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Max Funding
Program
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Application Due Date
Dec 12, 2025
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Funder Details:
Funder Type:
Private
Funding Frequency:
Annual Grant
Use of Funds:
Programs/Projects, Capacity Building
Funding Duration:
One-Year Grant
Application Type
Full Application
Eligibility:
✅ 501(c)(3) Organizations
Program Areas:
Education, Environment, Agriculture, Human Services, Community Development, Health, Public Safety, Animals, Civil Rights, Community Outreach, Research, Social Services, Sports, Disaster Relief, Economic Development, Arts & Culture, Conservation, International, Veterans, LGBTQIA+, Leadership
Locations:
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Puerto Rico, Washington DC
About The Grant
The Obama Foundation Leaders USA program is a six-month, non-residential leadership development program that seeks to inspire, empower, and connect emerging leaders across the country.
About the Leaders United States Program
The Leaders USA program builds on the Obama Foundation’s work over the past five years to support values-driven changemakers in the United States and across the globe.
The Leaders USA program explores how our values-based leadership can strengthen democratic culture, collective action, and the forces of pluralism in our communities both locally and globally.
The program equips 100 United States-based leaders driving systems-level change across sectors and issues with the tools, frameworks, mindsets, and relationships to accelerate positive and lasting change in their communities.
The program focuses on emerging Leaders, 24-45 years old, who aim to drive lasting and inclusive change across sectors and issues and have at least three years of demonstrated impact. Participants are values-driven leaders from every corner of the nation who are ready to expand their impact and help strengthen our national democratic culture.
Leaders USA cohorts reflect the rich diversity in the United States, with representation from across geographies and a wide variety of communities. The Leaders USA program identifies exceptional leaders in public, civil society, and the private sector who have a clear issue focus and who can illustrate the impact of their work. We seek to assemble cohorts of individuals who can learn from each other based on a range of experiences, approaches, and backgrounds. We work to recruit values-driven changemakers who hold a variety of views and perspectives so that we can create a learning environment that is both supportive and intellectually challenging for Leaders who will need to apply their skills in a diverse set of contexts and with many stakeholders.Our hope is to build a growing network of innovative and active changemakers who are pluralistic in their approach and seek engagement rather than polarization.
Leaders will participate in the following core elements of the program:
-Program Arc
Over six months, Leaders come together for weekly virtual sessions featuring subject matter experts, practitioners, case studies, and peer learning to deepen their leadership practice. Leaders will discuss how to move from hope to action through practical tools and training on values-based leadership and strengthening democracy.
-A Community of Support
Leaders work in small groups designed to reflect the diversity of the cohort through interdependent peer learning and relationship building. Community groups meet on a monthly basis and are designed as brave, informal spaces for Leaders to discuss takeaways from each module, grapple with multiple diverse perspectives and approaches, and exchange their learnings on values-based leadership in action.
-Individual Leadership Coaching
Leaders are paired with a coach for monthly sessions to help them clarify and build out their individual goals, understand your unique strengths and values, and unlock their potential.
Requirements
The program currently invites individuals residing in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, on tribal lands, and in United States territories to apply including, American Samoa; Guam; Northern Mariana Islands; Puerto Rico; United States Virgin Islands; Minor Outlying Islands; Bajo Nuevo Bank; Baker Island; Howland Island; Jarvis Island; Johnston Atoll; Kingman Reef; Midway Islands; Navassa Island; and Palmyra Atoll.
Leadership Experience You can demonstrate at least 3 years of relevant experience in your issue area.
Age You are professionally proficient in English and you will be between 24 and 45 years of age on September 1, 2025.
Language Proficiency You are professionally proficient in spoken and written English.
Jurisdiction and Ability to Participate in a U.S.-Based Program The Foundation is based in the United States. To participate in the Program, you must be under no legal or regulatory restrictions that would limit your participation in virtual Foundation programming or travel to the U.S. for in-person programming (if any).
Grantor Information:
Restrictions:
Restricted