The Mozilla Foundation has opened its 2027 Call for Applications for the Mozilla Fellowship. It will award 10 fellowships worth US$100,000–125,000 each to people working towards a healthier, more open and trustworthy internet and technology ecosystem. The fellowship runs for 12 months from 1 June 2027.
The first step is a short Letter of Intent, due by 17 December 2026 at 11:59pm Pacific Time.
At a Glance
| Funder | Mozilla Foundation (US non-profit) |
| Fellowships | 10 for 2027–2028 |
| Embedded Fellows | US$100,000: a $75,000 stipend plus a $25,000 project budget |
| Independent Fellows | US$125,000: a $100,000 stipend plus a $25,000 project budget |
| Duration | 12 months, from 1 June 2027 |
| Letter of Intent deadline | 17 December 2026, 11:59pm PT |
The Two Fellowship Tracks
- Embedded Fellows (US$100,000): fellows work within, or alongside, a host organisation or community on their project. In the 2026 call, they had to be based in specific regions: Kenya, South Africa, Brazil, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Mexico, the UK, the US or the EU.
- Independent Fellows (US$125,000): fellows lead their own project independently.
Both tracks include a $25,000 project budget on top of the stipend.
Benefits
- A stipend of $75,000 or $100,000, depending on the track
- A $25,000 project budget
- A year to focus on work that shapes the future of technology and the internet
- Membership of Mozilla’s global network of fellows, activists, technologists and researchers
- Visibility and support from the Mozilla Foundation
Eligibility
The 2027 call’s full eligibility rules weren’t available to us, so the points below are based on the 2026 cycle. Confirm them on Mozilla’s official page.
- You must be able to legally enter a grant agreement with the Mozilla Foundation, a US-based 501(c)(3) non-profit.
- You must be able to receive payments by ACH or international wire from the US.
- Embedded Fellows must be based in the listed regions. In 2026 these included Kenya, South Africa and the MENA region, which covers North African countries such as Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia.
- All work produced must be openly licensed and shared publicly.
Timeline
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Letter of Intent deadline | 17 December 2026, 11:59pm PT |
| Shortlisted applicants invited to apply in full | 16 February 2027 |
| Full application deadline | 12 March 2027, 11:59pm PT |
| Final decisions | By 30 April 2027 |
| Fellowship starts | 1 June 2027 (12 months) |
11:59pm Pacific Time on 17 December is 8:59am the next morning in Lagos, 9:59am in Johannesburg and Cairo, and 10:59am in Nairobi.
How to Apply
- Read the full 2027 call on Mozilla’s website, including the themes, tracks and eligibility rules.
- Decide whether you’re applying as an Embedded or Independent Fellow.
- Submit a Letter of Intent describing your project and its impact before 17 December 2026.
- If you’re shortlisted, submit a full application by 12 March 2027.
Official Mozilla Foundation 2027 Fellowship Call for Applications
Tips for African Applicants
- Focus on local impact with global relevance, such as data rights, AI accountability, digital ID, misinformation or open-source tools for African languages.
- Keep the Letter of Intent sharp. It’s the main screening stage, so make your problem, approach and outcomes clear.
- Check that you can receive US payments, for example through a domiciliary account that accepts international wires.
- Commit to openness. Your outputs must be openly licensed.
