Ashoka
Ashoka Fellows
Ashoka Fellows are the world’s leading social entrepreneurs. They go after the root causes of the defining challenges of our time, including social mobility, climate change, criminal justice, mental health and human rights.
Fellows don’t just solve problems. They open up entirely new fields of possibility, and they design their ideas to spread. Globally, 72% of Ashoka Fellows have influenced legislative change, and nearly all have taken their idea to other countries.
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
