Fisher Family Fellowship 2027 in USA | Partially Funded

Fisher Family Fellowship 2027 is a mid-career training program that brings together practitioners working in democracy, development, and the rule of law for an intensive summer program at Stanford. The Fisher Family Fellowship Scholarship 2027 cohort requires full participation from selected fellows and includes academic sessions, case studies, TED-style talks, and guest lectures.

The program is hosted by Stanford University’s Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law (CDDRL) at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI). Launched in 2005 (formerly Draper Hills), the program selects approximately 25–30 mid-career practitioners from transitioning countries and maintains an alumni network of hundreds of leaders working on democratic change.

Fisher Family Fellowship Benefits

• Stanford will pay for accommodations, meals, and transportation costs for the duration of the Program.
• Typically, this comes in the form of a fellow covering round-trip airfare to the Program.
• A small travel fund is available for fellows who cannot afford their travel or need to apply for a partial subsidy. Priority for accessing the travel fund will be given based on need and destinations from which airline fares to California are exorbitant.

Fisher Family Fellowship Eligibility Criteria

• This program is aimed at mid-career practitioners working actively in the fields of democracy, development, and the rule of law.
• Applicants can be working as policy-makers, academics, legal professionals, social entrepreneurs, business entrepreneurs, and leaders of civil society organizations (such as representatives of trade unions, nongovernmental organizations, the media, business and professional associations).
• In their present capacity, applicants should play important and influential roles in their country’s political, economic, and social development.
• Participants should have demonstrated professional and personal achievements in a relevant sector of democracy, development, and the rule of law.
• Each year, we strive to recruit a diverse group of 25 to 30 individuals who are at the right stage in their professional trajectory to benefit from rigorous academic training.
• Successful applicants will have the academic credentials necessary to participate and contribute to the six-hour seminars each day and tackle advanced academic readings to complement the classroom-based curriculum.
• Ninety-nine percent of our alumni hold a bachelor’s degree at the time of their participation in the program, but this is not a requirement for admission to the program.
• A working knowledge of English is an important prerequisite for participation in the program.
• This is not an academic fellowship and is meant for practitioners only; applicants should hold leadership roles in their respective sector.
• Applicants must be mid-career practitioners and have at least 10 to 12 years of experience to qualify for the fellowship.
• Candidates must be from and currently reside in a country where democracy is not well entrenched; applicants will not be accepted from countries such as the U.S., Canada, Australia, Japan, and member states of the European Union.
• Candidates must be at least 28 years of age at the start of the fellowship in July 2027.
• Candidates must be actively working in the field of democracy, development, and the rule of law and we do not accept candidates who are currently enrolled in full-time university degree programs.
• Candidates must have a solid command of written and spoken English and will be required to give a 7-minute “TED”-style talk during the program.

How to Apply for Fisher Family Fellowship

• To apply to the Fisher Family Summer Fellows Program, please create an account through our online portal, Slideroom.
• The application form is now open and will be available until the deadline, Tuesday, January 12, 2027.
• You will be asked to contact two references to furnish letters of recommendation to support your candidacy for the program.
• A complete application package will be due no later than Tuesday, January 12, 2027.
• Applicants will be informed of their selection for the program by April 2027.
• All application materials must be submitted in English.
• The application contains the following sections: Applicant Information; Academics & Career Information; Resume/CV; Essay Questions; English Language Proficiency; Video Submission; Financial Information; Personal Certification; References/Letters of Recommendation.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are the most frequently asked questions about the Fisher Family Fellowship Scholarship. These answers cover eligibility, benefits, deadlines, application requirements, and program costs to help applicants prepare a complete submission.