Deadline: January 12, 2026
Applications are open for the Rockefeller Foundation 2026 Big Bets Fellowship: United States. As part of the Foundation’s long-standing commitment to making opportunity universal, they established an annual Fellowship to equip leaders with the mindset and skills needed to advance solutions with breakthrough potential to connect displaced workers to work, and support efforts to build resilience in the face of past or future economic disruption.
The United States is at a critical juncture, facing both immense challenges and unprecedented opportunities that are undergirded by individual’s increased pessimism about their — and their community’s — economic prospects. Since the 1980s, economic inequality has risen steadily in the United States with income and wealth increasingly concentrated among a smaller and smaller percentage of Americans. Moreover, nearly 50 million Americans live in distressed places, with declining job opportunities leading to a host of other challenges including poor health and educational outcomes, persistent racial and gender inequities, and the erosion of social and political trust. However, the United States also has significant resources and capacity for transformative change, with robust research institutions, a growing green economy, and innovative policy initiatives that can drive impactful economic solutions.
The Big Bets Fellowship: United States will empower leaders across sectors to develop entrepreneurial solutions, resilient systems, and policies that seize the opportunity for growth that is good for people and the planet.
Costs
- Travel expenses for participation in the in-person convening will be covered by The Rockefeller Foundation. Fellows will be responsible for securing the necessary visa(s) for any travel during the course of the program.
Eligibility
They are looking to support leaders with bold solutions that reimagine an existing system or introduce innovative approaches to harness the know-how, assets, capacities, and energies of others to power a prosperous future for all Americans, focused on ensuring economic prosperity, stability and opportunities for communities that need it most.
While there is no single profile of a Big Bets Fellow, the following characteristics describe the individuals who are likely to thrive in the program:
- 5–15 years of experience driving impact through professional, entrepreneurial, or community-based work.
- Deep engagement in their region, reflected through lived experience, professional contributions, or community involvement.
- A distinctive perspective and fresh insight into a pressing challenge, informed by both personal and professional experience.
- A proven track record of meaningful change, demonstrating the ability to lead initiatives and bringing together diverse stakeholders to achieve shared goals.
- Collaborative, curious, and community-driven, with a strong commitment to learning and contributing to the Fellowship network.
- Courageous and bold, willing to challenge the status quo and advance new approaches for lasting impact.
- To be considered for the cohort, candidates must be working on a project that impacts one or more states in the United States of America and directly benefits the communities the applicant represents.
- Applicants must be members of the Big Bets Community to be eligible for the Fellowship.
Application
U.S. applications are open! Join the Big Bets Community and you’ll receive an email with a link to the application form.
Click here to join the community
For more information, visit Big Bets Fellowship.
