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Obama Foundation Leaders Program
The Obama Foundation logoThe Obama FoundationOther

Obama Foundation Leaders Program

Dec 04, 2026 12:00:00 CT
Opportunity type
Other
Funding
No Funding
Location
Global
Deadline
Dec 04, 2026 12:00:00 CT
Age
24 to 45

About this opportunity

The Obama Foundation runs the Leaders Program, a free eight-month virtual leadership programme for changemakers aged 24 to 45, with separate regional cohorts in Africa, the Asia-Pacific, Europe and the United States. Leaders meet weekly online with trainers, experts and peers, get monthly one-to-one coaching, and work in small community groups focused on values-based leadership. Graduates join the Foundation's global Leadership Network of more than 1,800 alumni.

What you get:

  • Eight months of virtual leadership training, from September 2027 to no later than May 2028
  • Monthly one-to-one sessions with a leadership coach
  • A small community group of peers from across the cohort
  • Virtual sessions with Obama Foundation leadership and thought leaders
  • Membership of the Obama Foundation Leadership Network after you finish
  • No fees to take part; there is no stipend and no grant for your work

What you'll do:

  • Join your regional cohort's weekly Zoom sessions of about 1 to 3 hours: Africa Wednesdays 6:00 p.m. Central Africa Time, Asia-Pacific Saturdays 10:00 a.m. Singapore time, Europe Wednesdays 6:00 p.m. Central European Time, USA Fridays 1:00 p.m. Eastern
  • Spend an average of 8 to 12 hours a month on the programme, including one to two hours of coaching
  • Take part in monthly community group discussions on values-based leadership in action
  • Miss no more than four sessions across the eight months

Key dates:

  • Applications opened November 9, 2026
  • Priority deadline November 23, 2026: apply by this date
  • Final deadline December 4, 2026, at 12:00 noon US Central Time
  • Decisions currently scheduled for July 2027
  • Programme starts the week of September 1, 2027 and ends no later than May 1, 2028

More information:

  • Regional pages and FAQs: Africa https://www.obama.org/programs/leaders/africa/faq/, Asia-Pacific https://www.obama.org/programs/leaders/asia-pacific/faq/, Europe https://www.obama.org/programs/leaders/europe/faq/, USA https://www.obama.org/programs/leaders/usa/faq/
  • The application asks for general information, a resume, five or six short written answers of 50 to 250 words, two videos of up to 2 minutes, and two references

Who can apply

  • Aged between 24 and 45 on September 1, 2027
  • Living for the whole programme in one of the four regions: Africa (any nation or territory on the continent), the Asia-Pacific (44 listed nations and territories, including Australia, China, Hawai'i, Indonesia, Japan, the Pacific Islands and Southeast Asia), Europe (the 46 Council of Europe member states and Kosovo), or the United States (50 states, DC, tribal lands and US territories)
  • In your region you must be a citizen, a permanent resident, a refugee or asylum seeker, or have lived there for at least the last 5 years regardless of status
  • Your work must focus on positive change in your region, its countries or local communities
  • At least 3 years of relevant experience in your issue area
  • Professionally proficient in English
  • Able to commit 8 to 12 hours a month for the full eight months
  • No running for political office from acceptance through May 1, 2028
  • Past participants of any Obama Foundation Leaders programme cannot apply

AI Verification

✓ AI Verified

Our AI read the official sources and cross-checked the key facts. Here is what held up, and what it could not confirm.

Details last checked 11 Nov 2026

We could not fully verify this organization or all of its details. Check it independently on the official website before you apply, and never share sensitive personal or financial information until you are sure a request is genuine.

80
LOT Verification ScoreSolid

Cross-checked 6 of 7 key facts

Confirmed Our best read Not stated

Good to know

  • +Run by the Obama Foundation, with alumni joining a network of more than 1,800
  • +Free to take part and fully virtual, so no travel is needed
  • +No education, rank or title requirement; volunteers and rural leaders explicitly welcomed
  • +Monthly one-to-one leadership coaching for eight months

Worth checking yourself

  • !Apply by the November 23, 2026 priority deadline: applications after it are reviewed only as space allows, and the final close is December 4 at 12:00 noon US Central Time, not end of day
  • !You may apply to only one regional programme, even if you qualify for more than one; Hawai'i and some US territories can choose USA or Asia-Pacific
  • !Ages 24 to 45, so most of LOT's younger readers are not yet eligible
  • !No stipend and no grant: the Foundation says it does not fund participants' work
  • !The Foundation's own pages disagree on two regions: the main page calls Leaders Africa six months and virtual while the Africa page says eight months and hybrid, and the main page calls Asia-Pacific hybrid while its page says non-residential; every regional FAQ says the 2027 to 2028 programme runs eight months and is delivered virtually
  • !Needs 3 years of experience in your issue area and 8 to 12 hours a month
  • !An in-person graduation is only being explored; the Foundation has not said who would pay travel if it happens
  • !Applying needs a free Submittable account; the pages state no application fee but do not say in words that applying is free

Sources checked

OBobama.orgApplyOBobama.orgApplyOBobama.orgApplyOBobama.orgApplyOBobama.orgApplyOBobama.orgApplyOBobama.orgApplyOBobama.orgApplyOBobama.orgApplyTHthebarackobamafoundation.submittable.comOfficial

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Obama Foundation Leaders Program
Dec 04, 2026 12:00:00 CT