Updated March 2022
Women remain underrepresented across many industries, and the COVID-19 pandemic has made the gender gap even wider. It’s time we change that. These fellowships for women offer funding and resources for women pursuing careers in science, journalism, law, technology, foreign policy, medicine, and more.
Shatter glass ceilings by applying to one of the many fellowships for women listed below, or by sharing this list with an inspiring woman in your life.
Remember: You can always click the following links to bookmark these fellowships for women to your ProFellow account.
1. Forté Fellows Program
The Forté Foundation offers fellowships to women who are pursuing a full-time, part-time or executive MBA education at participating business schools. If you would like to be considered for a fellowship, you must submit an MBA application to a participating school. Each school makes the determination of where the Forté awards will be given. All schools grant awards for full-time students, but part-time and executive awards are only available at select schools.
2. Mariam K. Chamberlain Fellowship in Women and Public Policy
Mariam K. Chamberlain Fellows work as general research assistants on a variety of projects related to women’s public policy issues. In addition, fellows attend related Congressional briefings, policy seminars and meetings. Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree in a social science discipline, statistics, or women’s studies and have strong quantitative and library research skills. Compensation for the fellowship is $31,000 over the 9-month period, plus health insurance and a public transportation stipend.
3. Graduate Women in Science (GWIS) National Fellowships Program
Graduate Women in Science (GWIS) is proud to offer fellowships help increase knowledge in the sciences and to encourage research careers in the sciences by women. GWIS Fellowships are awarded to women of outstanding ability and promise, holding or seeking a degree from a recognized institution of higher education, who are performing hypothesis-driven research in the U.S. or abroad. A maximum of $10,000 may be requested to purchase supplies and equipment, to defray the travel costs associated with field study and collaborative projects, and to support the publication of the research findings.
4. L’Oréal USA Fellowships for Women in Science
The L’Oréal USA Fellowships for Women in Science program is a national awards program that annually recognizes and rewards five U.S.-based women researchers at the beginning of their scientific careers. Recipients receive up to $60,000 each that they must put towards their postdoctoral research. Applicants must be involved in the life, physical/material sciences, engineering, technology, computer science or mathematics. Additional eligible areas of study include: immunology, all areas of chemistry, earth science and medical research. Applicants to the L’Oréal USA Fellowships must have completed their PhD by time of application.
5. Foundation for the History of Women in Medicine Research Fellowship
The Foundation for the History of Women in Medicine provides one $5,000 grant to support travel, lodging, and incidental expenses for a flexible research period. Foundation Fellowships are offered for research related to the history of women to be conducted at the Center for the History of Medicine at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine at Harvard University in Boston, MA. Preference will be given to: projects that engage specifically with the history of women physicians, other health workers or medical scientists; those who are using collections from the Center’s Archives for Women in Medicine; and applicants who live beyond commuting distance of the Countway; however, all are encouraged to apply, including graduate students.
6. Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship
The Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship gives academic and professional opportunities to women journalists who focus on covering human rights and social justice. Fellows will have the chance to complete research and coursework at MIT’s Center for International Studies and participate in internships with media outlets including The Boston Globe and The New York Times. The Fellowship is open to women journalists worldwide working in print, broadcast and/or Internet-based media, including freelancers. Applicants must have a minimum of three years professional experience working full-time in news media. A fixed monthly stipend will be provided to cover housing, meals, and ground transportation during the fellowship.
7. Faculty for the Future Fellowships
The Faculty for the Future program awards fellowships to women from developing and emerging economies to pursue PhD or post-doctoral studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines at leading universities worldwide. Candidates should have applied to, have been admitted to, or be currently enrolled in a university abroad when submitting their grant application. Faculty for the Future grants are based on actual costs for eligible expenses up to a maximum of USD 50,000 per year and may be renewed.
8. Amelia Earhart Fellowship
Established in 1938 in honor of famed pilot and Zontian, Amelia Earhart, the Amelia Earhart Fellowship is awarded annually to women pursuing Ph.D./doctoral degrees in aerospace-related sciences and aerospace-related engineering. The Fellowship of US$10,000, awarded to 35 Fellows around the globe each year, may be used at any university or college offering accredited post-graduate courses and degrees in these fields. Open to women of any nationality.
9. TechWomen
TechWomen brings emerging women leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) from Africa, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East together with their professional counterparts in the United States for a mentorship and exchange program. TechWomen provides participants access to networks, resources, and knowledge to empower them to reach their full potential. During the five-week program, participants engage in project-based mentorships at leading companies in the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley and participate in professional development workshops. Applicants must be women with, at minimum, two years full-time professional experience in the STEM fields and eligible to obtain a U.S. J-1 exchange visitor visa.
