Ashoka Fellowship - Support for Social Entrepreneurs

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Enriched – · Found: 2026-03-13 17:21

Identifies and supports leading social entrepreneurs with up to three years of living stipend to scale initiatives in areas including circular economy and waste management. Applications accepted on rolling basis through Ashoka country and regional offices. Provides sustained funding for system-changing entrepreneurs.

Source: https://www.ashoka.org/en-nl/opportunities-social-entrepreneurs

Funding Details

Funder: Ashoka
Funding Goal: Support for leading social entrepreneurs through the Ashoka Fellowship — a multi-year living stipend (typically up to 3 years) enabling social entrepreneurs to dedicate themselves full-time to their social ventures, combined with access to the global Ashoka network, professional services, and ecosystem support. Ashoka selects social entrepreneurs with pattern-changing ideas across all social sectors including circular economy, waste management, and environmental sustainability.
Funding Amount: Living stipend for up to 3 years (amount varies by country and individual need); plus access to Ashoka's network, professional services, and ecosystem support
Deadline: Rolling basis; nominations accepted year-round through Ashoka country offices (Rolling)
How to Apply: Cannot apply directly — must be nominated by someone familiar with the social entrepreneur. Nominations submitted via ashoka.org/recommend. Country-based selection teams conduct due diligence over several months. Contact regional Ashoka offices for current intake information.
Target Region: Global; Ashoka operates in 90+ countries through local country offices
Contact: Ashoka Netherlands: Nazarethstraat 1a, 3061 KN Rotterdam, Netherlands. Email: info@ashoka.nl. Global HQ: 1000 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1900, Arlington, VA 22209, USA. Tel: 703-527-8300
Last Checked: 2026-05-07 01:47

Application Checklist

Eligibility

Must be an individual social entrepreneur, not an organization — fellowship is awarded to persons
Cannot apply directly — must be nominated by an Ashoka staff member or community member

Project Scope

Must demonstrate a new, pattern-changing idea with social impact already achieved
Must show ethical fiber and entrepreneurial drive — intensive peer review selection process

Required Documents

Contact regional/country Ashoka office for current nomination intake and timing

Constraints

Selection process can take several months from nomination to decision

Summary

The Ashoka Fellowship is a prestigious multi-year programme for individual social entrepreneurs identified as system-changers in their field. Fellows receive a living stipend (typically for up to three years, calibrated to country context) to free them from financial constraints, along with access to the global Ashoka Fellow network, professional services, introductions to funders, and ongoing support for scaling their ventures. Ashoka uses an intensive, human-centered selection process to identify social entrepreneurs who have a genuinely new and systemic approach to a major social problem. Key selection criteria include: a new idea with pattern-changing potential, entrepreneurial quality, social impact already achieved, and strong ethical fiber. The selection is not sector-specific — Fellows work across health, education, economic development, environment, and civic engagement. In the environmental sector, Ashoka has selected Fellows working on circular economy, waste management, sustainable livelihoods for waste pickers, marine conservation, and plastic pollution reduction. Social entrepreneurs leading circular plastic value chains, community-owned recycling cooperatives, or systems-change approaches to waste and marine pollution can qualify. Geographically, Ashoka operates in 90+ countries through local country offices. Each region has its own selection process and timeline. Nominations are made by Ashoka staff, Fellows, or community members — entrepreneurs cannot apply directly but must be nominated. The Fellowship is an individual award, not an organizational grant. It directly supports the entrepreneur rather than funding a specific project. The value is in the living stipend (removing financial pressure), the global peer network, and the longer-term credibility and connections provided by the Ashoka brand.

Historical Context

Ashoka was founded in 1980 and has elected more than 3,800 Fellows across 90+ countries since inception. The Fellowship is Ashoka's flagship programme and has supported social entrepreneurs in fields from education to environment to health.

Sources

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