Frequently Asked Questions

We will financially and logistically support temporary relocation to your placement location. We are also exploring options for shared housing for our fellows.

No, there is no job guarantee after the fellowship. Your fellowship will have equipped you with many desired skills and many contacts to organisations and funders. You must find your own place after the fellowship.

Yes, there is a limited number of hybrid fellowship spots available for the EU Food Transition (2,5 days per week) and Tobacco Free Future (1 day per week) programs. Only these two tracks let you join without leaving your current role or committing full-time. Please be aware that the part-time option is self-funded, as we can only fund fellows who can commit fulltime.

Relocation might not be required. Fellows may be placed across the U.S. depending on their project.

Most host-organisations require you to be present at least 2 - 3 days in their office in Brussels. It is also good to be there to network and lobby. So, either you do relocate, or you spend every week two of three days and nights in Brussels. There is a budget to reimburse your costs for travel and accomodation, up to 1000 euro per month.

No, you cannot apply for the EU/Global Fellowships (Tax, Food Transition, Tobacco) if you already applied or will apply to the Food System Reform Fellowship (US).

You need an EU or EEA citizenship and/or permanent residence to be eligble for the program.

Stipends will be available, with the amount varying based on your location. The ballpark figure we can give is around 5000 USD per month

We have one application form for all three programs where you can indicate your preferences. Please note that we will consider your preference, but we may place you in a different program if we believe it to be a better fit. While you are welcome to indicate interest in only one program, please be aware that keeping an open mind to both may increase your chances of moving forward in the selection process.

You need an EU or EEA citizenship and/or permanent residence to be eligble for the program.

You need an EU or EEA citizenship and/or permanent residence to be eligble for the program.

Please email laura@moralambition.org.

The selection process is skill-based, focusing on the relevant skills and mindsets crucial for success. After the initial application, which takes approximately one hour, the process includes a one-hour on-campus interview.

The School for Moral Ambition will execute a matching process between host organizations and selected sophomores starting in May 2026 to ensure tight alignment. We anticipate that host organizations will be high-impact nonprofits with potentially disruptive approaches — for example, one host organization leads the largest no-strings-attached giving program in the world.

This program is for members of the class of 2028 — so current sophomores. If you have taken an accelerated course load but are officially a member of the class of 2029 we ask that you wait a year.

Yes — for now. This first fellowship is exclusively for Harvard sophomores in good standing. Future cohorts may open up to other schools, but this pilot is designed to build something deeply rooted in the Harvard ecosystem first.

Yes. Harvard is just the beginning. We’re starting here to prove the model: that you can pay top students to do meaningful work and that they’ll take it. Once we show the impact, we plan to expand to other major universities across the U.S. Moral Ambition is a movement, not a one-campus experiment.

Through the Moral Ambition Fellowship, we are putting work with high impact nonprofits on the same recruiting timeline as banks and management consulting firms, which recruit in sophomore year for the summer after their junior year.

For decades, elite universities like Harvard have quietly funneled top talent into careers that optimize for margin, not meaning. In 2022, 58% of Harvard grads went into consulting, finance, or tech. If we can help even a small number of the best students at the most prestigious school redirect their talent toward solving real problems like climate change, inequality, or AI safety it can have a ripple effect across campuses (and boardrooms) everywhere.

The School for Moral Ambition does not receive funding from governments nor are we engaged in sponsorship deals with companies. We do accept donations from companies in return for a talk or workshop we provided.

We publish the names of our largest donors on our how we are funded page and in our annual report.

For larger donations of € / $ 50,000 and more, we are happy to discuss the options. Reach out to Sabrina van der Sandt, Philanthropy Director, via sabrina@moralambition.org.

The School for Moral Ambition is registered in the Netherlands as an ANBI-stichting and has a 501(c)(3) status in the USA. This means that donations are tax deductible in the Netherlands, United States and all countries that recognize the Dutch or US status. This may require extra paperwork, but we're happy to help you with that. Contact Sabrina van der Sandt, Philanthropy Director, via sabrina@moralambition.org.

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We are grateful for every contribution - large or small! Discover all the options on our Support Us page.

None of the employees, board members (and funders) of The School for Moral Ambition have interests in the Tobacco or Vaping industry, nor the Tobacco-Control sector. Two of our Board members (Heleen Dura van Oord and Edmond Hilhorst) invested in funds with sustainable protein companies in their portfolio. The Board of SMA is not involved in the selection of topics for fellowships. The fellowship topics are selected according to an independent research process and decided on by the management of the School.

