Deadline: 27 March 2020
The Blossom Hill Foundation is seeking applications to offer fellowships to social entrepreneurs who have developed an innovative approach, program, or product that positively impacts war-affected Middle Eastern communities, either in-country or displaced due to conflict.
Blossom Hill believes in the importance of engaging and empowering war-affected children from the Middle East. Blossom Foundation introduced their Social Entrepreneur Fellowship Program for this singular purpose: to encourage individuals to develop innovative and solution-focused initiatives that create opportunity for conflict-affected children and help to break the cycle of violence that plagues their communities.
Blossom Hills aims to further support their Fellows by connecting them to experts in the field and to each other, and by conducting site visits to support their initiatives firsthand wherever possible. Fellows are also featured prominently on the Blossom Hill website and through their global social media networks to highlight their work in the field.
Through the Fellowship Program, Blossom Hill is investing in the next generation of leaders who will play a pivotal role in the reconstruction and advancement of their own communities. At best, these solutions are informed and spearheaded by those who understand the situation intimately – individuals who hail from the region or are deeply connected to the Middle East and comprehend the multi-generational impact of war.
This is a highly competitive program. Award payments are made in two installments; the first payment is made after the initial proposal has been approved, and the second payment is made after three (3) months of implementation, contingent upon approval by the Fellow’s assigned “thought partner.
Funding Infortmation
- Fellowships are up to $50,000 a year and are renewable on a yearly basis depending on assessment and evaluation of the project’s impact.
- Fellows who demonstrate significant impact in the community and who comply with Blossom Hill’s requirements may be eligible to re-apply at nine (9) months for additional funding the following year.
Eligibility Criteria
- Blossom Hill Foundation fund programs or products that aim to positively impact the lives of communities (children, youth, families, etc.) affected by conflict and war in the Middle East.
- Initiatives can take place in the Middle East (Afghanistan, Bahrain, Northern Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syrian AR, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Yemen) or another country where war refugee populations are prevalent and are the primary program beneficiaries, i.e., Syrian refugees now displaced in Europe.
- Applicants should have significant experience and close ties with the community and culture their idea is designed to serve.
- Applicants should possess the language skills necessary for the successful implementation of their proposed initiative.
- Applicants must have a partner NGO registered as a U.S. 501(c)(3) charitable organization to serve as a fiscal sponsor.
- Applicants must reach children and youth beneficiaries ages 24 and under to qualify for funding.
Blossom Hill seeks passionate, committed individuals with innovative ideas about how to improve the lives of war-affected children from the Middle East. Foundation is looking for ambitious candidates who:
- Demonstrate an ability to succeed and commitment to social change
- Present bold, innovative and viable approaches that address an authentic need and have potential for exponential impact
- Are accessible, responsive, articulate, proactive, and take initiative to further expand their reach
Evaluation of Fellows’ Ideas
Blossom Hill’s evaluation committee is looking for the following in the proposal and work plan:
- Personal Integrity
- Commitment to Social Change
- Demonstrated Need
- Innovation
- Impact
For more information, visit https://www.blossomhill-foundation.org/fellowship.html