institute). This fully funded program is designed for entrepreneurs and community leaders driving social impact.

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.

Check eligibility requirements below ### 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.

#### Basecamps: Creating Lasting Impact Design and lead a community-focused 1-day workshop (Basecamp) for earlier-stage entrepreneurs, with training and a stipend provided to support you in deepening the entrepreneurial ecosystem in your community. #### Pitch Training & virtual Summit Develop and refine a professional, compelling pitch through dedicated training sessions.

Showcase your organization, progress, and impact at the Summit to community partners, mentors, potential investors, and Ford Philanthropy team members. ## 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: ##### Designer of Impact Networks | Strategic Facilitator | Purpose Coach ##### EdTech CEO | Chronic Absenteeism & Mobility Strategist | Advisor to Schools Ready for Change ##### Head of Clister Development | UKSPA Committee Chair | Nachural Business Woman of the Year 2021 * **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 8:30 AM – 10:30 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 You are a local entrepreneur or community leader deeply committed to strengthening your community through your work.

Your venture is creating meaningful impact by supporting people, expanding access to essential services, or creating opportunities that help communities grow, adapt, and thrive. Your work may take many forms, including improving access to resources, supporting communities in times of need, advancing education or workforce opportunities, or building long-term community resilience.

You have firsthand experience with the challenges you seek to solve, are embedded in your community, and understand your local context. You bring an entrepreneurial spirit, a growth mindset, and a strong desire to grow as a leader while increasing your impact. #### Your Business Stage: You have been leading the work or your business/organization has been operating for 1-5 years, with fewer than 10 team members or employees.

You have measurable impact to show and have secured some level or funding through grants, investments, donations, or revenue. You are ready to scale and be successful long-term. You must be able to commit to the full program, including the virtual Immersive and weekly workshops held Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 8:00–10:00 AM MT.

We prioritize participants who are fully committed to active engagement throughout the entire program. The program’s success depends on building a strong community where all participants are enthusiastic about both learning and sharing their experiences with others. Applicants located in and creating impact across **Germany, Mexico, South Africa, Thailand, Brazil**, and **Vietnam**are encouraged to apply.

Priority will be given to those impacting Ford plant cities and areas that face recurring disaster declarations. #### What You Are Looking For: You seek expert-guided entrepreneurial training, a supportive community for feedback, a broad mentor network to enhance your leadership, and opportunities to challenge yourself by leading a Basecamp event and other initiatives that benefit your venture and community.

You bring an entrepreneurial spirit and growth mindset to this work. Nafeesa Alibedi, 2024- 2025 Alumna ## Since 2019, the Ford Philanthropy Fellowship has supported 99 Fellows who have gone on to impact 4,600 entrepreneurs, create 2,435 paid jobs, and raise over $18. 6 million in capital to reinvest back into their communities.

1. **Submit Your Application:**Candidates complete the online application in approximately 30 minutes. Submit by the priority **deadline of July 26**, **2026**; apply as early as possible for early consideration.

Applications will continue to be reviewed on a rolling basis until all spots are filled. 2. **Application Review:** Our Admissions Committee evaluates applications to identify innovative entrepreneurs with scalable ventures and strong potential for impact.

Early applicants receive priority consideration. 3. **Interview:** Selected candidates will be invited to a **20-minute Zoom interview** to share their entrepreneurial journey, discuss their venture’s vision for growth, and explore how the Fellowship aligns with their goals.

4. **Final Selection & Enrollment:**Final decisions will be announced by **August 20, 2026**. Accepted applicants must confirm their enrollment to secure their spot.

The program begins on **September 8, 2026**. Nico Luciano, 2024-2025 Alum ## Don’t take our word for it _“I rated the Fellowship a 10 because it exceeded my expectations in every way. The content was practical and relevant, the support from mentors and preceptors was exceptional, and the program structure allowed me to apply what I learned directly to my venture.

I felt genuinely supported, challenged, and inspired throughout the journey, and I walk away with new clarity, confidence, and tools to grow MobiMom. com sustainably and with impact. ”_ _“The Fellowship helped me learn more about setting up my own company and **protect my courage** as a solo entrepreneur.

”_ _“The Program was a life-changing program both personally and business wise. I can now be able to express my problem solution statement better. Personally, it gave me renewed energy through its team of amazing people.

I am forever grateful. ”_ 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 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. 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.