The selection process is skill-based, focusing on the relevant skills crucial for success in the role rather than just academic credentials. After the initial application, the process includes a Hireflix interview, a written test task, interviews with program managers and possibly interviews with the host organizations.

You can apply for the third edition of the EU fellowship during the application round from March 27 to April 27, 2026. The first round of application will take approximately 1.5 hours.

By the end of the program, fellows are expected to have developed comprehensive skills in advocacy, made substantial contributions to their field, and prepared a foundation for a career focused on making a difference in global issues related to their fellowship topic area.

Moral Ambition Fellowships are an opportunity to radically transform your career and be prepared to contribute at the highest level to urgent global issues. The fellowship is a seven-month program, including a one-month intensive training that sharpens you into an effective advocate for positive change, followed by a six-month placement at a leading NGO or think tank working in the field of a Tobacco Free Future, Tax Fairness or Food Transition.

The success of the fellowships is measured by the impact of the fellows work and their continued contribution to their respective fields after the fellowship, relative to the costs invested in the fellowship program.

Yes, there is. After the first edition of the fellowship we started our alumni network for our fellows.

During our selection process we focus on skills instead of traditional credentials.The School for Moral Ambition embraces diversity and inclusion, welcoming applicants of all races, religions, gender identities, sexual orientations, ages, national origins, abilities, and other diverse backgrounds.

Fellows may work on a variety of projects depending on their background, including writing evidence-based studies and position papers, engaging with policymakers, coalition-building or networking to further their careers post-fellowship.

Yes, fellows receive expert guidance at their placement organizations and have the opportunity to listen to inspiring guest speakers, enhancing their learning and professional development during the fellowship. SMA will also provide the fellows with independent professional coaching to facilitate the career change.

The 2026 Fellowships focus on 3 key themes (food, tax, tobacco) across 4 programs: Tobacco-Free Future (EU), Tax Fariness (Global), Food Transition (EU) and Food System Reform (US).

Previous backgrounds included consultants, researchers, medical doctors, laywers, marketeers, NGO leaders, entrepeneurs and lobbyists / advocates. However, we welcome candidates from various backgrounds with relevant work experience and transferable skills related to the fellowship program.

During their six-month placement, fellows receive continuous support from their host organization and the fellowship program. This includes professional guidance, mentorship, and regular cohort meetings to discuss progress and share learnings.

Some fellows can stay at their host organisation after the fellowship, but there is no guarantee for that. Other fellows can apply to jobs in NGO's, thinktank or lobby organisations. Some fellows start their own NGO after the fellowship.

Yes, it is possible that you get rejected on one of the application rounds. However, we welcome you to apply for our Moral Ambition Fellowship in the future. We also encourage you to select more than one fellowship programs when applying, as this increases the chances of being selected for the program that is a better fit.

Moral Ambition Circles are for anyone determined to improve lives by tackling the world’s most critical challenges. Whether you’re taking your first big step toward impact or already leading at a high level and know you can contribute more, a Circle gives you the structured, peer‑led support to turn moral ambition into measurable results.Participants commit to eight sessions of 2–3 hours each, plus roughly 2–3 hours of preparation before every meeting.

Initially, the program focuses primarily on donation potential: participants pledge to donate at least 50% of their personal proceeds if they exit their company. This emphasis was chosen because we identified a lack of available capital for high-impact initiatives during the first year of SMA's existence. However, we are definitely open to founders building direct impact ventures — startups that create positive change themselves.

We believe these are the most powerful levers for systemic change, policy can shift institutions, and entrepreneurship drives innovation and can create funding sources at scale

Professionals allowed to work in the EU, U.S., Canada, or the U.K., preferably with experience in tax law, economics, or communications.

The fellowship includes 1 month of intensive training and 6 months of full-time paid placement. Training will cover tax justice fundamentals, advocacy strategies, and network-building for impact.

For any remaining questions about the US Food Systems Reform Fellowship, please contact AJ Kroboth (aj@moralambition.org)

For any remaining questions about the Global Tax Fairness Fellowship, please contact Omezzine Khelifa (omezzine@moralambition.org)

We collaborate with host organisations in Europe, the US, and Canada. You will be placed based on the regions where you are legally allowed to work.

Fellows will be placed in leading organizations working on global tax justice. Projects may involve policy advocacy, research, communications campaigns, or building coalitions for a global wealth tax.

We review applications on a rolling basis, so we recommend applying as early as possible. The early application deadline is June 23, 2025.

U.S. citizens or permanent residents who want to make a career shift into food system reform.

Projects may include state-level food policy reform, reshaping food systems to promote environmental sustainability, improve public health, and enhance animal welfare.

