If you work on democracy, human rights, journalism, civic tech, or civic mobilization — or you study these fields at an advanced level — the Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellowship at the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) in Washington, D.C., is one of the world’s most prestigious and practical fellowships. It gives mid-career practitioners and scholars five months in residence to research, write, network, and incubate ideas that strengthen democracy — with living support, research assistance, an office, and deep access to NED’s global networks. The 2026–27 competition is open to applicants worldwide.
What the Reagan-Fascell Fellowship is?
Named after Ronald Reagan and Congressman Dante Fascell, the Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellowship is an international exchange program run by the National Endowment for Democracy’s International Forum for Democratic Studies. It brings together practitioners (activists, NGO leaders, journalists, policy practitioners) and scholars for a five-month residential period in Washington, D.C., to conduct independent research or to refine practical strategies for democratic development. Fellows write or create a final substantive product (report, toolkit, article, podcast, etc.) and share their findings in a formal presentation at the program’s close.
The program is now framed as a “Democracy Accelerator”: rather than a scattershot fellowship, NED aims to build a tightly curated cohort with diverse but complementary expertise to incubate ideas that can be applied transnationally. Fellows also benefit from seminars, roundtables, and tailored study visits.
Who can apply
Two application tracks
The program accepts applications under two distinct tracks. Choose whichever matches your background.
Practitioner Track
- Intended for mid-career professionals working in democracy, human rights, civil-society, activism, journalism, public advocacy, etc.
- No formal degree requirement — a PhD is not required.
- Applicants should have substantial practical experience in promoting democracy or human rights in their country/region of origin or interest.
Scholarly Track
- Designed for scholars, researchers, academics, public intellectuals (professors, think-tank analysts, writers, etc.) from around the world — including established democracies.
- Must hold a doctorate (Ph.D. or equivalent) at the time of application.
- Must have a demonstrable record of publication or scholarly output in relevant fields.
- Must submit a detailed research outline for their proposed fellowship project.
Shared eligibility criteria (both tracks)
All applicants — regardless of track — must satisfy the following conditions:
- Proficiency in English: application must be in English; fellows must have good command of English (reading, writing, speaking) since the fellowship involves research, writing and communication in English.
- Project focus on democracy-related issues: Proposal should address political, social, economic, legal, or cultural aspects of democratic development.
- Full-time residency: You must be available to live and work in residence at NED’s International Forum for Democratic Studies in Washington, D.C., for the full fellowship period (five months).
- No concurrent fellowships/jobs: During the fellowship period, you must not hold other fellowships or full-time jobs.
- Not a student in degree-granting program: The fellowship is not meant for degree-seeking students; it’s for practitioners or scholars working on independent research/projects, not for pursuing a new degree.
- No previous participation: Former fellows of the Reagan-Fascell program are not eligible to apply again.
Visa & other legal/administrative conditions (for non-US citizens)
- Non-U.S. citizens / non-permanent residents must obtain a J-1 exchange visitor visa to participate.
- If bringing dependents, family members will need J-2 visas; fellows are responsible for their dependents’ travel and living costs.
- Applicants who have participated in a J-1 research scholar program within the previous 24 months are ineligible.
Application Process
Applying for the fellowship involves several required components, all submitted through NED’s official online system.
Here’s how to apply:
- Create an account on the NED application portal.
- Log in and fill out the application form (Applicant Information), which asks: track choice (practitioner or scholarly), session preference (fall or spring), English proficiency, prior J-1 visa history, affiliation with any NED-funded organization, other income sources, other fellowships or grants applied to, etc.
- Prepare a project proposal: according to the track you choose (there are separate project-proposal guidelines for practitioner vs. scholarly track). The proposal must outline your planned work: topic, objectives, research questions or project plan, methodology, expected output (report, article, toolkit, multimedia, etc.), and relevance to democracy.
- Provide three letters of recommendation: choose referees who know your work well, and ask them to submit candid assessments of your ability to carry out the proposed project. Letters must be in English.
- Submit résumé/CV + short biography: summarizing your professional/academic background, experience, publications (if any), and other relevant credentials.
- Certification step: at the end of the application you’ll be required to certify that all information provided is true, that you will comply with NED and visa rules, and that you’re not delinquent in any U.S. federal debt, among other conditions.
- Submit before deadline: for the 2026–27 cycle, NED has announced that the application deadline is Wednesday, December 31, 2025. Letters of recommendation must be submitted by Wednesday, January 7, 2026, 5:00 PM Eastern Time.
