Ford Fund Fellowship to empower Entrepreneurs and Community Leaders

This fully-funded virtual program aims to equip these next-generation entrepreneurs with the essential skills and hands-on experience necessary to enhance their ventures, access invaluable networks and resources, and drive transformative change in their communities.

This is a fully-funded program thanks to the support of the Ford Motor Company Fund.

Out of a $40,000 fund, Fellows have the potential to receive a venture development stipend of up to $6,000, contingent on their active participation in the program, leading a Basecamp, and successfully completing the workshop-related checkpoint assignments.

Program Elements

• The Ford Fund Fellowship offers award-winning training, dedicated mentorship, and a dynamic peer community. They are here to equip you with the skills and insights necessary to supercharge your venture and make a lasting impact.
  • Venture acceleration and leadership training
  • Community and network building
  • Mentorship and collaboration
• Basecamps
  • Every Fellow receives training, a playbook, and a financial stipend to facilitate a Basecamp—a one to three-day intensive workshop—in their community, empowering them to drive positive change locally. As a key deliverable of the Ford Fund Fellowship, all Fellows will facilitate a Basecamp event during their time in the program. Fellows are empowered through their training to tailor the Basecamp structure and outcomes to their desired participant community.

Eligibility Criteria

• Who You Are:
  • You are an entrepreneur or community leader deeply committed to creating sustainable, scalable impact in your community.
  • You are at the helm of a social impact venture or community endeavor in its initial stages, showcasing a history of making a difference. Ideally, your venture is in the space of mobility, transportation, or accessibility.
  • You have an entrepreneurial spirit, a growth mindset, and are driven to grow as an effective leader within your community. The ideal venture stage for this fellowship are those in the Problem-Solution Fit or Product-Market Fit phases, with engaged customers or beneficiaries, and demonstrated outcomes in both impact and revenue.
• Where You Create Impact: Applicants located in and/or creating impact in the following locations:
  • Global: China, Germany, Mexico, Romania, South Africa,United Kingdom (includes Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland)
  • United States: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Kansas City, Louisville, Memphis
  • If your location is not listed above, they encourage you to explore other fellowships powered by Watson Institute. They are currently recruiting for several impactful fellowship opportunities across a diverse range of locations.
• What You Are Looking For: You are looking for expert-guided entrepreneurial training, a community of entrepreneurs to give you feedback that improves your venture, and a wide-reaching mentorship network to enhance your leadership abilities and the impact of your venture.
• What You Will Accomplish: With the unwavering support of the Watson Institute team, you will receive a comprehensive roadmap to guide the growth and scalability of your work and impact. Additionally, you will facilitate an impactful workshop and training session (known as a Basecamp) in your community for your stakeholders, backed by a stipend, playbook, and team support to bring your vision to life.

For more information, visit Watson Institute.