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BRAID (Bridgebuilders Relating Across Interfaith Differences) Fellowship – United States

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Deadline: 19-Jun-2026

The BRAID Fellowship is a leadership development program for undergraduate students in the United States who want to become interfaith bridgebuilders on their campuses and in their communities. The fellowship provides training, mentoring, fully funded retreat participation, a $2,000 stipend, and up to $1,000 in project funding for approved campus interfaith bridgebuilding initiatives. Eligible applicants must be undergraduate students at U.S.-based institutions with at least one full academic year remaining and prior participation in Interfaith America programming.

Overview

The BRAID Fellowship is a national leadership development program that equips undergraduate students across the United States to build respect, relationships, and cooperation across religious, spiritual, and worldview differences.

The fellowship helps students become interfaith bridgebuilders who can transform campus culture and strengthen community understanding.

The program is offered by Interfaith America and is formally known as the Bridgebuilders Relating Across Interfaith Differences Fellowship.

Key Fellowship Details

Purpose of the Fellowship

The purpose of the BRAID Fellowship is to prepare undergraduate students to become effective leaders in interfaith cooperation.

The fellowship supports students who want to bring people together across differences and create campus cultures rooted in respect, relationship-building, and collaboration.

Through training, mentoring, practical project implementation, and national networking, fellows develop the skills needed to lead interfaith initiatives in their institutions and communities.

Focus Areas

The BRAID Fellowship focuses on leadership, cooperation, and interfaith engagement.

Key focus areas include:

What is Interfaith Bridgebuilding?

Interfaith bridgebuilding means creating meaningful relationships and cooperation among people from different religious, spiritual, secular, and philosophical backgrounds.

It does not require participants to agree on all beliefs. Instead, it encourages respect, listening, shared action, and mutual understanding across differences.

In the BRAID Fellowship, interfaith bridgebuilding is practiced through training, dialogue, campus engagement, and student-led projects.

What the Fellowship Supports

The fellowship supports undergraduate students who want to lead practical interfaith initiatives on campus.

Supported activities may include:

Support and Benefits for Fellows

Accepted fellows receive financial, educational, and professional support throughout the fellowship.

Benefits include:

Campus Project Grant Funding

Fellows may receive up to $1,000 in grant funding to support a campus interfaith bridgebuilding project.

The project funding is subject to budget approval.

Grant funds must be used directly for approved project activities that support interfaith bridgebuilding, campus engagement, relationship-building, or cooperation across differences.

Ineligible Grant Expenses

Certain costs cannot be covered by BRAID project grant funding.

Ineligible expenses include:

Participants are responsible for following institutional requirements and any applicable tax obligations related to fellowship funding.

Who is Eligible?

The BRAID Fellowship is open to undergraduate students enrolled at institutions in the United States.

Eligible applicants must:

International students studying at U.S.-based institutions are also eligible if they intend to pursue interfaith bridgebuilding activities in the United States and comply with applicable visa requirements.

Who Should Apply?

The fellowship is best suited for students who want to strengthen campus communities through dialogue, cooperation, and inclusive leadership.

Strong applicants may include students who:

Fellowship Requirements

Selected fellows are expected to participate fully in all required activities.

Fellows must:

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit a complete application that demonstrates their interest, readiness, and project idea.

The application may include:

The application should clearly show the student’s commitment to interfaith bridgebuilding and their ability to lead a meaningful campus initiative.

How the Fellowship Works

The BRAID Fellowship combines leadership training, retreat-based learning, mentoring, peer support, and project implementation.

Fellows begin by joining an Opening Retreat in October 2026, where they receive training, build relationships, and prepare for their campus work.

During the fellowship period, participants take part in monthly virtual meetings with mentors or cohorts. These sessions help fellows strengthen their leadership skills, refine their project ideas, and learn from peers.

Fellows then design and implement a campus interfaith bridgebuilding project. This project allows them to apply what they have learned in a real campus setting.

The fellowship concludes with a Closing Retreat in May 2027, where fellows reflect on their work, present their projects, and share lessons learned.

How to Apply or Prepare

Students should prepare a clear and thoughtful application that explains their leadership interest, campus context, and project idea.

