Wild Gift is open to students and young professionals with United States citizenship. They may propose an international project. An applicant must be 21-30 years of age. Prior wilderness travel experience and a background in an environmental discipline are not required. The most important background experience is a record of accomplishment that reflects leadership talent.

We launch 'better world entrepreneurs' whose projects will have a life beyond Wild Gift's year of support. Because considerable time is invested in the development of each project, we select only five recipients a year. Also, a small class leads to enhanced interpersonal communication and has less impact upon the wilderness resource during the wilderness treks.  Click here to apply now.

Selection Process

Wild Gift identifies leaders who are making an impact today and will continue to do so in tomorrow's world. In making its selection, Wild Gift values ethnic, cultural and economic diversity as well as representation from both rural areas and cities. Desired abilities include an orientation to interdisciplinary thinking and action, excellent interpersonal skills and persuasive communication. The thoughtfulness, breadth and clarity of a personal vision statement is key. The most important selection criteria is a self-designed leadership action that translates vision into a practical entrepreneurial project. We are interested in new initiatives, not those associated with existing organizations. And individual projects, not group projects.

Our experience with the leaders we have supported indicates that a project already fleshed-out in the leader's mind, if not already started, is more likely to be chosen than one recently drawn together from an idea. Project work is a full-time job. Please do not apply if you are not prepared to make this commitment or see yourself in a juggling act with other life commitments that would penalize your performance or cause untimely delivery of Wild Gift's requirements during the nearly two-year Wild Gift experience.

A minimum of three references who attest the candidate's leadership is required (letters of recommendation should be emailed to Wild Gift Founder Bob Jonas at bob@wildgift.org). A selection committee consisting of the Wild Gift Executive Director, two Board members, and a Wild Gift alumni and investor will choose ten finalists. Finalists will complete a project contract and are interviewed by phone. The Wild Gift Board selects the five recipients based upon its review of the finalists and Selection Committee recommendation. Recipients will be notified the first week in May.

Calendar for Wild Gift Recipients

May - June: Notification of award; project mentoring & trek preparation
August: 20-day Deep Wilderness Trek in Idaho
September: Write final project contract
October - September (Year 2): Project field work
September (Year 2): 7-day reunion float on Idaho's Middle Fork of the Salmon River