Harvard University Mountaintop Fellowship with Leadership Training

Mountaintop’s Nonprofit Fellowship is a paid, one-year, full-time program for high-potential local leaders committed to driving systems change in lower-income communities across the globe. The stated purpose is to help Fellows deepen their impact at home by providing resources, training, and a network needed to lead transformational change.

The fellowship is designed for emerging leaders running high-impact projects in low-income communities outside the U.S., with a strong personal connection to the communities they serve. Mountaintop requires commitment to serving a home country, community, or state/province throughout a career, and commitment to attend a two-week, full-time, in-person training at Harvard’s campus in Cambridge, USA.

Mountaintop describes selection through an application process that includes resume, written responses, and project proposals, followed by finalist interviews with Mountaintop staff. Selection decisions are shared after finalist interviews, and references may be contacted afterward.

Support includes a $3,600 leadership grant disbursed in monthly installments, plus a fully funded two-week residential Leadership Institute at Harvard’s Edmond & Lily Safra Centre for Ethics. Fellows commit full-time (40 hours per week) to their fellowship project and receive monthly 1:1 mentorship, mentorship office hours, a speaker series, a virtual midpoint retreat, and a graduation retreat, followed by alumni programming with continued support after the fellowship.

• Committed to serving their home country, community, or state/province throughout their career.
• Committed to attending a two-week, full-time, in-person training at Harvard’s campus in Cambridge, USA, July 12-23, 2025 (Mountaintop covers all costs, including flights, lodging, meals, ground transportation, and visa fees).
• Committed to dedicating 40 hours per week to the fellowship project (does not apply to Executive Fellows).
• Committed to at least 5 additional hours per month spent on virtual activities, including mentorship sessions, monthly speaker sessions, and peer troubleshooting meetings.
• Committed to serving their home country, community, or state/province throughout their career.
• Proven track record of impactful leadership, public service, and/or social entrepreneurship.
• Innovative, systems-oriented, collaborative, and ambitious.
• Early in their professional career and able to show how the Mountaintop Fellowship can accelerate their growth as a transformational leader, helping them stay in or return to their home community or country.
• Values alignment with Universal Compassion.
• Values alignment with Unconditional Love.
• Values alignment with Visionary Wisdom.
• Values alignment with Long-Term Dedication.
• Values alignment with Selfless Courage.

• $3,600 leadership grant disbursed in 12 monthly installments of $300 to support personal and professional development during the fellowship year.
• Fully funded two-week Leadership Institute at Harvard University’s Edmond & Lily Safra Centre for Ethics.
• Mountaintop covers all associated Leadership Institute costs, including flights and ground transportation, accommodation and meals, and visa application fees.
• One-to-one mentorship with sector experts.
• Mentorship Office Hours with global leaders across social innovation, business, and policy.
• Access to additional grant opportunities, including project funding of up to $2,500.
• Personalized coaching, virtual retreats, and leadership masterclasses.
• Access to additional virtual activities including mentorship sessions, monthly speaker sessions, and peer troubleshooting meetings.
• Two virtual multi-day retreats focused on skills, reflection, and renewal.
• A monthly speaker series featuring global changemakers.
• Access to a virtual community of practice bringing together alumni and finalists from previous cycles for ongoing peer learning.
• After the fellowship, alumni receive continued support to launch ventures, lead in government, nonprofits, and business, build movements, or run for public office.

1. Apply using the Mountaintop Nonprofit Fellowship application during the application window.
2. Prepare a resume, written responses, and project proposals as part of the application.
3. If selected as a finalist, complete a virtual interview with Mountaintop staff.
4. Complete required acceptance of an offer after selection decisions are shared.

• Resume.
• Written responses.
• Project proposals.