Apply Now: Fellowship for Social Entrepreneurs
Current and aspiring business owners who are working to create positive community change and who reside in and serve the 53 counties and six Native nations of the Initiative Foundation, Northwest Minnesota Foundation, Southwest Initiative Foundation and West Central Initiative are eligible to apply for the 2026-2027 cohort of the Initiators Fellowship. The application closes at noon on June 16.
The Initiators Fellowship provides the next generation of rural leaders the opportunity to use their entrepreneurial spirit to create change while building their business and personal leadership capacity. The program provides wrap-around training and mentoring—plus $30,000 stipend annually for two years—to support Fellows and their business or nonprofit social enterprise ideas to improve Greater Minnesota communities.
“The Initiators Fellowship is an investment in the bold ideas and resilient leaders who are shaping the future of Greater Minnesota. By empowering emerging social entrepreneurs, we’re cultivating innovation, strengthening communities and building a legacy of local leadership,” said Zach Tabatt, vice president for economic opportunity. “If you have a clear vision for your enterprise and you’re driven to succeed—and have the capacity to dedicate a minimum of 20 hours a week—you are ready to apply!”
Learn more, contact program staff for a conversation and apply at fellows.greaterminnesota.net/.
“We’re looking to support emerging entrepreneurs with a focus on a social or environmental mission who are ready to be leaders in their communities. Whether you’re at the stage of a great idea or a couple of years into your proof of concept, the Fellowship can accelerate your growth and the success of your venture,” said Christine Metzo, Initiators Fellowship program manager.
Learn more about the current and past Initiators Fellows, including Hudda Ibrahim—a member of the inaugural cohort and founder of Filsan Consulting, a firm that supports organizations with recruitment, onboarding, research, inclusivity training and more.
“I was very fortunate to be part of the Initiative Foundation’s Initiators Fellowship, and I really think that it opened a lot of doors for me,” said Hudda.
Alise Sjostrom, 2020-2021 Fellow, owns Redhead Creamery and Redhead Creamery Spirits in rural Stearns County. The Fellowship gave her a vital support network of social entrepreneurs as she navigated the challenges of launching and growing her business during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“A lot of what benefited me and the group was having a community of people that were trying to start a business or be in business during a really huge, life-changing moment,” she said. “Having that backbone was really beneficial to surviving in a pandemic. It also has brought a really cool community of people that I would not have been part of if I hadn’t been part of [this program].”
Additional Resources
For questions about the program, contact Christine Metzo, Initiators Fellowship program manager at the Initiative Foundation. To speak with a member of the Initiators Fellowship Steering Team in your Minnesota Initiative Foundation region, contact …
- Phil Knutson at Northwest Minnesota Foundation
- Briana Mumme at Southwest Initiative Foundation
- Anna Wasescha at West Central Initiative.