The Wild Gift Fellowship is a two part program designed to drive your social impact venture to the next phase of growth.

01.

Wilderness Trek

The deep wilderness trek is an 18-day, unforgettable experience in the remote mountains of central Idaho. The expedition challenges each Fellow physically and emotionally and connects them to the natural world on a very personal level.

Fellows are encouraged to unplug from the outside world to incubate their ideas and envision the future of their leadership and venture, all while building lifelong bonds with the Wild Gift community!

02.

Virtual Sessions

Virtual programming begins two months before the trek. These interactive virtual sessions, facilitated by the Wild Gift Team and guest speakers, focus on leadership and venture development, connecting with your cohort, and preparing for the trek.

Sessions continue after the trek with three additional months of programming, offering opportunities to connect with mentors and business experts while integrating your takeaways from the trek into your venture and life.

Applications For The 2025 Fellowship Are Now Open!

Applications For The 2025 Fellowship Are Now Open!

One of the greatest takeaways from the Fellowship is the community you build along the way. The Wild Gift network includes over 20 years of nonprofit and business leaders, investors, donors, and mentors, all united by a shared passion for wild nature.

After your Fellowship, you’ll join this community and participate in alumni events and gatherings, both virtually and in the backcountry. You'll also have access to Wild Gift resources, such as co-leading a Wild Strides trip, exploring social impact fellowships and opportunities, and receiving continued mentorship and support from this inspiring network. The community is the gift that keeps on giving…

Make lifelong connections.

How does time in the wilderness help develop your venture?

In the field of social innovation, the road to success is often long and lonely –brutal hours, stress, and personal sacrifice all seem inevitable for any start-up. Research on social entrepreneurs and our own experience of supporting over 100 Fellows reveal that the ability to persevere is as important to eventual success as a good strategic plan.

As stewards of the environment and lovers of nature at heart, we believe wilderness is an incredible and humbling medium to practice perseverance, stress-management, self-reflection, leadership, and team-work. The Wild Gift deep wilderness trek gives participants a chance to unplug, incubate ideas, and consider the potential impact of their work without all of the distractions of everyday life.

The Fellowship experience includes…

  • The 2025 deep wilderness trek experience will take place near Sun Valley I daho from August 1-September 7, 2025 (dates include travel days).

    Wild Gift partners with Sun Valley Guides, and Sun Valley Trekking, both established outfitters and guiding services and are responsible for all the trip logistics and safety. Guides are licensed and certified with extensive avalanche forecasting, rescue training, and years of teaching experience in the outdoors.

  • Once you complete the fellowship trek and programming, you will gain lifetime access to the Wild Gift Alumni network, reunion events, and the broader Wild Gift community.

  • The stipend intends to help alleviate some of the financial burdens of being away from your work for 3 weeks, as well as cover the travel and gear costs associated with the trek.

  • The Fellowship includes six months of virtual leadership programming, hosted by our Program Director. This begins the week June 30th with 2 hour weekly calls, one day per week leading up the the trek. After the trek, Fellows will meet monthly October through December. These interactive online sessions will include a combination of leadership and reflective workshops designed to support venture development.

  • Receive a free Lumina Spark Personality and Leadership Assessment during the virtual programming portion of the Fellowship.

Know a great potential applicant?

Application eligibility requirements

In order to apply for the Fellowship, you must meet the following criteria:

  • You are authorized to live and work in the U.S. or Canada (citizen, permanent resident, visa, Green Card).

  • You are between the ages of 21 and 35 as of the trek start date.

  • You are an entrepreneur that has launched or are ready to launch a social or environmental venture.

  • You are enthusiastic about joining a cohort experience in the mountains while strengthening your leadership skills and venture vision!

Fellowship Requirements:

  • Active Participation: Engage actively and fully in all virtual and in-person programming. While fellowship includes enjoyable activities, it is primarily a professional development experience which includes assignments designed to enhance your learning experience. These activities should take 1-2 hours on average between virtual sessions. 

  • Teamwork and Leadership: Help maintain a safe, equitable, and supportive environment. Uphold Leave No Trace principles and expedition practices to minimize our environmental impact and foster team cohesion. Collaborate with diverse individuals and respect the leadership team to enhance your experience.

  • General Responsibilities: As a member of a small cohort, during the in-person programming you will be tasked with contributing to the group including, but not limited to, preparing shared meals, caring for shared spaces, and cleaning up. 

  • Feedback: Complete all evaluations and feedback forms to help Wild Gift improve its programming for future social impact leaders.

  • Fundraising Support: Our team will create a fundraising page for you to share with your network. You are encouraged to dedicate at least 2 hours to seek co-sponsorship for your fellowship. This fellowship, valued at $25,000 per fellow, is offered at no cost due to community donations. 

  • Blog Post: After the trek, write a one-page blog post detailing your venture's "why," mission, impact, current status, and future vision. Also, include why you chose Wild Gift and your goals for this experience, along with photos and links. This will be featured in Wild Gift's Leader Spotlight Series on the website. Due: October 1, 2025.

  • Ongoing Engagement: Continue your involvement with Wild Gift after the fellowship by mentoring, donating when possible, participating in the alumni community, and promoting future fellowships.

Connect with your inner wildness and infuse it into your venture.

The 2025 Wild Gift Fellowship application will open January 3, 2025. Submit an interest form to stay up to date until then!

FAQs

  • To apply for a Wild Gift fellowship, please click the “apply” button up top and follow the application instructions.

  • February 28th, 2025

  • Fellows will be announced in mid-late May 2025. You will be notified if you were not selected.

  • Fill out our nomination form!

  • Yes, as long as you and your social or environmental venture meets our eligibility criteria.

  • A lot of different ways! The stipend has been used towards marketing materials, personnel, business operations, learning opportunities, and so much more.

  • Wild Gift fellows receive mentorship from experienced leaders, access to a network of like-minded individuals, funding for their projects, and opportunities for personal and professional development through our programs.

  • Yes, however, you must have completed your studies before the start of the Fellowship.

  • No, the Wild Gift does not provide scholarship money or fund research.

  • All that’s required is a good level of physical fitness and desire to learn and participate in all aspects of expeditionary life. We recommend preparing for the trek with long walks, hill hiking or running. Participants will be expected to carry a backpack weighing approximately 30-40 pounds for 3-6 hours a day in mountainous terrain. The more fit you arrive, the more fun you will have! Don’t worry, we provide a realistic fitness and training plan leading up to the trek!