The Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program is a five-month residential fellowship run by the National Endowment for Democracy through its International Forum for Democratic Studies in Washington, D.C. It brings democracy practitioners, journalists, civil society leaders, and scholars to work on an independent project concerning democratic development in a country or region.
Practitioner fellows examine strategies and practice, while scholarly fellows conduct original research intended for publication. Fellows also join seminars, exchanges, and professional activities and complete a written or audiovisual product and a formal presentation.
Benefits & funding
- Monthly stipend intended to cover a furnished short-term rental, food, local transport, and other living necessities.
- Basic health insurance and roundtrip travel to and from Washington, D.C.
- Fully equipped office, research assistance, and a limited budget for professional travel within the United States.
- Support does not ordinarily cover dependents’ travel, living costs, or health insurance.
Eligibility
- Citizens of any country may apply; applicants must be proficient in English and propose a project on the political, social, economic, legal, or cultural aspects of democratic development.
- Practitioner-track applicants need substantial practical experience promoting democracy or human rights and are expected to be mid-career; the track has no specific degree requirement or age limit.
- Scholarly-track applicants must hold a doctorate or academic equivalent, have a publication record, and submit a detailed research outline.
- Applicants must be available for full-time residence in Washington, D.C., for either October 1–February 28 or March 1–July 31 and may not hold another job or fellowship during that period.
- Former Reagan-Fascell fellows cannot apply again. Applicants who need J-1 sponsorship cannot have participated in a J-1 research scholar program during the preceding 24 months.
Can you apply?
Open to all applicants
No nationality, residency, education, or experience limits are listed.
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Application process
- 1Create an account in the Reagan-Fascell online application portal.
- 2Select the practitioner or scholarly track and provide the requested applicant information.
- 3Submit an English-language project proposal, letters of recommendation, resume or CV, and biography.
- 4Review the certification and submit the completed online application.
Program timeline
January 14, 2026
Extended application deadline for the 2026–2027 cycle.
End of July or early August 2026
Applicants for the 2026–2027 cycle notified of the result.
Later in 2026
Applications for the 2027–2028 cycle expected to open; no exact date is published.
Fall fellowship session.
October 1, 2026–February 28, 2027
Spring fellowship session.
March 1–July 31, 2027