Mountaintop Emerging Leaders Fellowship 2026 (Fully-funded) – YOA

Deadline: February 8, 2026

Applications are open for the Mountaintop Emerging Leaders Fellowship 2026. The Mountaintop Emerging Leaders Fellowship is a one-12 months program for the world’s most promising rising leaders who’re dedicated to driving methods change in decrease-revenue communities world wide.

​Now in its third 12 months, the fellowship presents excessive-potential native leaders the prospect to embark on a world class management improvement journey whereas advancing tasks deeply rooted of their home communities. It is totally funded, permitting Fellows to focus completely on their management journey and their affect.

Benefits

Selected Fellows obtain complete assist all through the fellowship 12 months, together with:

• A totally funded two‑week residential Leadership Institute in Nairobi, Kenya, overlaying flights, visa prices, lodging, meals, native transportation, and program actions.
• Access to knowledgeable advisors and management teaching with the group.
• Project steerage and structured reflection all year long.
• Access to aggressive micro-grants, comparable to Catalyst Funds of as much as $1,000, to assist challenge wants.
• Increased visibility for his or her work by way of Mountaintop platforms and networks.
• Access to the Mountaintop world neighborhood of Fellows, alumni, and companions.

Eligibility

Applicants should meet the entire following standards to be thought-about:

• You are the Founder, Co-founder, Executive Director, or a senior chief with main resolution-making duty for a nonprofit group or neighborhood-based mostly group.
• Your group has been working for at the least three years.
• Your work is concentrated on serving severely below-resourced communities.
• You have a clearly outlined challenge or initiative that you’re main, with particular targets and actions.
• You are dedicated to main your group and serving your neighborhood for the lengthy-time period.​

In addition, candidates should be:

• Able to commit full-time to their fellowship challenge through the fellowship 12 months.
• Available to attend a completely funded two-week, in-particular person Leadership Institute in Nairobi, Kenya in October 2026.

Selection Criteria

Beyond eligibility, they search for leaders who reveal:

• A robust monitor document of duty, initiative, and observe-by way of.
• Evidence of studying by way of expertise, together with navigating challenges and constraints.
• Clarity about the issue they’re engaged on and why it issues
• Willingness to replicate, develop, and have interaction overtly with friends.

Application

The application course of begins with an curiosity type and eligibility check. Applicants who meet the eligibility standards will probably be invited to finish a full application.

​Click here to apply

For extra data, go to Mountaintop Emerging Leaders Fellowship.