Moral Ambition Fellowships

We believe small groups of dedicated individuals can change the world. Through our fellowships, we fund ambitious idealists to leave behind empty careers and build lives of real impact.

Our focus areas

At The School for Moral Ambition, we identify where talent is most needed by focusing on issues that are sizable, solvable, and sorely overlooked. These three challenges stand out as the most urgent for us to address first. Read our explainers to learn why we remain committed to tackling them in these year’s fellowships.

Food Transition

Our Food System Is Reaching Its Limits: It’s Time for a Protein Revolution
Explainer
6 min

Tobacco Free Future

Abolish the Tobacco Industry — No One Should Be Allowed to Addict and Poison Others on an Industrial Scale
Explainer
6 min

Tax Fairness

‘Tax the Rich’ Sounds Simple. Here’s How We Actually Get It Done.
Explainer
6 min

Revolutionize
your career

Over the course of seven months, you will commit full-time to building a high-impact career. You'll receive premier training, gain hands-on experience, and be placed at the heart of where real change happens.

Last year, we launched the first edition of our European fellowships for two crucial topics: the food transition and the battle against the tobacco industry. Our fellows have founded organizations, published research, spoken in parliaments, built new coalitions and influenced change in countless ways. Now, we’re opening applications for changemakers from around the world.

Our Fellowships

food transition

EU

Sep '25 - Mar ‘26
Apply before May 12th
Apply
More Information

tobacco free future

eu

Sep '25 - Mar ‘26
Apply before May 12th
Apply
More Information

food transition

uSA

Dec '25 - Jun ‘26
Applications open in Q3 2025
Express Interest
More Information

tax fairness

USA, CANADA, EU

Dec '25 - Jun ‘26
Applications open in Q3 2025
Express Interest
More Information

Founding To Give

Global

Dec '25 - Jun ‘26
Find Out More

How the fellowships work

Over seven months, you’ll commit fulltime to a career dedicated to making the greatest possible impact.

Selection

Our application process focuses on skills over credentials. We test what matters by aiming to identify talent based on the skills crucial for success in each role. Applications take place over a number of rounds, over the course of about a month. The final step is matching fellows with host organizations, which will happen in the last weeks of June.

1st month

Training

The fellowships begin with a month of intensive training, including a week at a unique location. The program builds key skills for driving change, with a special focus on how to effectively influence policy.

month 2 - month 7

Placement

During the selection process, you’ll be carefully matched with a host organization, where you’ll spend most of the program. These strategically chosen organizations offer immediate opportunities to make an impact while providing six months of valuable, hands-on experience.

month 2 - month 7

peer-learning

During your placement, the fellowship group meets regularly to collaborate, share insights, and learn from each other’s experiences.

Next steps

We provide external career coaching, network sharing, public speaking opportunities, fundraising training, and more to position you for a long-term career in your cause area.

Join Our webinar

Don’t miss our May 6 webinar. It’s your chance to get practical tips and insider insights on the EU-based Moral Ambition Fellowships.

More webinars are coming soon, each focused on a key topic within our Global Fellowships. Want to stay in the loop? Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social to hear when the next sessions go live.

Sign Up Now

Meet the class of '25

Discover how this group of 22 pioneers has reshaped their careers and made big strides in our two focus areas in the EU: combating Big Tobacco and transforming our food system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should you apply?

Commitment

Fellows quit their job and commit full-time for the duration of the program, dedicating seven months to impactful work. Participants receive a modest but reasonable monthly salary to cover the cost of living and support their transition into a high-impact career.

Experience

We seek candidates with approximately ten years of experience (minimum five), including professionals from law, consulting, lobbying, economics, policy, research, taxation, communications, and marketing. As this is a career change program, no prior experience in the topic you choose is required.

Practical

Our programs are open to applicants from around the globe — be sure to check the specifics for each fellowship. Fellowships include an in-person week of training, but are otherwise largely remote. Some host organizations may require a willingness to temporarily relocate for the duration of the program.

Previous Host Organizations