Dalai Lama Fellows 2027 for Young Social Innovators
The Dalai Lama Fellows 2027 is a year-long leadership fellowship for young changemakers from around the world who are working on, or have well-developed plans for, a social change project.
The programme seeks 15–20 Fellows for the 2027 cohort. It focuses on personal transformation, contemplative leadership and social innovation, helping young leaders strengthen their ability to create meaningful change in their communities.
The fellowship is non-sectarian and inclusive. Applicants do not need to be Buddhist or have any particular religious background, and applicants do not have to be students.
Dalai Lama Fellows 2027 Details
| Fellowship Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Fellowship Name | Dalai Lama Fellows 2027 |
| Fellowship Type | Leadership & Social Innovation Fellowship |
| Number of Fellows | 15–20 |
| Eligible Applicants | Young changemakers worldwide |
| Age | 20–36 years |
| Age Reference Date | 1 April 2027 |
| Project Requirement | Social change/social innovation project |
| English Requirement | Fluency in written and spoken English |
| Programme Duration | April 2027 – March 2028 |
| Virtual Onboarding | March 2027 |
| Formal Fellowship Begins | April 2027 |
| Application Opens | 1 October 2026 |
| Application Deadline | 11 November 2026, 22:00 UTC |
| Finalists Interviewed | January 2027 |
| Fellows Selected | February 2027 |
| Contemplative Leadership Assembly | May 2027 and June 2028 |
| Programme Ends | March 2028 |
| Application Method | Online |
Benefits of the Dalai Lama Fellows
Successful Fellows receive access to:
- Year-long leadership and social innovation curriculum
- Online learning platform
- 1-on-1 coaching
- Group learning calls
- Small-group learning calls
- Daily contemplative practice
- Global community of Fellows
- LifeLong Fellows global leadership and learning community
- Opportunities for personal growth and leadership development
- Support in applying learning to real-world social innovation projects
- Connection with past Fellows
- Virtual Contemplative Leadership Assembly
- Coaching and guidance for developing project funding sources
Important: Dalai Lama Fellows does not provide funding for Fellows’ social innovation projects. Fellows are encouraged to identify and develop other sources of project funding, with their programme coach able to provide guidance.
Who Is Eligible?
Applicants must demonstrate the following:
Age Requirement
Applicants must be 20–36 years old as of 1 April 2027. Applications from people outside this age range are not accepted.
English Language
Applicants must have fluency in written and spoken English.
Social Change Project
Applicants must currently be engaged in a social change project or have a well-articulated plan for one.
The programme prefers applicants who already have an ongoing project because launching a social innovation project from scratch can be difficult. However, applicants without an existing project can still be selected if they have a concrete project vision and plans to launch it during the fellowship, provided they have adequate expertise, resources and community connections.
Knowledge of the Community
Applicants must have in-depth knowledge of the community and issue their project seeks to address.
Previous experience working with the community is preferred. The programme states that applicants proposing to work with a community in a different city, state or country from where they will live during the fellowship must demonstrate meaningful and consistent engagement and at least six months of experience with that community.
Interest in Contemplative Practices
Applicants must have an interest in learning and engaging in contemplative practices throughout the fellowship year.
Commitment to the Programme
Fellows must be prepared to participate in all aspects of the programme, including:
- Online learning
- Individual readings and reflections
- 1-on-1 coaching calls
- Monthly full-group learning calls
- Quarterly small-group learning calls
- Daily contemplative practice
The programme estimates that participation requires approximately 12 hours per month, excluding the time spent working on the Fellow’s social innovation project.
Contemplative Leadership Assembly
Selected Fellows must attend the virtual Contemplative Leadership Assembly in May 2027.
Who Can Apply?
You do not need to be a student to apply.
The fellowship accepts applicants who are:
- Undergraduate students
- Graduate students
- Not currently enrolled in school
The programme is looking for young people committed to personal growth and development in service of making the world a better place.
Applicants do not have to be the founder of their social innovation project. You can apply if you play a meaningful role in the project and have the ability to shape its process and outcomes.
A team cannot apply together as a group. Individuals must apply separately and share their learning with their teams.
What Types of Projects Are Considered?
Dalai Lama Fellows seeks applicants working on social innovation projects addressing issues such as:
- Health and well-being
- Education
- Environmental sustainability
- Cultural understanding
- Human rights
Applicants must demonstrate that they are deeply familiar with the community they are working with and have a well-researched justification for the issue they are addressing.
Projects can be:
- Existing projects
- New projects planned for launch during the fellowship
- Full-time projects
- Projects undertaken alongside other work
- Projects delivered fully online
The project does not have to be completed within the fellowship year, although Fellows are expected to complete their intended goals for the fellowship year.
Social Innovation Project Requirement
A social innovation project is a central part of the fellowship.
The programme uses projects to help Fellows apply what they learn through the curriculum, coaching and contemplative practices to real-world situations and leadership challenges.
Applicants who do not already have a project are expected to launch their project within the first six months of the fellowship.
Can the Project Be Fully Online?
Yes.
Dalai Lama Fellows accepts projects that are delivered completely online.
However, Fellows are expected to have meaningful, consistent and immersive engagement with their project and community throughout the fellowship year.
The programme prefers Fellows who live close to the community where their project is being implemented, although exceptions may be made where strong community connections already exist.
Fellowship Curriculum
The year-long curriculum is delivered through an online learning platform and is built around the Head, Heart and Hands approach to leadership.
The curriculum develops three core areas:
Connections to Self
Developing the individual social innovator.
Connections to Others
Strengthening relationships and the ability to connect with others compassionately, including across differences.
Connections to Ecosystems
Understanding and navigating the complex and interconnected systems in which social innovation takes place.
