Deadline: January 30, 2026
Nominations are open for the Mozilla Foundation Fellows Program 2026. For over a decade, Mozilla Fellows have been at the forefront of the most critical conversations about technology and society, from debunking AI myths to exposing disinformation campaigns. They have supported over 200 changemaking Fellows who share their belief that a better tech future is not only possible – it’s ours to create. Whether embedded with civil society organizations or pursuing independent innovation, Fellows turn defiant optimism about technology’s future into action.
These changemaking technologists, researchers, creators, and advocates are the kinds of tech leaders a better future demands. When the media needs tech voices that aren’t billionaire CEOs, when communities need allies who understand their needs, when the next generation needs role models who prove technology can be a force for good – Fellows are those people.
The 2026 Fellowship program will support up to 10 visionary leaders who aren’t just imagining better technology futures – they’re building them.
Focus Areas
Mozilla Fellows aren’t waiting for permission or responding to crises—they’re creating the alternatives, proving new models work, and showing what’s possible when technology serves people. They are seeking Fellows building better on issues like:
- Protecting User Privacy: Fellows working on this issue will strengthen encryption and create tools that put security in the hands of those who need it most—through technical contributions, educational initiatives, policy development, and community organizing.
- Auditing AI Systems: Fellows working on this issue will make AI systems transparent and accountable to the people they affect—through technical auditing tools, policy frameworks, industry benchmarks, community advocacy, or educational approaches.
- Advancing Climate Justice: Fellows working on this issue will reduce technology’s environmental impact and strengthen communities organizing for climate justice—through research, digital tools, advocacy campaigns, or work that guides industry and policymakers toward systemic change.
- Protecting Creators: Fellows working on this issue will ensure creators control and benefit from their work—through systems for consent, attribution, and compensation, or through creative contributions like art, organizing, and advocacy that reshape norms and standards.
- Democratizing Data: Fellows working on this issue will put data and AI development in community hands—through community-owned datasets, personal AI systems, small language models, or organizing frameworks that serve people rather than concentrate corporate power.
- Building Open Infrastructure: Fellows working on this issue will create internet infrastructure that’s open and interoperable—through protocols, standards, decentralized systems, educational resources, or advocacy that keeps the internet open and accessible to all.
Benefits
- Financial Backing: Funding to focus on your most important work without compromise
- Track I: $100,000 total investment including a $75,000 stipend and a $25,000 project budget
- Track II: $125,000 total investment including a $100,000 stipend and a $25,000 project budget
- A Global Network: Connection to an inspiring cohort of technology leaders, policymakers, and advocates, plus ongoing access to Mozilla Foundation’s broader community of alumni and partners
- Professional Development: Specialized coaching, workshops, and peer learning opportunities designed for technology leaders building better futures
- Platforms to Amplify Your Impact: Access to Mozilla’s global platforms like Mozilla Festival, Mozilla Education, and Nothing Personal to share your work and reach new audiences
Eligibility
- Open to candidates from all countries where Mozilla can legally make grants, with particular focus on recruiting Fellows from the Global Majority.
- All Fellows should be able to receive stipend disbursements in the form of ACH or wire transfer payments originating from the United States.
- All Fellows should be legally able to enter into a grant agreement with Mozilla Foundation, a US-based 501c3 organization.
- Track I Embedded Fellows must be located in Kenya, South Africa, Brazil, the MENA region, Mexico, UK, US, or the EU.
- All copyright, patent, and other proprietary interests in materials produced by selected Fellows in the course of the fellowship shall be owned by the Fellow. To ensure the widest possible distribution of such materials and ensure that they remain generally available to the public, selected Mozilla Fellows agree to release code and non-confidential content created during the fellowship under open licenses determined in consultation with Mozilla. Selected Fellows are expected to work in the open, regularly sharing and documenting their work.
Commitment
Fellows commit to:
- Lead an Impactful Project: Create concrete demonstrations of what better technology futures look like – tools, platforms, creative works, or innovations that others can build upon
- Join a Global Cohort Actively participate in the Fellowship cohort, workshops and other offerings, and the broader Mozilla community.
- Share Your Knowledge: Share your expertise through speaking, writing, and collaboration to inspire the next generation of tech leaders. Develop content and resources through Mozilla Education and other platforms, contributing to the collective knowledge that helps innovators worldwide build better technology futures.
Review Criteria
They evaluate candidates across five key areas:
- Fit: Does your experience match the track you’re choosing? Are you ready for this opportunity?
- Project: Do you outline a compelling project that advances a better tech future and that you can realistically execute in 12 months? For Embedded Fellows, does your project compellingly address the Host Organization’s identified issue?
- Values: Does your approach embody technology “built with care, powered by people, and fueled by imagination”?
- Impact: Will your work serve communities and help others build better technology futures?
- Leadership: Are you someone who will influence the field and can inspire the next generation of technology leaders?
Nomination
For more information, visit Mozilla Foundation Fellows Program.