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

Applicants should first confirm that they are undergraduate students at a U.S.-based institution and have at least one full academic year remaining.

They should also confirm that they have participated in Interfaith America programming before applying.

Step 2: Reflect on Interfaith Leadership Goals

Applicants should clearly explain why interfaith leadership matters to them.

They should describe how they want to build relationships, respect, cooperation, and understanding across differences.

Step 3: Develop a Campus Project Idea

Applicants should prepare a brief proposal for a campus interfaith bridgebuilding project.

The project idea should explain:

Step 4: Prepare Short Essays

Applicants should write clear short essays that describe their interest in interfaith leadership and their readiness to participate in the fellowship.

Strong essays should be personal, specific, and connected to real campus or community needs.

Step 5: Plan for Fellowship Commitments

Applicants should make sure they can attend both in-person retreats and participate in monthly virtual meetings.

They should also be prepared to complete surveys, evaluation activities, a final project review, and a final report.

Step 6: Prepare for a Possible Interview

Selected applicants may be invited to participate in a virtual interview.

Applicants should be ready to discuss their project idea, leadership experience, commitment to interfaith cooperation, and ability to complete the fellowship requirements.

Step 7: Identify a Campus-Based Professional Reference

Applicants may be asked to provide a campus-based professional reference.

This reference should be someone who can speak to the applicant’s leadership, character, campus involvement, or readiness for interfaith bridgebuilding work.

Expected Outcomes

The fellowship is designed to create leadership and campus impact.

Expected outcomes may include:

Why the BRAID Fellowship Matters

The BRAID Fellowship matters because campuses and communities need leaders who can build trust across differences.

Religious, spiritual, and worldview diversity can be a source of learning and cooperation when students have the skills to lead dialogue and shared action.

By investing in undergraduate leaders, the fellowship helps create campus cultures where people can engage across difference with respect, curiosity, and collaboration.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid submitting a project idea that is too vague or disconnected from campus needs.

Students should not apply if they cannot attend both retreats or participate in monthly virtual meetings.

Applicants should avoid describing interfaith leadership only in general terms. Strong applications should include specific examples, motivations, and project ideas.

Students should not propose project expenses that are restricted, such as alcohol, political campaign work, lobbying, tuition, student fees, capital expenses, or endowments.

Applicants should also avoid ignoring the requirement for prior participation in Interfaith America programming.

Tips for a Strong Application

A strong application should clearly show commitment, readiness, and practical leadership potential.

Applicants should:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the BRAID Fellowship?

The BRAID Fellowship is a leadership development program by Interfaith America that trains undergraduate students in the United States to become interfaith bridgebuilders on their campuses and in their communities.

What does BRAID stand for?

BRAID stands for Bridgebuilders Relating Across Interfaith Differences.

Who can apply for the BRAID Fellowship?

Undergraduate students enrolled at U.S.-based institutions can apply if they have at least one full academic year remaining, prior participation in Interfaith America programming, and a strong commitment to interfaith leadership.

Are international students eligible?

Yes. International students studying at U.S.-based institutions are eligible if they plan to pursue interfaith bridgebuilding activities within the United States and comply with applicable visa requirements.

What funding do fellows receive?

Accepted fellows receive a $2,000 stipend, distributed in two installments. They may also receive up to $1,000 in grant funding for an approved campus interfaith bridgebuilding project.

Are travel and lodging covered?

Yes. Accepted fellows receive fully funded travel and lodging for the Opening Retreat in October 2026 and the Closing Retreat in May 2027.

What are fellows expected to do?

Fellows are expected to attend both retreats, participate in monthly virtual mentor or cohort meetings, design and facilitate a campus interfaith project, complete surveys and evaluations, present a final project review, and submit a final report.

Conclusion

The BRAID Fellowship supports undergraduate students who want to become interfaith bridgebuilders and lead positive change across differences.

Through training, retreats, mentoring, project funding, and a participation stipend, the fellowship gives students practical tools to strengthen respect, cooperation, and relationship-building on campus.

This opportunity is best suited for undergraduate students in the United States who have prior Interfaith America experience, at least one academic year remaining, and a strong commitment to building inclusive campus communities through interfaith leadership.

For more information, visit Interfaith America.

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