The Wild Gift Fellowship
A two-part wilderness-based program designed to accelerate your social impact venture and strengthen your leadership through nature, community, and reflection.
01.
The Wilderness Trek
An 18-day guided backcountry experience in either the mountains of Idaho or the desert of Utah. The expedition challenges each Fellow physically and emotionally, fostering deep connection with wild nature and with one another.
During the trek, Fellows unplug from daily distractions to incubate ideas, clarify purpose, and build lifelong bonds within the Wild Gift community.
📅 2026 Trek Dates: May 18 – June 5, 2026 (includes travel days
02.
Virtual Sessions
Virtual programming begins two months before the trek and continues for three months afterward. Interactive sessions, facilitated by the Wild Gift team and guest mentors, focus on leadership growth, venture development, and cohort connection.
🗓 2026 Virtual Program: March 2 – September 2026
Weekly calls leading up to the trek, followed by monthly calls post-expedition.
Who are Wild Gift Fellows?
They are emerging founders, executive directors, and CEOs addressing an environmental or social issue with a scaleable solution. They work in areas like: clean ag, climate tech, conservation, youth empowerment, sustainable design, and more. They apply because they want to strengthen their leadership, connect with a community, and connect with our natural world.
Photo credit: Joe St.Onge
Selection Process
Each year, the Wild Gift Selection Committee selects five Fellows to participate in the Fellowship.
We evaluate applicants based on two primary criteria:
Are addressing a clear social or environmental challenge through a scalable solution?
We benefit most from immersive leadership development, extended time in the wilderness, and meaningful mentorship. Fellowship participants receive a $2500 stipend to cover gear, travel, and time away from work—we prioritize those who would not normally have access to an experience like this!
The selection process takes approximately three months, from the application deadline to the cohort announcement.
Eligibility (Who Can Apply):
Have launched or be ready to launch a social or environmental venture.
Be 21–35 years old in the calendar year of the trek.
Be authorized to live and work in the U.S. or Canada (citizen, permanent resident, visa, or green card holder). This is required because Fellows receive stipends as independent contractors.
Not be a full-time student at the trek start date. This helps ensure full participation in ~2 hours of weekly calls + ~1 hour prep, plus post-trek monthly calls.
Be excited to join a cohort experience in the wilderness while strengthening your leadership and venture vision.
Fellowship Commitments (What You’ll Do):
Estimated time commitment:
2 hours live sessions + 1 hour prep between calls (pre-trek)
3 monthly calls post-trek
Engagement & Learning
Active Participation
Feedback
Community & Leadership
Teamwork & Leadership
Shared Responsibilities
Program Deliverables
Session assignments & integration work
Blog Post
Ongoing Engagement
Interested?
Join One Of Our Information Sessions!
Info Session 1: Wild Gift 2026 Fellowship
DATE COMING SOON
5:00 PM PST | 6:00 PM MT | 8:00 PM EST
Info Session 2: Wild Gift 2026 Fellowship
DATE COMING SOON
9:00 AM PST | 11:00 AM MT | 12:00 PM EST
The Wild Gift Community
“Sharing deep wilderness with such a range of people has built lifelong connections that continue to shape me and my work.”
— Chris Howell, 2009 Fellow & Current Board Member
One of the greatest gifts of the Fellowship is the lifelong community you join. Our network includes 20+ years of alumni, nonprofit founders, social entrepreneurs, investors, and mentors, all united by a shared reverence for wild nature and a commitment to impact.
After your Fellowship, you’ll stay connected through alumni events, mentorship opportunities, and backcountry gatherings. The community is truly the gift that keeps on giving.
Why Wilderness?
In the field of social innovation, the road can be long and lonely, filled with long hours, stress, and sacrifice. Wilderness offers an antidote: a humbling space to practice perseverance, reflection, teamwork, and balance.
The Wild Gift trek helps Fellows unplug, refocus, and reconnect to what truly matters so they can lead with clarity, resilience, and alignment with personal values.
What Our Fellows Gain
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The 2025 deep wilderness trek experience will take place in the Escalante, Utah from May 18-June 5.
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.
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The Fellowship includes six months of virtual leadership programming, hosted by our Program Manager. The 2025 virtual programming starts on June 30 with weekly calls leading up to the trek, followed by monthly calls in October, November, and December. These interactive online sessions will include a combination of leadership and reflective workshops designed to support leader and venture development.
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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.
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Receive a free Lumina Spark Personality and Leadership Assessment during the virtual programming portion of the Fellowship.
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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.
Recent Participants
Kelly Wyche (left) and Marissa Goldstein, Class of 2022
Kelly leads Collective Power, advancing community resilience through collaboration. Marissa leads Peace Through Peace of Mind, promoting well-being and mindful leadership.
Nomei Florea, Class of 2024
Noemi is the inventor of Cycleau, a compact water recycling system that converts greywater into drinking water, addressing water accessibility and disaster relief.
Kayden Kelly (left) and Tenny-Ann Dandy, Class of 2025.
Kayden is the founder of The Outside Social Club, expanding outdoor access and representation for people of color. Tenny-Ann founded Toothpik, which uses AI-powered tools and education to help cities move toward zero-waste.
Gabe Tavas, Class of 2024
Gabe is the inventor of Pyrus, a sustainable wood alternative made from plant waste that reduces deforestation and reliance on tropical hardwoods.
Know a Great Candidate?
FAQs
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To apply for a Wild Gift fellowship, please click the “apply” button up top and follow the application instructions.
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Fellows will be announced in mid-late February 2026. You will be notified if you were not selected.
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Fill out our nomination form!
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Yes, as long as you and your social or environmental venture meets our eligibility criteria.
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A lot of different ways! The stipend has been used towards marketing materials, personnel, business operations, learning opportunities, and so much more.
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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.
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Yes, however, you must have completed your studies before the start of the Fellowship.
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No, the Wild Gift does not provide scholarship money or fund research.
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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!