The curriculum includes:
- Individual reading
- Reflection exercises
- Monthly coaching
- Group learning
- Contemplative practices
Past Fellows have reported developing greater self-awareness, emotional intelligence, resilience and self-care practices, as well as stronger relationships with people within and beyond their communities.
Fellowship Timeline
1 October 2026 — Applications Open
The application window officially opens.
11 November 2026 — Application Deadline
Applications and all accompanying materials must be submitted by 22:00 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
January 2027 — Finalist Interviews
Finalists will be invited for interviews throughout January.
February 2027 — Fellows Selected
Selected Fellows will be notified.
March 2027 — Virtual Onboarding
New Fellows participate in virtual onboarding.
April 2027 — Fellowship Year Begins
The formal fellowship year begins.
May 2027 — Opening Contemplative Leadership Assembly
The opening assembly takes place via Zoom.
March 2028 — Fellowship Year Concludes
The formal fellowship year concludes, and Fellows enter the LifeLong Fellows global leadership and learning community.
June 2028 — Closing Contemplative Leadership Assembly
The closing assembly will take place at a location that is yet to be determined.
Application Requirements
The Dalai Lama Fellows application consists of five main sections:
- Applicant background and overview
- Short essay questions
- Video submission
- Resume/CV
- Letter of recommendation
Application Checklist
Eligibility Checklist
- I am between 20 and 36 years old as of 1 April 2027.
- I am fluent in written and spoken English.
- I am currently involved in a social change project or have a well-developed plan for one.
- I have strong knowledge of the community my project serves.
- I have relevant experience with the community, preferably at least one year if already working with it.
- I am interested in contemplative practices.
- I can commit approximately 12 hours per month to the fellowship.
- I can attend the virtual Contemplative Leadership Assembly in May 2027.
- I am prepared to participate in the full fellowship programme.
- If I do not currently have a project, I have a clear plan to launch one within the first six months.
- I understand that the fellowship does not provide funding for my social innovation project.
Application Documents Checklist
- Applicant background and overview
- Short essay responses
- Video submission
- Updated Resume/CV
- Letter of recommendation
Final Application Checklist
- Review all eligibility requirements.
- Prepare your social innovation project details.
- Prepare your CV/resume.
- Prepare your essay responses.
- Prepare your video submission.
- Obtain your letter of recommendation.
- Review all application responses.
- Submit the application and accompanying materials.
- Ensure everything is submitted before 11 November 2026 at 22:00 UTC.
Do You Have to Be Interested in Buddhism?
No.
Dalai Lama Fellows is a non-sectarian and inclusive programme. Applicants do not need to be interested in Buddhism.
The curriculum draws ideas and practices from diverse wisdom traditions and encourages Fellows to connect with wisdom and practices from their own cultures and traditions.
Do You Have to Leave School or Work?
No.
Fellows can continue their academic studies or professional responsibilities during the fellowship year.
However, participants should be able to dedicate approximately 12 hours per month to the fellowship, excluding time spent working on their social innovation projects.
Can the Social Innovation Project Be a Full-Time Job?
Yes.
The programme accepts Fellows whose social innovation projects constitute their full-time work as well as Fellows who work on their projects alongside other responsibilities.
Examples of Previous Fellows’ Projects
Previous projects have included:
- Stowelink – Kenya: A youth-led organisation addressing noncommunicable diseases and gender-based violence using arts and technology, including the NCD 365 mobile application.
- Anybody Can Grow – Sri Lanka: A project focused on equitable and safe food systems through community garden access, healthy food and educational programmes.
- STEMFILLES – Nigeria: A project providing training to young girls in Nigeria to encourage participation in STEM and address social biases affecting girls in STEM fields.
- Project Anwesha – India: A project working with a traditional horse-cart community to use horse manure to generate electricity for homes.
Does Dalai Lama Fellows Provide Project Funding?
No.
The programme does not provide funding for social innovation projects.
Fellows are encouraged to find creative external sources of funding, and their programme coach can help guide them in this process.
Can I Speak With a Previous Fellow?
Yes.
Applicants can email dalailamafellows@virginia.edu with information about themselves and request to be connected with a past LifeLong Fellow who has volunteered to answer questions.
The deadline to request a connection with a LifeLong Fellow is 28 October 2026.
Live Information Sessions
Applicants can attend live information sessions with Q&A about the fellowship and application.
All times below are in UTC:
Info Session 1: Tuesday, 6 October 2026 — 14:00–15:00 UTC
Info Session 2: Friday, 16 October 2026 — 13:30–14:30 UTC
Info Session 3: Wednesday, 28 October 2026 — 16:00–17:00 UTC
Registration links are provided on the official application page.
Application Deadline
The Dalai Lama Fellows 2027 application deadline is 11 November 2026 at 22:00 UTC.
Applications and all accompanying materials must be submitted before the deadline.
How to Apply
- Review the eligibility requirements.
- Develop your social innovation project proposal or clearly articulate your existing project.
- Prepare your applicant background and overview.
- Answer the short essay questions.
- Prepare your video submission.
- Prepare your Resume/CV.
- Obtain your letter of recommendation.
- Complete the online application.
- Submit the application and all accompanying materials before the deadline.
Conclusion
The Dalai Lama Fellows 2027 is designed for young social innovators who want to combine personal development, contemplative leadership and practical social change work.
The programme is open to 20–36-year-olds worldwide, does not require applicants to be students or Buddhist, and accepts both existing social innovation projects and well-developed plans for new projects.
Selected Fellows will participate in a year-long programme from April 2027 to March 2028, with approximately 12 hours of fellowship participation per month alongside their project work.
Application opens: 1 October 2026
Deadline: 11 November 2026 at 22:00 UTC
