Applications are currently being accepted for the Stanford Fisher Family Summer Fellows Program 2027 in USA. Interested applicants are encouraged to click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.
About Stanford Fisher Family Summer Fellows Program
The Fisher Family Summer Fellows Program on Democracy and Development is a training program hosted annually by Stanford University's Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law (CDDRL) at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI). Launched in 2005 and formerly known as the Draper Hills Summer Fellows Program, the program brings together a group of approximately 28-30 mid-career practitioners from transitioning countries who are working to advance democratic practices and economic and legal reform in contexts where freedom, human development, and good governance are fragile or at risk. From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, our program participants are selected from among hundreds of applicants every year for the significant contributions they have already made to their societies and their potential to make an even greater impact with some help from Stanford.
Benefits of Stanford Fisher Family Summer Fellows Program
- The Fisher Family Summer Program provides generous assistance and many benefits.
- Stanford University will provide accommodation, meals and local transportation for the entire program duration.
- Participants will get the chance to receive training, mentorship and work with top professionals.
- Similarly, a limited travel fund is available for participants unable to afford airfare or in need of partial travel subsidies. Fellows should be prepared to cover their round-trip airfare, although they may seek support from their employers or fundraise after selection decisions.
- Chance to spend three weeks at one of the world’s top universities.
- Participants will gain access to lectures and seminars by faculty and global leaders in democracy, development and governance.
Stanford Fisher Family Summer Fellows Program Requirements
- The fellowship is open to mid-career professionals who are actively engaged in areas such as democracy, development and the rule of law.
- Suitable for policy-makers, academics, legal experts, social and business entrepreneurs, and leaders from civil society organizations, including NGOs, trade unions, media, and professional associations.
- Applicants must play influential roles contributing to their country’s political, social or economic progress.
- Moreover, candidates should demonstrate significant professional and personal accomplishments in relevant fields.
- Applicants must be mid-career practitioners with at least 10 to 12 years of professional experience. Those with more experience are more competitive.
- Candidates must be from and currently reside in a country where democracy is not well entrenched. Applicants from the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, and European Union member states will not be accepted. Exceptions may be considered for candidates residing outside their home country due to war or conflict.
- Candidates must be at least 28 years old at the start of the fellowship in July 2027.
- Applicants should have the necessary academic credentials to engage in intensive seminars (around six hours daily) and complete advanced readings. Most participants hold a bachelor’s degree, but it is not mandatory for selection.
- Applicants must be actively working in democracy, development, and the rule of law. Candidates currently enrolled in full-time university degree programs are not eligible.
- A strong command of spoken and written English is essential to fully participate and benefit from the program’s activities. Fellows must also give a 7-minute talk about their work and motivation during the program.
Application Date and Process
- Click on the link to the application website to apply.
Application Deadline
12 January, 2026
Opportunity Application
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Stanford Fisher Family Summer Fellows Program
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