Applications are now open for the Obama Foundation Leaders Program’s 2027–2028 cohort. This eight-month virtual leadership development journey targets emerging leaders aged 24 to 45 who are driving positive change in their communities across Africa, the Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the United States.
Launched in Africa in 2018 and later expanded to Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the United States, the program has engaged more than 1,800 changemakers worldwide. Graduates join the Obama Foundation’s Leadership Network, a growing community of alumni focused on tangible solutions to major challenges.
What the Program Offers
The Leaders Program is free for all selected participants. It is not a cash fellowship, stipend, or project grant, there is no financial support for participants’ individual work. Instead, it provides structured leadership development, peer connection, and access to a global network.
Participants commit an average of 8–12 hours per month. Core elements include:
· Weekly virtual group sessions focused on values-based leadership, practical tools, and systems-level thinking.
· Collaborative peer-led spaces and community groups for reflection and relationship-building.
· Individualized leadership coaching.
· Conversations with thought leaders and cultural programming that highlights regional diversity.
The curriculum draws from the Foundation’s “Hope to Action” approach. It emphasizes leading with values, cultivating relationships, engaging diverse perspectives, and driving lasting systems change. Sessions are adapted by region while maintaining a shared foundation. The 2027–2028 cycle is expected to run from around the week of September 1, 2027, through no later than May 1, 2028, with planned breaks. Exact dates may shift.
Upon completion, Leaders join the broader Obama Leadership Network, gaining ongoing opportunities for connection, events, and collaboration with alumni across regions.
The program is delivered virtually. While an in-person graduation is being explored, no in-person convenings are guaranteed during the core program period.
Who Should Apply
The Foundation seeks values-driven changemakers from public, private, and civil society sectors. Ideal candidates:
· Have a clear issue focus and can describe or measure their impact.
· Hold a leadership role in their changemaking work (full-time or volunteer; no specific title or rank required).
· Demonstrate an ethical, collaborative, equitable approach to leadership.
· Are willing to learn from and contribute to a diverse peer group.
There is no formal education requirement. Work in rural or smaller-scale settings is welcome—selection prioritizes depth and meaningfulness of impact over scale.
Key eligibility criteria
· Age 24–45 on or around September 1, 2027 (exact framing can vary slightly by region; confirm on the official site).
· At least three years of relevant experience in the issue area.
· Professional proficiency in English.
· Residence in an eligible country or territory in one of the four regions for the duration of the program, meeting citizenship, permanent residency, refugee/asylum, or long-term residence criteria (typically at least the last five years).
· Geographic focus of the applicant’s work on positive change within the relevant region, with a commitment to continue that focus.
· Ability to fully participate (roughly 8–12 hours per month of required sessions plus coaching and community groups). Missing more than a limited number of core sessions can affect status.
· Agreement not to run as a candidate in an electoral campaign from acceptance through the program’s end (around May 1, 2028).
· No prior participation in an Obama Foundation Leaders program (alumni of other Foundation programs may apply). Applicants may apply to only one regional cohort.
ApplicationTimeline
· Applications opened: November 9, 2026.
· Priority deadline: November 23, 2026.
· Final deadline: December 4, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. U.S. Central Time.
· Applications after the priority deadline are reviewed only as space allows.
· Selection announcements are expected in the summer of 2027.
How to Apply
The application is submitted online via the Foundation’s portal with Link provided 👉 Here. It typically involves written responses about leadership experience and impact, short video components, and references. Prepare thoughtful, specific examples that illustrate values-based leadership and measurable or meaningful outcomes.
Why It Matters
In a polarized and complex world, the program deliberately brings together people with different viewpoints, sectors, and lived experiences. The goal is not consensus on every issue but stronger capacity to lead across difference, build coalitions, and pursue durable progress. Alumni work spans democracy and civic engagement, health, education, climate and environment, economic opportunity, human rights, and more.
For emerging leaders who already have a track record of impact and want to sharpen their practice, expand their network, and join a community committed to values-driven change, the 2027–2028 cohort represents a significant opportunity. The program is selective, the time commitment is real, and it offers no direct funding but the combination of structured learning, coaching, peer community, and lifelong network access has proven valuable to many previous participants.
If you meet the criteria and feel aligned with the program’s emphasis on ethical, collaborative, systems-oriented leadership, the priority deadline of November 23, 2026, is approaching quickly. Review the official eligibility details carefully, gather strong examples of your work, and apply through the Foundation’s site.
Editors Note
Sources for this post are drawn primarily from the Obama Foundation’s official Leaders Program pages, press releases, and regional FAQs as of November 11, 2026.
