Ashoka employs a rigorous, five-stage search and selection process to identify individuals who are or have the potential to be leading social entrepreneurs early in their careers.

 

1. Nomination - Anyone, including the candidate, may submit a nomination form.
2. First Opinion - Ashoka-US staff conduct interviews phone and in-person, invite and review each candidate's application, conduct site visits to explore the new idea in the context of the US citizen sector and consider whether and to what extent the candidate meets the Ashoka criteria.
3. Second Opinion - A senior Ashoka representative from outside the country interviews the candidate for three hours in-person, applying Ashoka’s criteria learning about the candidate’s life history.
4. Panel - A select few experienced US social and business entrepreneurs conduct individual one-on-one interviews with each candidate and then convene as a group facilitated by the Panel Chair to decides whether to recommend the candidate's election as a Fellow to the Board.
5. Board Approval - Ashoka's international Board of Directors reviews the candidacy and panel recommendations, then makes the final decision.

For more information on the selection process and criteria, click on Search and Selection Process.

To begin the process, click to nominate an Ashoka Fellow candidate.