Deadline:
February 14, 2026
Location(s)
United States of America
Overview
Each year, Eisenhower Fellowships’ Global Program seeks diverse, dynamic doers to join its influential global network of over 1,600 active Fellows. We seek ambitious, disciplined rising leaders with the vision to make the world a better place as well as the ability to create and implement a concrete plan to make that vision a reality post-fellowship. Fellows represent all professional sectors – private, public and nonprofit – and hail from any number of careers, from journalism to the military to higher education to private corporations to the theater and beyond.
Details
Fall Innovative Entrepreneurs Program
EF will select ascendant, innovative international entrepreneurs, ages 32–45, who have demonstrated success in leading for-profit enterprises that generate positive social impact. These Fellows will spend nearly six weeks in the United States in October and November 2026.
A defining feature of the Fall 2026 program is the integration of international Fellows with their American counterparts from the 2026 USA Program. The combined cohort will convene in Austin, Texas, one of the country’s leading entrepreneurial hubs, for several days of residence, workshops and meetings.
During this shared time, Fellows will pair for one-on-one exchange, work together in small groups and attend joint meetings with innovators in related professional fields who bring diverse perspectives to similar challenges. Afterward, international Fellows will embark on their individualized travel across the U.S. to meet top leaders in their fields and advance their fellowship projects.
2026 USA Program
USA Fellows will be selected using the same criteria as their international counterparts. Travelling both domestically and internationally, the USA Fellows will spend two to three weeks in one country overseas and travel across the United States for an additional ten days to two weeks in tandem with their assigned international Fellow or Fellows.
USA Fellows will join international Fellows in Austin and then accompany them to one or two additional major U.S. cities. Domestic travel will take place in October and November 2026, with international travel beginning immediately thereafter and continuing through the first quarter of 2027.
Immersion in the EF Global Network of Fellows
Upon completion of their fellowship travel, all 2026 International and USA Fellows enter the EF Global Network, a dynamic community of nearly 2,600 influential leaders from 118 countries. All Eisenhower Fellows, international and American, commit to lifelong engagement with the organization to advance its mission: Enhance understanding through direct dialogue to help create a world more peaceful, prosperous and just.
Opportunity is About
Eligibility
Candidates should be from:
Description of Ideal Candidate
Eligibility Criteria and Important Considerations:
- Eligible candidates must have citizenship and/or current residence for at least five years in the country that they are applying to represent on fellowship. If an applicant currently resides in the United States, they are not eligible for our international programs
- If an applicant does not reside in or have citizenship in a country where EF is currently active, they must demonstrate that their work has regional impact and obtain a letter of recommendation from a member of the EF global network in order to be considered. Please see here for a list of countries where the EF Network is currently active.
- Priority is given to applicants within our age range of focus: 32-45 years of age at the time of the program. This is one of many criteria we consider. Candidates who are slightly above or below the target range will still be considered if they excel in the other criteria.
- Strong proficiency in the English language is required.
- Selected Fellows must obtain approval from their workplace to go on leave and make a full-time commitment for the duration of the in-person program at the time of acceptance. Breaks from program are only permitted in the event of a dire personal or family emergency. We tentatively anticipate this program taking place over nearly six weeks from early April 2026 through mid-May 2026.
- Children are not permitted on fellowship under any circumstances. EF does not fund spousal travel.
- We will not consider a candidate who has had any fellowship within the previous two years of applying to EF.
- Fellows cannot use the fellowship to make business deals, solicit funds for their projects or seek any sort of financial support.
- Please note that use of generative AI/ChatGPT in the writing of any essay portion of the EF application is prohibited. All outside sources must be properly cited. An applicant suspected of using generative AI/ChatGPT in their application essays will not advance to the next stage of consideration for the fellowship.
Dates
Deadline: February 14, 2026
Cost/funding for participants
Un-save Opportunity
Internships, scholarships, student conferences and competitions.