10. AAUW Summer/Short-Term Research Publication Grants
Summer/Short-Term Research Publication Grants provide $6,000 for women college and university faculty and independent researchers to prepare research for publication. Time must be available for 8 consecutive weeks of final writing and editing in response to issues raised in critical reviews. These grants can be awarded to both tenure-track and part-time faculty, and new and established researchers. The grants are designed to assist the candidate in obtaining tenure and other promotions. Tenured professors are not eligible. Candidates must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
11. AAUW Career Development Grants
Career Development Grants provide funding to women who hold a bachelor’s degree and are preparing to advance or change careers or reenter the workforce. Primary consideration is given to women of color and women pursuing their first advanced degree or credentials in nontraditional fields. Grants of $2K – $12K provide support for course work beyond a bachelor’s degree, including a master’s degree, second bachelor’s degree, certification program, or specialized training in technical or professional fields at an accredited U.S. university. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
12. AAUW American Dissertation Fellowships
Dissertation Fellowships provides $20,000 to offset a woman scholar’s living expenses while she completes her dissertation. The fellowship must be used for the final year of writing the dissertation. Candidates must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Open to applicants in all fields of study.
13. AAUW Selected Professions Fellowships
AAUW Selected Professions Fellowships provide opportunities for women to pursue graduate and first-professional degrees in architecture, computer and information sciences, engineering, and mathematics, fields where women traditionally have been underrepresented and where the employment outlook and earnings potential are strong. To address the underrepresentation of women of color in promising professions and encourage cultural diversity in these areas, fellowships in business administration, law, and medicine are also available, but only to women of color. Recipients must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
14. AAUW American Postdoctoral Research Leave Fellowships
Postdoctoral Research Leave Fellowships provide $30,000 to assist women scholars in obtaining tenure and other promotions by enabling them to spend a year pursuing independent research. The primary purpose of the fellowship is to increase the number of women in tenure-track faculty positions and to promote equality for women in higher education. Tenured professors are not eligible. Candidates must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. American Fellowships are open to scholars in all fields of study.
15. AAUW International Fellowships
AAUW International Fellowships are awarded for full-time study or research to women who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Fellowships support graduate or postgraduate studies at accredited institutions. Recipients are selected for academic achievement and demonstrated commitment to women and girls. The overwhelming majority return to their home countries to become leaders in government, academia, community activism, the arts, and science. Applicants must have citizenship in a country other than the United States (dual citizenship is not allowed).
16. Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program
The Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program is a nation-wide application process to determine up to ten Tory Burch Foundation Fellows. Each Fellow will participate in a one year program which includes: mentoring, networking and business guidance for one year, a $10,000 grant to further their business education, and a 3-day trip to New York City to the Tory Burch headquarters that will include the opportunity to participate in a pitch competition. The winner of the pitch competition will receive $100,000 grant investment. Your company must be registered and operated in the United States.
17. Foreign Policy Interrupted Fellowship
Foreign Policy Interrupted’s Fellowship program for women is targeted to diversifying voices and opinions in the foreign policy space. The program has two core components: a 6-week online educational module that includes media training, a guide to understanding the media, and brand building; and a non-resident 1-3 month “externship” with a major media outlet. Fellows are matched with an editor and/or producer with whom she’ll work to develop her expertise for print and/or on-camera appearances. FPI’s Fellows Program is open to women 26 and older experienced in foreign policy and international affairs. US citizens and non-US citizens fluent in English are eligible.
18. Solis Policy Institute (SPI) Fellowship
The Dr. Beatriz María Solís Policy Institute (SPI) is an experiential policy advocacy training program advancing racial, economic, and gender justice throughout the state of California. Over the course of a year-long fellowship, SPI delivers tools, builds networks, and develops leadership across a dynamic cohort of leaders who are ready to shape California’s policies. This non-partisan program is run in two versions; SPI-State and SPI-Local. SPI Fellows build community power and shift the status quo. Anyone affected by gender-based oppression and discrimination is welcome to apply to the Solís Policy Institute. Our past and current fellowship classes include cisgender and transgender women, genderqueer, gender-variant and non-binary individuals, and trans men.
19. Running Start Congressional Fellowship
Running Start Congressional Fellows are selected through a highly competitive application process. Running Start is nonpartisan and looks for applicants from across the political spectrum for this program. Fellows intern for a female Member of Congress Monday through Thursday and each Friday are trained by political experts in Running Start’s office and then mentored by high level political mentors. Fellows live together in a house on Capitol Hill, free of charge, and are provided with a $2,500 living stipend for the semester.
20. OnRamp Fellowship
The Fellowship is a re-entry platform that matches experienced women returning to the workforce after a career break with law firms, legal departments, and financial services firms in the U.S., Australia, and the UK for six to twelve month paid positions. This unique experiential learning program gives returning women – many of whom opted out of the workforce for a period of time to raise children – an opportunity to demonstrate their value in the marketplace while also increasing their experience, skills, and contacts. To facilitate successful Fellowship placements, applicants are rigorously screened and matched with organizations based on cultural fit and the success traits that are essential for advancement.
