Center for Social Innovation

Get your Social Venture off the ground

Whether you come to business school to develop the skill set to launch your social venture or become inspired while you're here, the center offers social innovation fellowships to help you get started in the first year after graduation.

Develop a practical, innovative, and sustainable approach to benefit society, apply for a Social Innovation Fellowship, and receive both financial and oversight support to start a new nonprofit organization.

Who can apply?

• A graduating Stanford MBA or Sloan student in good academic standing
• A team of two graduating Stanford students with at least one eligible graduating from business school

How does the fellowship work?

Fellows receive:

• A stipend up to $80,000 per student or up to $120,000 per team
• Support and oversight from the Center for Social Innovation

Fellows are expected to:

• Work full time on the initiative and decline all other employment during the fellowship year
• Report on their activities as requested by the Center for Social Innovation

How many fellowships are available?

Twelve-month fellowships are awarded to up to three eligible students or teams of students annually.

Summer research fellowships may be awarded for applicants with promising venture ideas who need further time to develop their business plan.

How are fellows selected?

Fellows are selected in May based on an end-of-the-year application and presentation to a judging panel.

Successful applicants will:

• Have a clear, novel, and well-developed vision for addressing a particular social or environmental challenge
• Commit to building a successful nonprofit organization to deliver their proposed innovation

The selection committee includes:

• GSB Faculty
• Center for Social Innovation senior staff
• Representatives from the venture capital or social innovation field

[Share this program: fellowship fact sheet]