Applications are open for the Fortis Fellowship 2027, a funded, five-month leadership fellowship for ambitious, altruistic people from humble beginnings, from any country and any sector. Around 15 fellows will be selected. The fellowship ends with a funded retreat and summit in Medellín, Colombia, in June 2027, after which fellows join the Fortis Society for life.
Deadline: 8 November 2026, 11:59 pm in your local time zone.
About the Fortis Society and Fellowship
The Fortis Society is an international, lifelong network of leaders who built their own paths from low-income, first-generation or geographically isolated backgrounds. Its members span five continents and work in law, medicine, government, technology, academia, the arts, business and more. The Fortis Fellowship is how new members join.
What the Fellowship Offers
- Five months of virtual programming (January–June 2027): one-to-one mentorship from a Society member, leadership and cross-sector trainings, brain trusts on real decisions you face, and a cohort project
- Fellows Retreat (8–10 June 2027): two days of cohort programming outside Medellín, Colombia
- Annual Summit (10–13 June 2027) in Medellín, where fellows are formally welcomed as members
- Lifelong membership of the Fortis Society, with introductions, advice and collaborators across sectors and continents
Cost: nothing to apply and nothing for the fellowship. Fortis says the cohort days and Summit are funded, and its application form says the fellowship “includes travel to Colombia”. If you need to know exactly which travel costs are covered, confirm with [email protected].
Who Can Apply?
Anyone from humble beginnings who wants to make a significant, positive impact can apply:
- Any country: Fortis builds each cohort for global representation
- Any sector: applicants in the arts, education, government and healthcare are especially encouraged
- No degree required, and no nomination or institutional endorsement needed
- Any experience level, though cohorts are mostly people with one to five years of full-time work. Final-year and graduate students can also apply.
- Able to commit 2–4 hours a month from January to June 2027, and to attend in person in Colombia from 8 to 13 June 2027
- The programme is in English
What Fortis Looks For
Every application is assessed against four pillars, weighing what you have done against what you had to work with:
- Humble beginnings: you come from a low-income background and are the first in your family to take the path you are on
- An altruistic focus: your work makes other people’s lives better, in any field
- Ambition at scale: you have big goals and have already started
- Generosity: you make introductions, share what you know and show up for others
Application Requirements
- Your CV or a portfolio website, plus a LinkedIn profile
- Confidential questions about your background, for example whether you were the first in your family to attend university
- A two-minute video answering “Why do you want to join the Fortis Fellowship?”, uploaded as an unlisted YouTube video or a Google Drive, Loom or Vimeo link
- Three short written answers: an ambition you have pursued (250 words), who is better off because of you (200 words), and what you would contribute to and ask of the community (100 words)
Most people spend two to three hours on the application. Fortis says it is looking for “a specific story that only you could tell”, and that generic or AI-generated answers stand out.
Selection Timeline
- 8 November 2026: applications close
- November–December 2026: virtual interviews with shortlisted candidates
- By end of January 2027: every applicant hears back
- January–June 2027: fellowship, ending in Medellín on 8–13 June 2027
How to Apply
- Read the criteria on the official Fortis Fellowship page.
- Record your two-minute video and prepare your written answers.
- Submit the official application form by 8 November 2026, 11:59 pm your local time.
More Fully Funded Fellowships
- Internet Society Fellowship Program 2027: Up to USD 5,000 Project Stipend, Mentorship and Travel
- Atlantic Fellows for Social and Economic Equity (AFSEE) 2027–28 at LSE (closes 11 January 2027)
- beVisioneers Mercedes-Benz Fellowship 2027/28 (closes 31 January 2027)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Africans apply for the Fortis Fellowship?
Yes. It is open to applicants everywhere, and each cohort is built for global representation.
Does it cost anything?
No. Applying and taking part are free, and the cohort retreat and Summit are funded.
Do I need a degree or a nomination?
No. There is no education requirement, and no nomination or endorsement is needed.
When is the deadline?
8 November 2026, 11:59 pm in your local time zone.
