Entrepreneurial fellowships provide support for individuals to launch innovative new projects and organizations that will effect social change. Unlike project-based fellowships, which require that an applicant partner with an established organization, entrepreneurial fellowships fund individuals who are in the process of launching new initiatives of their own. And unlike most other fellowships discussed in this guide, entrepreneurial fellowships do not exclusively (or even predominantly) support legal advocacy work. These are opportunities for those of you that have truly bold ideas, and are willing to think big and take risks to make them a reality.
The application process for these fellowships is intense and involved, and requires applicants to explain in great detail why their idea is so exceptional and how they will implement it.
If you are committed to carrying out your idea for a public interest project but cannot find support from fellowship funders, you may want to consider raising money from other sources. You can apply for grants from foundations and corporations, or seek donations from law firms or individuals. You may be eligible for funding from more sources if you can find an existing non-profit organization to affiliate with. Vanderbilt Law School alumni have created their own non-profit organizations through creative fundraising and sheer grit! If this is the route that you wind up taking to make your public interest post-graduate dreams come true, the Foundation Center website will be a critical resource.
