Ashoka
Ashoka Fellows
Ashoka Fellows are the world's leading social entrepreneurs. They tackle the deep-rooted causes of the issues that define our time: social mobility, climate change, criminal justice, mental health, human rights, and much more.
The selection process
Becoming an Ashoka Fellow requires one of the most rigorous processes in the social sector. Every candidate is evaluated against five core criteria: the novelty and systemic potential of their idea; their capacity as an entrepreneur; the social impact they achieve; their ethical fibre; and their potential to shape their field at scale.
The process moves through multiple stages: from nomination and local site visits, through independent review by a senior evaluator, to a panel of leading social and business entrepreneurs, and finally a decision by Ashoka's global Board.
Once elected, the social innovator receives a 3-year stipend, strategic support and connections, and becomes part of a global Fellowship for life.
Meet our Fellows in the UK & Ireland
Ashoka Fellows open entirely new fields of possibility. They identify root causes and design for scale. In fact, 72% of Ashoka Fellows globally have influenced legislative change, and nearly all have expanded their idea to other countries.
Find Ashoka Fellows
Who are Ashoka Fellows
Ashoka Fellows are the world’s leading social entrepreneurs. They champion innovative new ideas that transform society’s systems, providing benefits for everyone and improving the lives of millions of people. Ashoka Fellows define the new roadmaps that allow people to thrive in this new environment, while providing solutions and demonstrating the how-tos. They are the ultimate role models in today’s world.