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Invest in Yourself. Invest in Your Community.
The Initiators Fellowship is a bold strategy that gives next-generation leaders the tools and resources to accelerate their entrepreneurial and leadership skills. Check out this two-year program to build your business and leadership capacity for the greater good of Greater Minnesota.
Broad-Based Support for Transformational Leaders
About The Fellowship
The program provides wrap-around training, mentoring and guidance—plus $30,000 annually for two years—to support Fellows and their social enterprise ideas to improve Greater Minnesota communities.
Am I Eligible?
The Initiators Fellowship is geared toward up-and-coming leaders and entrepreneurs served by the Initiative Foundation, Northwest Minnesota Foundation, Southwest Initiative Foundation and West Central Initiative.
How Do I Apply?
The application for the Initiators Fellowship cohort is now closed. We will begin recruiting for the 2026-2027 cohort in the spring of 2025.
Minnesota Initiative Foundation Regions Served
The Initiative Foundation serves 14 counties and two native nations in Central Minnesota: Benton, Cass, Chisago, Crow Wing, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pine, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd, Wadena and Wright counties and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.
The Southwest Initiative Foundation serves 18 counties and two native nations in southwest Minnesota: Big Stone, Cottonwood, Chippewa, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Swift and Yellow Medicine counties and the Lower Sioux Indian Community and Upper Sioux Community.
The West Central Initiative serves nine counties and one tribal nation in west central Minnesota: Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse and Wilkin counties and the White Earth Nation.
Investing in a Lifetime of Greater Minnesota Leadership
Regional Foundations United in Goal to Enrich Greater Minnesota