funding: Fully funded (travel + accommodation + stipend)
location: United States
eligibility: Mid-career professionals aged 35–55
host: Eisenhower Fellowships
duration: 4–5 weeks
apply-url: https://www.efworld.org/
Eisenhower Fellowships (EF) is a Philadelphia-based non-profit organisation that has, since 1953, connected promising mid-career leaders from around the world with counterparts in government, business, academia, and civil society. The fellowship is individually designed — no two fellows follow the same programme — making it one of the most personalised and intensive leadership development experiences available.
Programme Overview
Fellows spend four to five weeks travelling across the United States (for international fellows) or abroad (for US fellows) meeting with leaders in fields relevant to their professional work. The itinerary is custom-built around each fellow's goals, sector, and interests — you might meet senators, CEOs, university presidents, nonprofit founders, and community organisers across multiple cities, all in the span of a single programme.
What You Get
Eisenhower Fellows receive all programme expenses covered, including travel, accommodation, and meeting logistics throughout the fellowship. They gain access to an alumni network of over 2,000 fellows from more than 120 countries, and join a lifelong community of change-oriented leaders who collaborate, share intelligence, and support each other's work long after the programme ends.
Eligibility
The fellowship is intended for exceptional mid-career professionals between roughly 32 and 45 years old who have demonstrated significant achievement in their field and show strong potential for continued leadership. Applications are welcomed from any sector — government, law, medicine, business, journalism, the military, academia, and civil society. Fellows are selected for potential for future impact, not past credentials alone.
How to Apply
Applications are accepted through the Eisenhower Fellowships website at efworld.org. The process includes an online application, essays, a detailed professional biography, and letters of recommendation. Selection involves review by a national committee in the fellow's home country (for international programmes) or by EF directly (for the US programme). Deadlines vary by country — check the website for your country's specific timeline.
Legacy and Impact
Eisenhower Fellows have included heads of state, supreme court justices, Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and the founders of major global institutions. The programme's power is not just the meetings — it is the shift in perspective that comes from seeing leadership up close across sectors, cultures, and contexts for several continuous weeks.