Ashoka Venture and Fellowship

For more than 40 years, Ashoka has built and nurtured the largest network of leading social entrepreneurs in the world. After a rigorous selection process, they are introduced to a life-long fellowship, where every member is committed to championing new patterns of social good. We encourage Ashoka Fellows to take ownership of the network and we partner with them to co-create Ashoka’s vision of an Everyone a Changemaker world.

Why Leading Social Entrepreneurs are Critical Today

In a world defined by change, success comes from everyone leading. Social entrepreneurs define the new roadmaps that allow people to thrive in this new environment, while providing solutions and demonstrating the how-tos.

Ashoka engages the world’s largest and most powerful network of social entrepreneurs by searching for and selecting the world’s leading social entrepreneurs: Ashoka Fellows. Ashoka pioneered the field of social entrepreneurship more than 40 years ago, and today it continues to build the largest global network of leading social entrepreneurs.

Ashoka Fellows champion new ideas that transform society’s systems -- providing benefits for everyone and improving the lives of millions of people. Ashoka Fellows are the ultimate role models in today’s world.

Ashoka identifies patterns that are emerging from our Fellows—types of solutions, strategies, topic areas, etc.—that often point to areas ripe for major change. These learnings from across our Fellowship guide Ashoka’s work and investments in strategic initiatives that empower every person to be a changemaker.

Sub Programs

Group of adults speaking at a table together in a large room; background of other tables with groups of adults speaking

Venture: Selecting our Ashoka Fellows

Ashoka searches the world for leading social entrepreneurs through an intensive, human-centered process, selecting them into our global, trust-based fellowship of peers

The Ashoka Fellowship

Ashoka Fellows are the world’s leading social entrepreneurs. They champion innovative new ideas that transform society’s systems, providing benefits for everyone and improving the lives of millions of people.

A Global Network

Ashoka's Network includes over 4,000 Ashoka Fellows, as well as hundreds of Changemaker Institutions, Partners and Young Changemakers. Collectively, they support the emergence of a world where each person can become a Changemaker.

A Life-long Fellowship

Thanks to mentors and courses, among others, the Fellowship reinforces the capacity of Fellows to develop their impact to change the world throughout their life.

Increased Visibility

The Ashoka Fellowship being one of the first and most prestigious network of social entrepreneurs in the world, upon joining it, Fellows gain credibility and acknowledgment from peers and relevant institutions.

Financial Support

A tailored stipend for up to three years, if needed, is offered to the Fellow, so that they are able to dedicate themselves full time to the advancement of their idea.

Ashoka Fellows Change Policy, Market Dynamics, and How People Think

Ashoka also identifies patterns that are emerging from our Fellows—types of solutions, strategies, topic areas, etc.—that often point to areas ripe for major change. These learnings from across our Fellowship guide Ashoka’s work and investments in strategic initiatives that empower every person to be a changemaker. In 2018, Ashoka led one of the largest and most diverse studies of system changing social entrepreneurs ever conducted: Unlonely Planet Impact Report. And we found that Ashoka Fellows are having systems-level impact — 74% have achieved change in public policy or legislation, while many others are changing market systems, and mindsets.

Ashoka Fellows know that in order to spread their idea quickly and turn it into society’s “new normal,” they must employ innovative strategies to get their idea into the hands of as many people as possible. We define independent replication as when an independent organisation or institution takes on a Fellow’s idea, further increasing the scale and impact.

0 %

of Fellows have seen their idea replicated by independent groups

0 %

have achieved change in public policy or legislation

0 %

have seen their idea replicated within their country of residence

0 %

have seen their idea replicated in other countries

Do you know someone with a pathbreaking idea?

Are they creative, entrepreneurial problem-solvers tackling big social problems?

Recommend a Fellow Fellowship Recommendation Form