National Endowment for Democracy Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellowship 2027

Are you a young leader passionate about democracy and youth participation? Spend four months in Washington, D.C., advancing your ideas and making an impact!

The National Endowment for Democracy (NED), through its International Forum for Democratic Studies, invites emerging youth leaders from around the world to apply for the 2027 Hurford Youth Fellows Program.

Selected fellows will develop projects addressing democratic challenges in their countries or regions, exchange ideas with international activists and engage with experts working to strengthen democracy.

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirements
• Interview Process
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineJanuary 12, 2027
• Study Level
• SponsorNational Endowment for Democracy
• Eligible CountryAll Countries

Benefits

• Program Activities: Through seminars, roundtables, field trips, and other events, the program seeks to: (a) build knowledge about the work of the Endowment and its core institutes; (b) provide education concerning democracy through field trips and seminars; (c) support outreach for dialogue and interaction with the governmental, nongovernmental, academic, and media communities around town and beyond; and (d) promote a sense of collegiality among fellows as a group. In addition, fellows benefit from the many informal social and cultural activities that the program has to offer, including trips to sporting events, museums, movies, and happy hours.
• Financial Support: Each fellow receives a monthly stipend for living expenses, plus basic health insurance and roundtrip travel to and from Washington, D.C., at the beginning and end of the fellowship period. Fellowship payments are calculated to cover cost of a short-term, furnished rental apartment, plus “cost of living” for food, local transportation, and other necessities. Fellows are provided with a fully equipped office, plus a limited budget for long-distance phone calls and professional travel within the United States.  Please note that fellows who wish to bring family members with them to Washington, D.C., will be expected to cover the costs of their dependents’ roundtrip travel and stay within the United States.
• Research Support: Program staff work with several fellows to provide critical support in a variety of ways: consulting with fellows on the shape and direction of their projects, providing research, written, and editorial support on issues relating to the theory and practice of democracy, facilitating outreach, aiding in the preparation and follow-up of fellows’ public presentations, and providing other assistance as necessary.
• Visas: Prior to their arrival in the United States, prospective fellows who are neither citizens nor permanent residents of the United States must obtain a J-1 exchange visitor visa in order to travel to the United States. Accompanying family members must obtain a J-2 visa.

Requirements

Under the Democracy Accelerator framework, a select number of fellows are chosen based on their track record working to build democracy and their potential to advance democratic learning at a strategic and practical level. By bringing together a carefully curated cohort, we create an optimal environment for in-depth collaboration and innovation that reverberates across the NED family. This approach entails investing in fewer, higher-potential individuals and working toward fellowship outcomes that are suited to a new environment.

All applicants should:

• Demonstrate proficiency in the English language
• Propose a project focusing on the political, social, economic, legal or cultural aspects of democratic development
• Be available to work in residence at the International Forum for Democratic Studies in Washington, D.C. during the 5 month fellowship period. No other fellowships or jobs may be held at this time.

Applicants on the practitioner track should:

• Have substantial practical experience working to promote democracy or human rights in their country of origin or interest
• Be mid-career professionals

Applicants on the scholarly track should:

• Possess a doctorate (a Ph.D., or academic equivalent) at the time of application
• Have a proven record of publications in their field
• Have developed a detailed research outline for their fellowship project

Please note: Former Reagan-Fascell fellows are not eligible for repeat fellowships.

Selection Process

• The Fellowships Program holds an annual competition for Reagan-Fascell Fellowships. Applications are assessed through a rigorous evaluation process, culminating in the selection of finalists by the Endowment’s Board of Directors. All applicants have been notified about the outcome of the 2026-2027 fellowship selection process. Applications for the 2027-2028 fellowship year are currently open.
• In order to ensure a competitive selection process for the many candidates who apply each year, the 1program is unable to offer fellowship deferrals except under extraordinary circumstances. Awardees who are unable to accept a fellowship in the year for which they applied may be asked to reapply if they remain interested in pursuing a fellowship in a future year.

Application Deadline

How To Apply

In order to apply for the Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellowship you must first create an account through our online portal. For detailed instructions on how to create an account, click here. Once you have set up an account, the application process requires you to submit:

• Applicant information
• Project proposal for the practitioner or the scholarly fellowship track
• Letters of recommendation
• Resume/CV and Biography

Please submit all application materials in English.

For morre information, kindly visit the NED webpage.