About this opportunity
The Fortis Society has opened applications for its 2027 fellowship cohort, the route through which new members join the Society. Fellows spend five months building relationships with other fellows, working with an assigned mentor and taking part in professional learning workshops, then gather in Medellín for two days of cohort programming followed by the Fortis Summit in June 2027. After the Summit, fellows become members of the Society.
The programme asks for nothing in fees. Applying costs nothing, the fellowship costs nothing, and the cohort days and the Summit are funded for fellows. Between January and June the commitment is two to four hours of monthly virtual sessions and mentorship, designed around people who already hold a demanding job, then four full days in Medellín.
Fortis evaluates every application against the same four pillars and weighs what you have done against what you had to work with. The Society looks for people from low income backgrounds who built their own way, who are building work that makes other people's lives better, who have already started at the scale they describe, and who are generous with introductions, knowledge and their time. It is open to all sectors, with a deliberate goal of a cross sector cohort, and it strongly encourages people in the arts, education, government and healthcare to apply.
What you receive
- A five month fellowship from January to June 2027 built around peer relationships rather than a course
- A pairing with an existing Fortis member as a mentor
- Professional learning workshops and two to four hours of monthly virtual sessions
- Two days of cohort programming in Medellín, followed by the Fortis Summit in June 2027
- The cohort days and the Summit are funded for fellows, with no application fee and no cost for the fellowship
- Membership of the Fortis Society after the Summit, part of a network that runs on introductions and shared knowledge
- A cross sector cohort, with the Society open to all sectors and encouraging applicants from the arts, education, government and healthcare
Who can apply
- Anyone from humble beginnings with the ambition to have a significant, positive impact can apply
- No nomination or institutional endorsement is needed, and a nomination from a member does not replace an application
- Every candidate, nominated or not, submits the same application and is assessed against the same four pillars
- Open to all sectors, with a goal of a cross sector cohort
- Open to any amount of work experience, though new cohorts tend to include people with one to five years of full time work experience
- No degree requirement, the application is designed for people who took different routes into their careers
- The programme language is English
- The fellowship includes four full days of in person programming in Medellín, Colombia in June 2027
Who should not apply
- A nomination does not substitute for an application, so nominated candidates must still apply in full
- There is no funded cash grant, stipend or project budget attached to the fellowship
- The Society does not publish an education requirement, and an academic qualification is not a route to selection
- Applicants should expect to give up to four hours a month online between January and June 2027 plus four full days in Medellín, so candidates who cannot attend the cohort days cannot take up the place
Documents to prepare
- A resume or portfolio, in whichever format best shows your work so far
- Three short written answers about where you started and where you are going
- A two minute introduction video filmed on a laptop or a phone
- Availability for a virtual interview with the recruitment committee if you are shortlisted
How to apply
- Read the fellowship page on the Fortis Society site and note the four pillars the committee scores every application against.
- Prepare a resume or portfolio that shows the work you have actually done, since the Society weighs results against the resources you had.
- Draft three short written answers on where you started and where you are going, covering your background, the change you want to make and how you help others.
- Film a two minute introduction on a laptop or phone.
- Submit the full application through https://form.fortissociety.org/apply before the close on 8 November 2026, allowing the two to three hours most people spend on it.
- If shortlisted, take part in the virtual interview between November and December 2026, using the short guide the Society sends beforehand.
Selection process
- Stage one, Application: every application is evaluated against the four pillars by members of the Society, and most people spend two to three hours completing it.
- Stage two, Interview: shortlisted candidates speak with the recruitment committee between November and December 2026, with a short guide sent in advance so candidates know what the interview covers.
- Stage three, Final decision: membership decisions are communicated by the end of January 2027, and Fortis states that every candidate receives an answer, including those not selected.
- New fellows are then matched with a member as a mentor and the fellowship journey begins.
Sources and verification
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Questions applicants ask
When do Fortis Society Fellowship applications close for the 2027 cohort?
The Society lists 8 November 2026 as the application deadline for the 2027 cohort, with membership decisions communicated by the end of January 2027.
Does the fellowship cost anything?
No. Fortis states there is nothing to apply and nothing for the fellowship, and that the cohort days and the Summit are funded for fellows.
Do I need to be nominated by a member?
No. Fortis welcomes nominations from current members and peer organisations to reach more sectors, but a nomination does not replace an application and every candidate is assessed against the same four pillars.
Do I need a degree to apply?
No. There is no education requirement, and the Society designed the application to work for people who took various routes to build their careers.
Is the fellowship open to applicants in Africa?
Yes. The programme is not restricted by country and is open to anyone from humble beginnings with the ambition to have a significant, positive impact. The in person cohort days and Summit take place in Medellín, Colombia in June 2027.
What does the application ask for?
A resume or portfolio, three short written answers about where you started and where you are going, a two minute introduction video filmed on a laptop or phone, and a virtual interview for shortlisted candidates.
How much time does the fellowship take?
From January to June the commitment is two to four hours of monthly virtual sessions and mentorship, then four full days in Medellín for the cohort programming and the Summit.
Important disclaimer
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