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2026 application is now closed.
2026 Fellowship Application
We are seeking 15-20 changemakers from around the world for the 2026 Dalai Lama Fellows program. The application period is from October 1, 2025 to November 12, 2025.
Key Dates
- October 1, 2025: Application opens
- November 12, 2025: Application deadline (applications and all accompanying materials must be submitted by 22:00 Coordinated Universal Time)
- January 2026: Finalists are invited for interviews (invitations sent throughout the month)
- February 2026: Fellows are selected and notified
- March 2026: Virtual onboarding of new Fellows
- April 2026: Formal fellowship year begins
- May 2026: 5-day Contemplative Leadership Assembly in TBD Location
- March 2027: Formal fellowship year concludes, Fellows enter LifeLong Fellows global leadership and learning community
Who We’re Looking For
We are looking for applicants who have a genuine intention to learn new practices and perspectives that will (1) increase their self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and resilience, (2) expand their ability to connect with others in compassionate ways, even when there are differences, and (3) deepen their capacity to navigate complex and interconnected systems in their social innovation work.
We seek Fellows who are working on social innovation projects that address needs such as health and well-being, education, environmental sustainability, cultural understanding, and human rights. Fellows must show they are deeply familiar with the community in which they are working and they also must have a well researched justification for the issue with which they are choosing to engage.
Unlike many other Fellowships, Dalai Lama Fellows is not merely focused on measurable impact and scale. Rather, our focus is on the individual’s personal transformations and leadership practices as intertwined with their changemaking work.
Other things we look for in candidates: a genuine intention to learn and grow; interest in engaging in contemplative practices throughout the year; commitment to participating in all dimensions of the program, including the online learning platform, 1-on-1 coaching calls, and group learning calls (we estimate full participation requires about 12 hours per month, not including work on the project itself); and attendance at the Contemplative Leadership Assembly in May 2026 (DLF covers all costs for travel, lodging, and meals).
Application Summary
The application for Dalai Lama Fellows consists of five main parts:
- Applicant background and overview
- Short essay questions
- Video submission
- Resume/CV
- Letter of recommendation
Live Info Sessions w/ Q&A
To receive more information about the fellowship and the application, DLF holds live information sessions with a Q&A. Weren’t able to make a live session? Watch a recording here (passcode: iz7k!tcu).
For fellowship-related questions, please see if the FAQ below provides the answer to your question. If it doesn’t, you can email us at dalailamafellows@virginia.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility & Selection
Can I apply if I am outside the 20-36 year-old age range?
Unfortunately, we are unable to accept applications from candidates outside the 20-36 year-old age range (age as of April 1, 2026).
Do I have to take time off from school/work in order to apply?
No. The Fellowship is structured so that you can pursue your academic studies or professional responsibilities throughout the Fellowship year. That said, we are looking for candidates who are able to set aside about 12 hours per month to engage in all aspects of the program.
Do I have to be interested in Buddhism to apply?
No. Dalai Lama Fellows is a non-sectarian and inclusive program. The curriculum presents ideas and practices from many of the world’s diverse wisdom traditions, and we do not privilege any one over others. We also encourage Fellows to connect with the wisdom and practices of their own cultures and traditions that will support their development as social innovators and what our program offers.
Compassion-in-Action Projects
Why do I need a compassion-in-action project?
We view compassion-in-action projects as a necessary component of deep learning in our program and the opportunity to engage in the “Hands” dimension of our Head, Heart, and Hands approach to leadership. Certainly, lots of development can happen through academic study and self-reflection. However, deeper learning occurs through application and embodied experience. Therefore, compassion-in-action projects allow Fellows to apply their curricular learning to real-world situations and leadership challenges and ensure their personal growth and transformation is integrated with collective growth and transformation.
Can you give examples of past Fellows’ projects?
A few examples of Fellows’ projects: Stephen Ogweno of Kenya founded Stowelink, a youth-led organization providing health care resources for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and gender-based violence, including a mobile app, NCD 365, that provides education, resources, and support. More examples of projects can be viewed on our Meet the Fellows page.
Do you offer any funding for projects?
We do not offer funding for projects. Based on what we have learned from ten years of programming, we have gleaned that the most meaningful elements of our program for Fellows is our curriculum, coaching, and global community. We encourage Fellows to search for and develop other creative sources of project funding, and their program coach can serve as a guide in this area.
If I don’t yet have a social innovation project, do I have to launch a project during my fellowship year?
Yes. Fellows’ learning and growth in the fellowship happens largely through applying lessons learned in the curriculum and coaching, as well as personal contemplative practices, to actual social innovation work. Therefore, we expect all applicants who do not have ongoing projects to have well articulated plans for a project and expect them to launch it within the first 6 months of the fellowship year.
Do I have to complete my project within the fellowship year?
No. Many of our Fellows continue to work on their projects beyond their Fellowship year. However, we do expect Fellows to complete their intended goals for their projects during the Fellowship year.
Do I have to be located near the community where my project is taking place?
We require that Fellows have meaningful, consistent, and immersive engagement with the project and the community throughout the Fellowship year. We highly prefer Fellows who are living in close proximity to the community where their project is being implemented. In some cases, we select Fellows who are not in close proximity to their project communities, but typically only if strong connections have already been established and if there is still ongoing contact throughout the year.
The Fellowship Experience
How much time does the fellowship require?
We estimate full participation in the fellowship requires about 12 hours per month, not including Fellows’ work on their projects, plus attendance at the week-long Contemplative Leadership Assembly.