THE VOQAL PARTNERS FELLOWSHIP
$30,000. Six months. Build the idea the system isn’t ready for.
We fund bold, early-stage social justice ideas—and the people behind them. If you see what’s broken and have a vision to change it, we want to back you.
Applications for the 2027 cohort are now open! Apply through October 31 at 11:59 pm Eastern.
What is the Fellowship?
The Voqal Partners Fellowship is a six-month program for social justice changemakers ready to build and test a new idea.
Each year, we select a small cohort of fellows and provide the funding, coaching, and community to move their work forward from concept to real-world experimentation.
This is a dream-stage and idea-stage fellowship. We’re looking for people with a bold vision for the future—even if they’re still figuring out exactly how to get there. You don’t need a finished organization, product, or campaign. You need a compelling idea, a clear sense of the change you’re working toward, and the willingness to take the first steps.
What Fellows Receive
$30,000 award
Paid as a lump sum at the start of the fellowship. No strings on how you spend it — cover living expenses, hire help, buy equipment. If it supports you and your idea, it's fair game.
$1,000 healthcare stipend
Because your health matters too.
Travel to three in-person convenings
All travel costs are covered. Voqal Partners also provides a childcare stipend for fellows with dependents under 18.
Coaching and mentorship
Access to a network of coaches, advisors, and mentors who can work through operational, strategic, and structural questions with you.
A cohort of peers
Eight fellows per year, learning alongside each other. Past fellows stay connected through an active alum network.
Who Should Apply
Saviors need not apply. Builders, organizers, visionaries, and agitators: please do.
We’re looking for community leaders who are part of the communities they work with — not outside them. We believe the people closest to a challenge are often closest to the solutions.We prioritize people with lived experience, who represent non-dominant cultures, and who are working to resource historically excluded communities.
We especially encourage applicants from communities historically excluded from philanthropy, including LGBTQIA+ individuals, women, Indigenous peoples, people of color, and people with disabilities.
Eligibility:
You must be 18 or older, based in the United States, and able to receive funds in the U.S. Voqal Partners does not offer visa sponsorship.
We offer two virtual information sessions.
We will cover the same details in both sessions, so you only need to attend one. We will record the first session and share the recording link here within a week.
Session #1: September 18, 12pm Eastern/9am Pacific
Session #2: October 14, 4pm Eastern/1pm Pacific
What We Look For
We look for projects that are:
➜ Dream-stage or idea-stage
You have a bold vision for the future, even if you’re still figuring out exactly how to get there.
➜ A compelling vision
Voqal seeks to support ideas that disrupt systems through radical solutions, not simply interventions to make it easier to live in our current ones.
➜ A path forward
You have ideas about where to begin and what you want to learn, test, or build during the fellowship.
➜ Alignment with the fellowship
The support, coaching, and community Voqal offers will help move your idea forward.
➜ Connection to community
You’re working alongside the people most impacted by the issue and understand your role in advancing the work.
Projects can be hyperlocal or national in scope. What matters is that they focus on communities in the United States.
What We Ask of Fellows
Our Fellowship is intense by design. Fellows are expected to:
- Work on their project from April through September
- Attend three in-person convenings (April, July, September)
- Participate in monthly cohort calls
- Engage with coaches and advisors
- Share what they learned at the end of the program
Fellows can pursue other work during the program. We ask that the fellowship project stay your priority.
Fellows in Action
Andrea Hart
City Bureau
Built a civic newsroom model that trains residents to report on local government and conduct community-driven investigations.
Erick Garcia
#GAMETHESYSTEM
Created a gamified approach to grassroots organizing, using digital tools to increase participation and accessibility.
Rich Wallace
EQUITY & TRANSFORMATION
Organized workers in the informal economy to secure policy protections at the city and state levels.
“Funding opportunities opened up to me this year that had previously been closed off. I believe it was due to Voqal’s angel-funding approach that allowed me to access those new opportunities.”
— Fellow Alum
How to Apply
The application has four sections:
➜ Eligibility
Some eligibility questions to ensure you align on core elements.
➜ Basic Details
Here we’ll ask how you found us, your project’s name, and for some brief descriptions.
➜ The Specifics
The heart of the application. You’ll describe the future you’re trying to create, how you plan to get there, and what support you’ll need along the way.
➜ Additional Details
Here you’ll have space to tell us about your use of AI and background with coaches. There’ll also be space to share any final details, links, or documents.
You’ll also submit a budget showing how you plan to use the $30,000. The budget is not used to evaluate your application; it helps us understand where you are in your planning. A template is provided in the application.
“It prepared me to be a better critical thinker and entrepreneur. Voqal invested in the human being.”
— Fellow Alum
Timeline
First Tuesday after Labor Day 2026
Applications open
October 31, 2026
Applications close
January 2027
Interviews
February - March 2027
Fellows selected
April 2027
Opening convening
April - September 2027
Fellow programming
July 2027
Middle convening
September 2027
Closing convening
FAQ
Who can apply?
The Fellowship is open to social justice changemakers with a bold vision for creating a more equitable future. Applicants must be 18 or older, based in the United States, and eligible to receive funds in the U.S. We especially encourage applications from people working within the communities they serve and from communities historically excluded from philanthropy.
What do you mean by dream-stage/idea-stage?
Dream-stage and idea-stage work is still taking shape. You may have a compelling vision for change but are still figuring out exactly how to bring it to life. You do not need a finished organization, product, campaign, or business plan. We are looking for people who are ready to explore, test, and develop a promising idea.
Can I apply if I applied before?
Yes. We encourage previous applicants to apply again. Many strong ideas evolve over time, and a prior application does not affect future consideration.
Can I apply if I was already a fellow?
Yes, as long as you are proposing a new idea or project. We do not fund continuations of previously supported fellowship work.
How is the $30,000 distributed?
We typically distribute the funds as a lump sum at the start of the Fellowship. If a Fellow prefers the funds come on a specific timeline, such as monthly, we will work with them to determine the details. As long as we distribute the full amount by the end of the program, it works for us.
How can fellowship funds be used?
There are no restrictions on how you use the Fellowship award. Funds may be used for living expenses, equipment, contractors, travel, implementation costs, or other expenses that support you and your work. If the expense helps move your idea forward, it is generally acceptable.
Do I retain ownership of my intellectual property?
Yes. Fellows retain full ownership of any intellectual property developed during the Fellowship. Voqal Partners does not claim ownership of your ideas, products, or creations.
Can I pursue other work during the fellowship?
Yes. We understand that fellows have jobs, families, and other responsibilities. While we ask fellows to prioritize their Fellowship project, pursuing other work during the program is permitted.
What outcome do you expect by the end of the fellowship?
We expect growth, learning, and progress. There is no requirement to produce a finished product. At the closing convening, fellows share what they learned, what they tested, and how they plan to move their work forward.
Do I need to attend all three convenings?
Yes. Attendance at all three convenings is a core part of the Fellowship experience. These gatherings provide opportunities for peer learning, collaboration, coaching, and reflection. Voqal Partners covers travel expenses and provides childcare support for fellows with dependents under 18.
How do you store and use our data/information?
Voqal Partners takes your privacy and data seriously. To evaluate your application, we will share your submission with a select group of community members (program alums, staff, and partners) to review it against our criteria. They will have access through the evaluation period, but not afterward. We will never share your idea or details beyond this process without your knowledge.
Ready to build something different?
Start preparing now—or send this to someone who should be in the room.
Questions? Email fellowship@voqalpartners.org