General Questions

What is Ashoka-US?
Ashoka is the hub of a worldwide network of local and
regional programs and staff dedicated to the success of the 2000+
leading social entrepreneurs in the global association. Ashoka-US focuses on finding and supporting the success of Ashoka Fellows based in the USA. It is co-located with the global headquarters in Arlington, VA. To learn more, see About Us.

Does Ashoka provide grants or academic fellowships?
No. Ashoka is a 501(c)3 organization, not a foundation or grant-making
organization. Ashoka does not fund research, special projects, staff
positions, or scholarships. There is some financial support which is
available only to Fellows.

Does Ashoka-US provide training and technical assistance on social  entrepreneurship or founding social entrepreneur organizations?
Ashoka-US promotes the exchange of best practices among Fellows, supports capacity-building consulting, and calls on our partner organizations to provide workshops and consultations tailored to the the needs of social innovators.

Is Ashoka an incubator for emerging social entrepreneurs?
No. However, we work closely with organizations that invest in social entrepreneurs at the initial “idea” stage. Ashoka looks for social entrepreneurs who have tested their ideas and are poised to move to a new level of social impact. See Types of Fellows to learn about the stages at which Ashoka supports social entrepreneurs.

 

Venture: Ashoka Fellow Selection Process

How do I nominate myself or someone else?
See Nominate.

What are the deadlines for the nominations?
Ashoka-US welcomes nominations at any time.

After the initial nomination, how long does it take to complete the selection process?
Depending on where the candidate is in his or her work at the time of nomination, it may take from a few months to a more extended period to advance to the final phase of the selection process. See Types of Fellows.

Can a nomination be submitted again if there have been significant changes in the candidate’s work?
We welcome updates on a candidate’s progress.

Is the process competitive?
No. Ashoka’s multi-step individualized and interpersonal process is designed to determine how well an individual meets the Ashoka criteria. A candidate is not compared with or competing against other candidates.

Is there a set number of Fellows elected each year?
No. Ashoka currently elects about 25 US-based Fellows each year.

Does Ashoka elect co-founders?
Ashoka elects co-founders if the new idea is clearly co-generated and both individuals meet the criteria for leading social entrepreneurs.

 

Fellowship

What does the Fellowship offer?
See Fellowship.

Who are Ashoka Fellows?
For US Fellows, see Ashoka-US Fellows. For Fellows in other countries, see the database of Fellows on the Ashoka Global website.

 

Where are Ashoka Fellows in the US? In other countries?
For US Fellows, see Regions. For Fellows in other countries, search by country in the database of Fellows on the Ashoka Global website.

 

Engagement with Ashoka-US

How do I learn about employment, internship, and volunteer opportunities?
See Get Involved.

How do I donate to Ashoka-US?
See Invest in Ashoka-US.

How can I partner with Ashoka-US?
Contact us at or at 703-600-8307.

How can I request a speaker?
See Speaker’s Bureau on the Ashoka Global website.

 

Contact

How should I direct my inquiry to the appropriate person?
See Contact Us for Ashoka-US staff. For Global Ashoka or country offices, explore the Ashoka Global website's Contact Us.