To help us get there, we identify amazing people with innovative ideas and give them a fellowship grant, project funding and a support system of like-minded individuals.
If we are deliberate about finding great people, supporting and sharing their positive approaches for social change, the world will get better, faster. That is why we are looking for social innovators who are open at heart, have a fresh perspective on addressing challenges and have a very clear idea of their role in bringing about positive change.
Learn moreOpenness is at the core of the Foundation’s experiment in the world
We wanted to understand what would happen if the values, processes and licences of the FOSS world were applied to areas outside of software. Could that provide key building blocks for further innovation? What are the conditions that optimise innovation for positive social change? How can openness add value to that process? This is at the heart of the Foundation’s contribution to the world.
Learn moreThe only true way is not a project plan but a champion
The holy grail for every funder is sustained impact - an approach continuing to influence behaviour positively long after your funding has run out. We believe people, rather than systems or organisations, are at the heart of sustaining change. The only true way is not a project plan but a champion, someone who will drive an idea through an ever changing landscape, to continue to make a real difference in the world.
That is why we invest in individuals, building a family, not a portfolio. Each fellow is passionate about a unique cause they typically pursue both before and after the fellowship. We make a conscious choice not to limit our scope because we believe in the power of a diverse network. We strive to build a community of fellows who work together across disciplines, sparked by their similarities and strengthened by their differences.
Cecilia Oliveira
Protecting lives from gun violence
Delphine Halgand-Mishra
Protecting the right to know and the duty to tell
Diarmaid McDonald
Democratising access to medicine
Felix Reda
Defending and promoting online rights
Jeni Tennison
Remodelling data governance
Shannon Dosemagen
Reforming environmental data sharing
For more information about all those previously part of the fellowship program please view our alumni.
What makes us tick
The more we share the thinking, working and practices of ourselves and our fellows, the better. Making these publicly available allows other organisations, project implementers, funders, policy makers, change agents, advocates and academics to engage - learn from what we have done, critically assess, give feedback and open the door to collaboration.
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