US Food System Reform Fellowship — Fellowship

The US Food System Reform Fellowship moves experienced professionals into organisations working to change how food is produced and regulated in the United States. It is run by the School for Moral Ambition, a non-profit foundation started in Amsterdam in 2024 by historian Rutger Bregman and four co-founders, with further offices in Brussels and New York.

The 2026 cohort is the school’s first US programme and runs ten months. Fundraising training and fundraising fill June to August, a month of training follows in September, and a six-month placement at a host organisation runs from October to March.

The funding model is the unusual part. The school does not pay for this fellowship out of its own budget: each fellow raises roughly $70,000, and that money then pays the fellow’s own stipend and the support around the placement. Training, coaching and introductions to funders come with the programme.

Benefits & funding

Stipend of about $10,000 a month for fellows who successfully fund their placement.
The roughly $70,000 raised covers the fellow’s own stipend and the support infrastructure during the placement phase.
Intensive fundraising training, coaching on how to use personal networks, introductions to aligned funders, and support through the fundraising months.
One week of training with the whole cohort in the Netherlands in early September, expenses paid by the school.
Three further weeks of US-based training in September.
A six-month placement inside a US food system reform organisation, on live work from the start. Host organisations named on the page include the Environmental Working Group, the State Innovation Exchange, the Plant Based Foods Institute, Tailored Food and BITE.
Career support and continued access to the network after the placement; the school reports that 80 percent of its first EU cohort stayed in the field they entered.
Not covered: the June to August fundraising months are unpaid, and health insurance is left to the fellow to arrange.

Eligibility

At least five years of professional experience, in marketing or communications, public relations, strategy consulting, finance, economics or public policy.
Residing in the United States and eligible to work there. The programme’s FAQ describes the intake as US citizens or permanent residents, and the school sponsors no visas.
English at C1 level or above.
No degree requirement — selection weighs skills rather than credentials.
No food or agriculture background needed. The programme is built as a career switch and assesses transferable skills.
Relocation might not be required; fellows may be placed across the United States depending on their project.
One programme per round: an applicant cannot apply to the EU fellowships and the US fellowship at the same time.

Can you apply?

Here's who can apply

Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.

Residence required
USA
Experience required
≥ 5 yrs

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Application process

1
Submit the online application from the fellowship page before the deadline.
2
Go through the selection rounds in May, which test transferable skills rather than sector credentials.
3
Receive the outcome; offers go out by 28 May.
4
Join the intensive virtual fundraising training in the week of 8 June, then raise the placement funding through August.
5
Complete the September training month: one week with the cohort in the Netherlands, three weeks in the United States.
6
Start the six-month host organisation placement in October.

Program timeline

Application deadline
Apr 27, 2026
Selection rounds
May 2026
Offers issued
May 28, 2026
Week of 8 June 2026
Fundraising training begins; fundraising runs to the end of August
Training month — one week in the Netherlands, three weeks in the United States
September 2026
Six-month placement at the host organisation
October 2026 – March 2027
Career support after the placement
April 2027