You can contact Jacintha Baas from our partner organisation AIM: jacintha@charityentrepreneurship.com

It includes a short form, intro interview, test task, and partner interview. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Highly ambitious builders ready to launch a high-growth tech company and want to donate a portion of future exit proceeds to effective charities. We welcome technical talent, founders, and domain experts from across the world.

All founders pledge to donate at least 50% of their personal proceeds over $900K from a future exit to effective charities.

We provide a 3-month stipend, cover flights and housing during the in-person phase, and connect you to aligned capital. We do not take equity.

The Founding to Give Program is operated by Ambitious Impact (AIM), in partnership with the School for Moral Ambition (SMA). AIM leads program design, selection, and delivery; SMA supports outreach.

The next program starts January 5, 2026. The first month is in-person, followed by two months remote.

After the incubator phase, participants can continue to receive mentorship and may connect with networks that provide seed funding, ongoing advice, and community support.

By signing up on our community platform — you can do that via this link: https://community.moralambition.org/signup.

Once you're in, you can:

• Explore the Requests Page to offer or ask for support
• Join events that spark action and reflection
• Discover and connect with members working on similar topics
• Share your own project and story through your profile

No, you don’t — although you’re welcome to. You can choose to rotate the host role, so that each member takes a turn facilitating a session. This not only eases the pressure on the Circle starter, but also gives everyone a chance to contribute in a meaningful way.

To help you find what you’re looking for, we invite you to post your request on the Requests page of our community platform. It’s the place where morally ambitious people come together to exchange support, ideas, and meaningful connections.You can use the page to ask for advice, look for a collaborator, seek a connection, or offer support yourself.

We would love to welcome you to our Community Platform — the space where ambitious idealists from around the world come together to connect and collaborate. Once you're in, you can:Explore the Requests Page to offer or ask for supportJoin events (online and offline) that spark action and reflectionDiscover and connect with members working on similar topicsShare your own project and story through your profile. You can sign up here.

We regularly post open roles on our vacancies page. Explore what’s currently available via this link. Nothing that fits your talents or wishes? Join or start a Moral Ambition Circle to connect with other community members who are looking for their best way to make a difference. You can read more about the program here or explore it through our community onboarding.

We support high-growth, tech-enabled startups, with or without direct impact. We’re particularly excited about healthtech, edtech, emerging markets, and fintech ideas.

No. Most participants start without a team or idea. The program helps you find cofounders and explore promising ideas during the first phase.

If you want to start a Circle, the first step is to complete the Circle Starter Training. This training helps you internalize the material and prepares you to confidently guide your own Circle. Also, you will connect with other Circle starters from around the globe! Once you've completed the training, you'll be invited to the Circle Pioneer Club — a dedicated sub-community on our platform where Circle starters connect and support each other.

We use all feedback to continuously improve the Circle program. In fact, we're already on the third version — shaped by the insights and experiences of those who came before you.

Absolutely! There are countless challenges worth working on. To help you focus your efforts, we use the SSS framework — Sizable, Solvable, and Sorely Overlooked — to guide you in identifying which global problem you might take on. As a Circle participant, you’ll gain access to all related materials and recommendations.

The program consists of 3 modules, each with three sessions. We recommend planning 2 to 3 weeks between each session. However, there are also optional extra sessions you can add — so you’re free to extend the journey if you like.

On average, preparing for a session takes about 2 to 3 hours — and we ask that you take this seriously. If you’re also leading the session, add roughly another hour for facilitation. The sessions themselves last between 2 and 3 hours.

Yes. Circles are grounded in the “5 C’s”: Confidentiality, Commitment, Curiosity, Courage, and Challenge. These principles are essential to building a safe and supportive space. Throughout the program, you'll regularly reflect on them, and various exercises are designed to strengthen the 5 C’s within your group.

No. The School for Moral Ambition is a non-profit foundation that offers the program free of charge. Leading a Circle is a voluntary commitment — it’s not a paid role.

The School for Moral Ambition is primarily funded by significant donations from individuals and grants from foundations. Additionally, we receive smaller contributions from individuals, income from paid talks and workshops, contributions from host organizations partaking in the fellowship program, as well as valuable in-kind contributions. Read more about how we are funded.

All royalties from the book and from Rutger Bregman's lectures on the book go to The School for Moral Ambition. You can find the contract between Rutger’s BV and Stichting School for Moral Ambition here.

Yes — the school offers a comprehensive curriculum free of charge. It includes a guide and slide decks for all sessions of the program. This serves as the foundation for your Circle meetings. Of course, you’re free to adapt and personalize it — it’s your process!

We’ve chosen a model that gives everyone free access to all materials. This way, we keep the threshold for participation as low as possible — so anyone who feels called can join.

