The Ford Fund Fellowship is a virtual program designed to equip 25 advanced social entrepreneurs with the skills, resources, and experience to scale the ventures and community initiatives they are building.
Each Ford Fund Fellow will learn advanced skills in entrepreneurship and leadership, garner experience, and build a global network of Mentors, Master Course Teachers, and peers, as they lay the foundation to empower many more youth and transform their communities.
Programme Structure
The Fellowship begins with a virtual two-week intensive Accelerator that will focus on:
- Building Community: Community is one of the pillars of the Fellowship experience. A diverse cohort of young leaders and entrepreneurs form partnerships, collaborations, and further their growth and impact as leaders in their community.
- Skill Development: Including fundraising, team building, transformative communication, growth mindset, courage, resilience, creativity, and leadership. Fellows will be guided through the process of overcoming key challenges faced during the process of becoming transformative leaders and entrepreneurs.
- Basecamp Training: Each Fellow is trained and receives a stipend and logistical support to lead a three-day training (called Basecamp) in their home community to empower at least 30 additional entrepreneurial leaders per Fellow.
About Watson Institute
Watson Institute is a place where next generation entrepreneurs and leaders can find their community, discover their calling, and accelerate their careers. We provide the tools, network, mindset, and courage for the next generation to solve the toughest challenges facing the world, launch successful careers, and lead impactful lives.
Watson Institute has locations in Boulder, Colorado, at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida, and at Universidad Francisco Marroquín (UFM) in Guatemala City, Guatemala. We are now building partnerships with innovative institutions o... continue reading
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Watson Institute Ford Fund Fellowship
Aim and Benefits of Watson Institute Ford Fund Fellowship
After the two week Accelerator, each Fellow will join a 14-week-long Fellowship, which includes:
- Leading a Basecamp in their respective community. A stipend will be given for logistical and administrative costs.
- Joining a monthly All Hands on Deck meeting that includes skill development workshops and opportunities to build community amongst the cohort.
- $25,000 in seed funding will be distributed among the 25 Ford Fund Fellow based on progress and impact throughout the Fellowship.
- Regularly attending Master Courses with the world’s leading entrepreneurs and practitioners. Past Master Course Teachers include recognized leaders of Nobel Peace Prize winning movements, the youngest person to run for U.S. Congress, and the inventor of Google’s self-driving car.
- Joining a pod with other Fellows from their respective regions and checking in regularly with each other via one-on-one meetings.
Requirements for Watson Institute Ford Fund Fellowship Qualification
- Open to advanced, next-generation social entrepreneurs and community leaders building ventures that create impactful and scalable innovations;
- Ideal applicants will demonstrate a proven track record of innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership in their community;
- Applicants should be from United States, China, Mexico, South Africa, and Argentina;
- Applicants must be able to commit to be part of the 16-week program from October 17, 2022, to February 24, 2023.
Application Deadline
September 15, 2022
How to Apply
Interested and qualified? Go to
Watson Institute on watson.is to apply
Contact Monica Solares at [email protected] with any questions you may have about the application process.
For more details,visit Watson Institute website