21. Echidna Global Scholars Program
The Echidna Global Scholars Program is a 4-6 month visiting fellowship hosted by the Center for Universal Education (CUE) at the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC. The program aims to build the research and analytical skills of NGO leaders and academics who have substantial experience and ties to developing countries. Echidna Scholars focus on improving learning opportunities and outcomes for girls in the developing world. Applicants are expected to have some background in education, development, economics, gender, or a related area; a Master’s degree at minimum, and at least 15 years of professional experience.
22. Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship (MLEF) Program
The Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship (MLEF) Program provides undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students with opportunities to gain hands-on research experience with the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy (FE). The goal of the MLEF program is to improve opportunities for women and minority students in STEM majors, however all eligible candidates are encouraged to apply. Selected candidates will train under the mentorship of program officials and scientists on focused research projects. During the 10 weeks, Fellows will receive a stipend and some may be eligible to receive housing and a travel allowance.
23. Congressional Fellowships on Women and Public Policy
WPI awards annual fellowships to a select number of graduate students with a proven commitment to equity for women. WPI Fellows gain practical policymaking experience and graduate credit as they work from January to August as Congressional legislative aides in Washington, D.C. Fellows receive stipends for tuition and living expenses. Only students who are currently enrolled in a master’s or doctoral program at an accredited institution in the United States or who have completed such a program within the past 18 months are eligible to apply. WPI welcomes applications from men and women.
24. Women’s Law and Public Policy Fellowship Program
The Women’s Law and Public Policy Fellowship Program (WLPPFP) offers Fellowships for public interest lawyers from the United States who are committed to advancing women’s rights throughout their careers. Throughout the Fellowship year, participants gain invaluable experience by working on women’s issues in Washington, D.C. with a public interest organization or governmental agency and by participating in educational and professional development opportunities organized by WLPPFP. The program offers both one-year and two-year fellowship opportunities. Both men and women can apply. Fellows receive an annual stipend of approximately $41,000.
25. The WW Dissertation Fellowships in Women’s Studies
The Woodrow Wilson Dissertation Fellowships in Women’s Studies support the final year of dissertation writing for Ph.D. candidates in the humanities and social sciences whose work addresses topics of women and gender in interdisciplinary and original ways. In each round, ten Fellows will receive $5,000 to be used for expenses connected with completing their dissertations, such as research-related travel, data work/collection, and supplies.
26. Pembroke Center Postdoctoral Fellowships
Brown University’s Pembroke Center for Teaching and Research on Women awards one-year residential postdoctoral fellowships to scholars from any field whose research relates to the theme of “The Cultures of Pacifism.” Fellows are required to participate weekly in the Pembroke Seminar, teach one undergraduate course, and pursue individual research. Fellowships are awarded to postdoctoral scholars who have received their degrees from institutions other than Brown within the last five (5) years. The stipend is $50,000 plus $1,500 for research expenses.
27. The BMGA Fellows Program
The BMGA Fellows Program is a six-month online blended learning program designed to narrow the gender skills gap. The program provides young women from Africa and Asia from all professions and career paths with the knowledge and resources required to gain fundamental employability skills. The program offers high-level professional development courses, mentorship from graduate students in top global universities such as University of Cambridge and Imperial College, coaching from executives with international careers, and life skills that are designed to prepare young women for the future of work. Applicants must speak, write, and read English with proficiency and have regular access to the internet.
28. Dorothy Day Fellowship Program
The Dorothy Day Fellowship Program is for women of faith who desire to live in community and share life with families experiencing homelessness. The two-year residential program in Ohio offers private living space, a stipend, educational options, and opportunities for growth, and more. Each fellow receives mentoring in the fight against family poverty and homelessness, as well as shares in the work of maintaining and staffing the shelter. While not required, fellows can also attend classes at nearby Xavier University to work towards a masters degree or professional certificate. Women of color are strongly encouraged to apply.
29. Women’s History Institute Summer Research Fellowship
The Women’s History Institute of Historic Hudson Valley is pleased to offer Summer Research Fellowships in New York state to support the research of college and graduate students into the lives of women residing in the Hudson Valley, particularly during the time period represented in the Historic Hudson Valley collections: the 18th and 19th centuries. Fellowship stipends are $3,000 for a minimum of 6 weeks and a maximum of three months. Research fellows are expected to produce an article or mid-term report as well as a final academic report on their findings. The Fellows will be offered the opportunity to take part in HHV programming.
30. Akili Dada Fellowship Program
The Akili Dada Fellows program awards year-long fellowships to young women leaders who have a year-long social change project of their own design. The entrepreneurial program serves as an incubator providing financial, intellectual, mentoring, and networking resources to young women as they grow their projects to scale and sustainability. The goal of the program is to build the capacity of some of the continent’s most innovative young women change-makers to drive solutions to some of the biggest challenges facing African society. The fellowship includes access to the Akili Data network of funding partners and more.
Are you specifically interested in fellowships for women in science? We’ve got a list for that, too! Check out “15 Fellowships for Women in Science.”
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