THE WILD GIFT FELLOWSHIP

Each year, Wild Gift selects a small group of environmental entrepreneurs for a 12-month fellowship that includes mentoring, fundraising support, and wilderness-based programs that teach leadership and business skills while building a lifelong support network.  

We are now accepting applications for our 2021 Fellowship!
Apply online by March 26


VISION

​Wild Gift envisions a more just and sustainable world built by changemakers who share a common bond with wild nature.


MISSION

​Wild Gift connects and empowers environmental entrepreneurs through immersive wilderness experiences.


VALUES

  • We believe that reverence for wild nature is essential for leadership and the welfare of all people.
  • We believe that the dynamism and diversity of wild places are vast resources for learning and creativity.
  • We believe that strong connections with wild places and a supportive community are the foundation for lasting social change.
  • We believe that diversity in race, age, gender, ability, and sexual orientation makes us a more capable organization.


​THE WILD GIFT PROGRAM

In the field of social innovation, the road to success is often long and lonely… brutal hours, stress, and personal sacrifice. Research on social entrepreneurs and our own experience of funding over 50 Fellows reveal that the ability to persevere is as important to eventual success as a good business plan.

We know it isn’t easy to change the world, but we have over a decade of success at finding those who want to… and do.  We know it takes more than money to get a great idea off the ground.  It takes persistence, ingenuity, and courage. Being a social entrepreneur means believing in YES, even when you mostly hear NO.  It means clearly seeing your goal, while flexibly charting an unknown path to get there. It means consistently having the courage to follow your convictions in the face of many obstacles – expected and unexpected.

Our unique Wild Gift leadership development experience affirms the “wildness” of spirit needed to change the world and instills in each Fellow a lasting belief in the importance of courage, teamwork, integrity, resilience, and audacity.  We bundle this character-building focus with technical assistance from dedicated professional mentors who assist Fellows with a wide variety of issues from fundraising strategy to marketing to growth plans. Our experience and track record prove that coupling unique personal growth support with professional technical assistance makes all the difference in lifting these ventures off the ground and successfully retaining these individuals as social change agents.
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Each Fellowship begins with a 20-day team expedition in the Idaho wilderness. The expedition challenges each Fellow physically and emotionally and connects them to the natural world on a very personal level. Fellows are able to unplug, incubate ideas, and envision the true scope of their work and lives while building lifelong bonds with peers and mentors tackling similar challenges. After a year of monthly video calls and mentoring, Fellows return to Idaho to reconnect and float the Salmon River. At the conclusion of the Fellowship, Fellows are welcomed into an active group of alumni and supporters.

Fellows receive a:
  • guided three-week deep wilderness trek in the Idaho backcountry
  • mid-Fellowship retreat self-organized by your fellow Fellows with support from Wild Gift
  • retreat and celebration in Sun Valley together with Wild Gift’s Board of Directors at the close of your Fellowship
  • two $500 allowances for airfare to Idaho
  • access to entrepreneurship mentor(s) who can work with you throughout the course of your Fellowship
    opportunity to participate in Wild Gift alumni retreats and trips
  • lifetime membership in the vibrant Wild Gift Network that includes alumni, mentors, and supporters.

Since its founding 17 years ago, Wild Gift has supported 62 social entrepreneurs working around the world in education, sustainable agriculture, affordable housing, energy efficiency and innovation, community development, public policy, wetland conservation, and stewardship. Wild Gift ventures currently enhance local economies as well as the natural environment in 8 countries on 4 continents (including Haiti, Canada, Nigeria, Kenya, Chile, India, Samoa, Nepal) and across the United States. Many of our Fellows go on to receive national and international recognition for their innovative ideas and work and many return to Wild Gift as mentors, board members, and supporters.


A gLIMPSE OF OUR FELLOWS' ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  • $16 Million+ raised in campus sustainability funds. –Rachel Barge '09
  • 1.1 Million+ square feet of energy efficient real estate. –Brian Salazar '08
  • 90,000+ students learning about the North American wilderness. –Amy Freeman '10
  • 10,000+ clean energy cookstoves distributed in Nigeria. –Monica Samec '08
  • 12,000+ square miles of Canadian wilderness protected. –David Sone '10
  • 6+ Solar powered buildings built in rural India. –Viraj Puri '05
  • $500,000+ local artisan goods sold in online marketplace. –Cody Hopkins '08
  • 150+ websites built for environmental initiatives, reaching thousands of people around the world. –Pete Land '03
  • 1000+ guests annually connected to people and places making real food in Vermont. –Chris Howell '10
  • 30 athletes are supporting 15 nonprofits through sale of healthy products produced by Play Hard Give Back –Spencer Brendel '12
  • 5 different moringa based products sold in 1000+ US stores generating $300,000 in capital going back into West African women's co-ops –Lisa Curtis '13

WILD GIFT FELLOWS ARE SUPPORTED BY

WILD GIFT  •  P.O. Box 1151, Hailey, Idaho 83333  •  208-471-8124  •  [email protected]