Once submitted, NED reviews the applications through a rigorous process (internal and external review) and finalists are selected by NED’s Board of Directors.
What Fellows Do During the Program
Being a Reagan-Fascell Fellow is an intense but rewarding five months in the U.S. capital, with access to resources, networks, and intellectual community. Typical aspects of fellowship life:
- Independent research or project work: fellows have time, space, resources and mentorship to pursue their project: policy analysis, human-rights research, civic-tech strategy, comparative governance, media analysis, etc.
- Access to the Democracy Resource Center: the DRC houses a specialized collection (~20,000 works) on democracy, civil society, media, governance, human rights — a goldmine for anyone researching political systems, rights, social movements, history or policy. Librarians onsite help with sourcing documents, archival research, bibliographies, etc.
- Networking & community building: you’ll be part of a cohort of global fellows from diverse countries and backgrounds (activists, scholars, journalists) — excellent environment for cross-regional exchange, collaborations, joint projects.
- Seminars, events, roundtables: NED organizes seminars, field trips, guest lectures, meetings with policymakers, NGOs, foundations, policymakers and international actors. These events help fellows broaden their perspectives, deepen analysis, and build relationships that matter beyond the five months.
- Final deliverable & public presentation: at the end of the fellowship, fellows present their work: article, report, toolkit, policy brief, multimedia output, etc. — designed to influence policy, civil society, media, or academic discourse.
Practical Challenges
Before applying — and if accepted — it’s important to consider some realities and challenges:
- Cost of Living vs. Stipend in Washington, D.C.
- While the fellowship provides a stipend and housing support, the cost of living in Washington, D.C. is high — rent, transportation, food, health insurance (beyond what’s covered for the fellow) and other expenses can add up. If you plan to bring dependents (partner, children), you’ll have to cover their costs yourself.
- Full-Time Residency Obligation
- The fellowship requires full-time presence in D.C. for the five-month period. That means no other jobs or fellowships, and likely putting personal or professional obligations on hold. This can be a major commitment for many.
- Intense Competition
- The program is globally competitive. With only a limited number of spots each year, many qualified applicants apply. Strong practical or scholarly experience + a compelling, realistic project + good recommendations are essential to stand out.
- Visa & Post-Fellowship Restrictions
- Non-U.S. applicants will likely be sponsored on a J-1 exchange visitor visa. There are important visa rules: if you’ve held a J-1 in the last 24 months, you may be ineligible; if you are sponsored now, after the fellowship you may be subject to a two-year home-residency requirement under U.S. law, which limits certain U.S. work or residency visas for that period.
How to Maximize Your Chances
If you’re thinking of applying for 2026–27, these strategies can help you submit a strong application:
- Start early: draft your project proposal well before the deadline, reflect on the scope and feasibility, anticipate methodological needs, and clarify what “product” you plan to deliver.
- Choose a compelling, relevant and timely topic: aim for democracy issues that are globally resonant or cross-national (digital authoritarianism, civil society resilience, diaspora politics, media freedom, democracy under pressure, transitional justice, etc.).
- For practitioners: highlight concrete experience and impact: show what you’ve already done: campaigns, projects, policy advocacy, community work, journalism, etc. Demonstrate results or lessons learned, challenges faced, and why a residency will deepen or scale your impact.
- For scholars: prepare a strong research design and publication plan: indicate methodology, comparative angle, contribution to academic or policy debates, and how the fellowship will help you complete a paper or book project.
- Get strong references: choose recommenders who know your work well (activism, scholarship, leadership), and brief them about the fellowship’s aims so their letters are tailored and specific.
- Be transparent about affiliations: NED’s application asks whether you or your organization has received NED or affiliated grants before; be honest.
- Mind visa history (if applicable): if you’ve held a J-1 visa recently, check eligibility carefully before applying; same if you plan to bring dependents.
- Use the NED resources: the Democracy Resource Center, mentorship, seminars, fellow network — these are part of your value proposition; plan early for how to leverage them.
Official Application Portal
- Official Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program page (overview, eligibility, benefits)
- “How to Apply” page (application steps, required documents, visa info)
- Fellowship calendar, stipend & support details
Conclusion
If your work sits at the intersection of practice and analysis of democratic change, the Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellowship is a rare chance to accelerate your impact. It is selective, structured, and intentionally collaborative: you’ll not only produce a product but become part of a cohort whose ideas may shape how democracy assistance and civic innovation work around the world.
Ready to apply? Start drafting a tightly scoped project proposal now, contact referees early, and create your application login at the NED fellowships portal.
