The Hurford Youth Fellows Program at the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) selects up to three emerging youth leaders from around the world for a four-month fellowship in Washington, DC, from 1 May to 31 August 2027. Fellows receive a monthly stipend, basic health insurance and roundtrip economy-class travel, and applications close on 30 November 2026. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the full call so the eligibility rules, project requirements and deadlines are all in one place.
What the Hurford Youth Fellowship Is
The Hurford Youth Fellows Program equips emerging democracy leaders from around the world with the skills, networks and practical tools to turn youth energy into democratic change. Over four months in Washington, DC, fellows explore new ideas, initiatives and innovations, share experiences and lessons learned with activists from other countries, and contribute to the global youth movement for democracy. If you are new to this format, our guide explains what a fellowship is and how it differs from a scholarship.
The International Forum for Democratic Studies at NED runs the programme with the generous support of the Hurford Foundation.
Why the Programme Exists
Young people are helping to shape the struggle for democracy around the world. From Peru and Nepal to Madagascar, Morocco, Bangladesh, Kenya, Georgia and Serbia, youth activists have mobilised against corruption, joblessness and political exclusion. They have brought fresh strategies to civic action, using technology and social media to amplify their concerns, organise their peers and demand change.
Yet turning that energy into concrete democratic outcomes remains a challenge. Youth movements and established civic organisations often struggle to connect their efforts, build on shared priorities and translate public demands into institutional change. The programme supports emerging leaders working to bridge this gap and create meaningful pathways for young people to influence decisions and advance democracy.
What Fellows Work On in Residence
While in residence, fellows work on projects that connect their experiences and ideas with the global challenges of democracy. They explore bold new ideas, conduct research in comparative context, pursue outreach and exchange with peers and practitioners, and lead presentations on topics including, but not limited to:
🌉 Building bridges between youth and civil society: How youth activists and civic organisations can work together to turn grassroots energy into concrete outcomes, build trust, align priorities, strengthen communications and open pathways for youth participation in political, electoral and institutional processes
🤖 Technology and democracy: How to harness artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to deliver democratic results and ensure technology serves rather than undermines democracy
Fellowship Dates and Number of Places
📅 Dates: 1 May to 31 August 2027
⏱️ Duration: Four months
👥 Places: Up to three fellows are selected
📍 Location: Washington, DC, United States
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Who Can Apply
NED invites emerging youth leaders from around the world to apply.
🎂 Age: Applicants must be 30 years of age or younger
🗳️ Commitment and experience: You must show a commitment to, and experience in, advancing youth participation in democracy
🏛️ Especially encouraged: Leaders affiliated with civic organisations, human rights groups and initiatives working to strengthen democracy
The Fellowship Project
Fellows pursue a project addressing a democratic challenge in their country or region and its implications for young people. Projects may explore the political, social, economic, legal or cultural dimensions of democracy and draw on a range of methods and innovative approaches. They should reflect your interests and expertise. A study of, or comparison with, democracy in the United States is not expected.
A central feature of the programme is closer collaboration with the staff of NED and its core institutes, alongside an emphasis on the transnational implications of your work. Applicants should consider how their ideas, experiences and strategies inform civic action in other countries and regions.
In consultation with Fellowships staff and other NED colleagues, fellows develop a tailored plan of action focused on a key challenge, such as countering authoritarian influence, navigating the opportunities and risks of digital technology, or translating youth mobilisation into democratic gains. The work should identify practical approaches and explore how lessons from one context might apply elsewhere.
What You Produce and How You Are Supported
NED staff work with fellows to refine their project's focus, scope and intended outcome. Each fellow must complete at least one product, such as an article, handbook, toolkit, podcast, tech tool or video. Products may be created in English or another language.
Fellows take part in seminars, roundtables, field trips and other activities that help them:
🏢 Learn about NED: Understand NED and its core institutes
🧭 Explore new approaches: Examine pressing challenges and new ways of advancing democracy
🌐 Connect in Washington and beyond: Meet government, civil society, academic and media communities
🤝 Exchange ideas: Build relationships with the other fellows
Financial Support
💵 Monthly stipend: Covers living expenses, calculated for a short-term furnished rental apartment, food, local transportation and other necessities
🩺 Health insurance: Basic health insurance coverage
✈️ Travel: Roundtrip economy-class travel to and from Washington, DC, at the beginning and end of the fellowship
👨👩👧 Family members: Fellows who bring family members are responsible for their dependents' roundtrip travel and living expenses in the United States
Guidelines for Using Generative AI in Your Application
The application is your opportunity to present your unique project idea and personal background in your own voice. Overreliance on AI risks masking your voice and story and including misrepresentations or inaccuracies, and excessive reliance on AI may make you a less competitive candidate.
🚫 Prohibited: Wholesale copying and pasting of AI-generated answers into your application
✅ Acceptable: Limited use of AI for generating ideas, editorial guidance and translation, as long as it does not overly affect your writing style or the content of your application
NED prioritises applications that show original ideas and authentic voices. Our guide on using AI to write your motivation letter explains where the line sits.
How to Apply
Create an account in the NED online application system and submit your application there. Recommendation letters have a separate, later deadline from the application itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the Hurford Youth Fellows Program?
It lasts four months, from 1 May to 31 August 2027, and takes place in Washington, DC.
How many fellows are selected?
Up to three fellows are selected for the 2027 fellowship.
What is the age limit?
Applicants must be 30 years of age or younger and must show commitment to, and experience in, advancing youth participation in democracy.
What financial support do fellows receive?
Each fellow receives a monthly stipend for living expenses, basic health insurance coverage and roundtrip economy-class travel to and from Washington, DC. The call does not state the stipend amount.
Do I have to study democracy in the United States?
No. A study of, or comparison with, democracy in the United States is not expected. Your project should address a democratic challenge in your own country or region and its implications for young people.
What must I produce during the fellowship?
Each fellow completes at least one product, such as an article, handbook, toolkit, podcast, tech tool or video, in English or another language.
When are the deadlines?
Applications close on 30 November 2026, and recommendation letters are due on 4 December 2026.
Deadline
⏳ 30 November 2026
Links
🔗 Online application system: https://hurford.nedfellowships.org/Home/Hurford
🌐 Programme page: https://www.ned.org/fellowships/hurford-youth-fellows-program/
✉️ Questions: fellowships@ned.org