The School for Moral Ambition was founded by Rutger Bregman (author of the book Moral Ambition), Julia van Boven (Community Director), Harald Dunnink (Creative Director), and Jan-Willem van Putten (Fellowship Director).

We truly appreciate it when participants share their experiences. After each session, you'll have the opportunity to provide your feedback. Your insights help us enhance the Circle program for everyone involved.

No, we don’t. We did receive positive feedback from students who have completed the Moral Ambition Circle program. Are you a student interested in joining? You're very welcome to try it — and we’d love to hear about your experience! Please start by joining the Moral Ambition Community. Here you can find more morally ambitious students - and others!

First, create an account on our platform via this link https://community.moralambition.org/signup. Then, we recommend joining a Community Onboarding Session to get started.If you decide to start your own Circle, the next step is to complete the Circle Starter Training. This training gives you everything you need to confidently guide your own Circle.After completing the training, you will be ready to start your Circle — and you will get access to our Circle Pioneers Club: a dedicated space on the platform with events, exclusive resources, and a private forum to support and inspire each other.

When putting your Circle together, we recommend considering two things: location — can you meet in person? — and the ambition level of the people you invite. It helps if you're on the same page when it comes to your drive and goals.

As a Circle Starter, you're generally responsible for finding your own location.The ideal space is quiet, enclosed, and allows you to sit in a real Circle—ideally with access to a screen.Here are some tips for finding a good location:At your workplace: Ask if you can use a meeting room in the evenings.Rotate weekly: Host the first session at your home, then ask others to take turns hosting.Community spaces: Libraries or neighborhood centers often offer affordable rooms for social initiatives.Commercial venues: Some professional meeting spaces offer discounts for initiatives with social impact.

Join the Moral Ambition Community Platform and either start or join a Moral Ambition Circle—a peer‑led group of six to eight ambitious idealists who help one another turn moral ambition into action. The platform gives you step‑by‑step resources to organise your Circle and connects you with members who share your drive for impact. Create your profile and get started!

We encourage everyone within their own company or organization to pursue their moral ambition. Learning more about moral ambition can be done by reading the book Moral Ambition and by participating in Moral Ambition Circles. For now, we are not entering into direct collaborations, but this may change in the future.

For questions not addressed in the FAQ, you can contact us directly at fellowship@moralambition.org. We also periodically host webinars during the application period.

We work in accordance of applicable legislation in this area, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Furthermore, we handle the personal data of participants and stakeholders with care.

The book is currently available in 16 languages. You can buy the book at your favorite book retailer.

Check the book page to find out where to buy the book in your language.

Translation rights have been sold to 26 countries and counting.

Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn.

For contributions to lectures or events, we recommend emailing us at info@moralambition.org.

We have published our policy plan in accordance with ANBI regulations on our website moreleambitie.nl. Annual reports will also be published here with the first one in June 2025.

For substantive questions or comments about the book, you can email post@decorrespondent.nl.

The fellowship program carefully matches fellows with host organisations to ensure alignment of goals and skills. Fellows are integrated into their teams with planned orientations and are supported throughout their placement to maximize both their impact and their learning experience.

The topics were chosen through an extensive research process using the Impact-Neglectedness-Tractability framework, supplemented by assessing whether a small cohort of talented individuals could make a significant impact. These topics were identified as both urgent and actionable, where focused efforts could lead to meaningful change.

We strive to mobilize talented individuals to address the greatest global challenges. Also see our seven core principles.

For complaints, it's best to contact The School for Moral Ambition directly via info@moralambition.org.

We work according to our seven principles. These guide how we interact with each other.

During the training program Fellows will be able to interact with experts in the field. In the placement period Fellows work together during regular cohort meetings where they discuss learnings and attend seminars. Through their placement organizations they will get the opportunity to interact with experts in the field.

Fellows undergo a one-month intensive training from top trainers, learning about effective advocacy, the specific problem area they will work on, and receiving lessons from the best guest speakers in the industry. There will be an on-site week in The Netherlands, two weeks of group-research and a final week of on-site training in Brussels. The curriculum is designed to prepare them to be effective leaders in their respective fields. Learning will continue during the placements at host organisations through weekly exchanges and lectures on Fridays.

The program is aimed at people with around 8 years of work experience. Five years of relevant work experience is the minimum required.

Within the EU Fellows receive a monthly salary of 3800 gross per month, financial assistance in case of temporary relocation, professional guidance, and the opportunity to work on impactful projects at influential NGOs or think tanks. They also gain invaluable networking opportunities and one month of skill training that prepare them for continued careers in their chosen fields.