Leaders United States Frequently Asked Questions

The Obama Foundation Leaders program is a six-month virtual leadership development journey. Programs in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the United States are currently scheduled to begin the week of September 1, 2025, and will conclude no later than May 1, 2026, with planned breaks throughout. Exact dates are subject to change.

For an average of 8-12 hours per month, the program will bring together cohorts of leaders from across the regions. Participants (known as “Obama Leaders” or “Leaders”) will take part in weekly sessions that include:

• Practical tools and training for deepening values-based leadership

• Leadership coaching

• Community groups

• Conversations with thought leaders

• Cultural programming that showcases the richness of diversity in the region

• Curated spaces for deep personal reflection and interpersonal learning with peers

Upon completion of the program, Obama Leaders will become part of the Obama Foundation’s Leadership Network—a growing community of civically active Obama Foundation program alumni who are creating tangible solutions to the greatest challenges of our time.

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.

We welcome Leaders from diverse backgrounds, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, spiritual beliefs, socioeconomic status, gender identity, sexual orientation, political affiliation, and ability. We are committed to building inclusive and diverse cohorts with Leaders from different nationalities, issues of focus, sectors of work, personal backgrounds, leadership ranks and titles, and life experiences. We are also committed to making this program accessible to Leaders with disabilities, from the application process through the entire program experience.

Across the spectrum of diversity, we endeavor to identify applicants and invite Leaders to the program who:

• Possess a clear issue of focus and can describe or measure their impacts.

• Hold a leadership position in their changemaking work, whether full-time or volunteer (there are no leadership rank or title requirements). 

• Demonstrate a deeply ethical, values-based, equitable, and collaborative approach to leadership.

• Demonstrate a willingness to learn from and share with other Leaders in a group setting.

Leaders can come from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, on tribal lands, and in United States territories to apply, including American Samoa; Guam; the Northern Mariana Islands; Puerto Rico; the United States Virgin Islands; the Minor Outlying Islands; Bajo Nuevo Bank; Baker Island; Howland Island; Jarvis Island; Johnston Atoll; Kingman Reef; Midway Islands; Navassa Island; and Palmyra Atoll.

The Leaders program is designed to build connection and community within the cohort by enabling Leaders to reflect on their own values and activate shared values. Each regional program will meet virtually over Zoom for an average of four times per month, engaging with trainers, subject matter experts, and their peers to deepen their leadership practices. On average, sessions range from approximately 1 to 3 hours.

Sessions will primarily be held Fridays beginning at 1:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (GMT-5).

Additionally, Leaders are expected to engage in one to two hours of coaching per month and three to four hours of community group discussions over the course of the program term. 

There may be occasional optional sessions that highlight special and/or timely opportunities. In total, Leaders can expect to dedicate an average of 8-12 hours per month over the course of the virtual program.

To participate in a Leaders program, we ask that you make every effort to attend all of the core programming (approximately one session per week or 8-12 hours of live programming per month.) We understand that the program requires a significant and extended time commitment and that both personal and professional circumstances may occasionally prevent you from joining sessions. Participants should not miss more than three sessions over the course of the six-month program in order to maintain their status as an Obama Leader.

Occasionally, we may ask you to do some preparatory or follow-up work for a session. However, we understand that many Leaders are working full-time and/or have other personal and professional commitments. We will try to keep additional work to a minimum.

The 2025-2026 program is entirely virtual, with no in-person programming scheduled for the program cycle. Participants can expect a dynamic blend of virtual activities designed to enhance networking, collaboration, and shared learning experiences. Among other leadership specialists, program participants will have exclusive opportunities to engage virtually with Obama Foundation leadership.

Our aim is to invite this year's cohorts to in-person Foundation events at some point after the program term, with the precise opportunity to be determined. Leaders will also have the opportunity to engage with the Obama Leadership Network after the program ends, which may provide additional opportunities for in-person programming.

Leaders will not be paid a stipend.

Participants selected for the Obama Foundation Leaders program incur no fees.

No. The Obama Foundation does not offer grants or financial support for selected participants’ work.

Once you complete the Leaders program, you will become part of the Obama Foundation’s Leadership Network, a global community of more than 1,000 values-driven alumni from Obama Foundation programs.

The alumni experience includes optional opportunities to meet alumni from other regions and programs, invitations to Foundation events, a regular alumni newsletter, an online platform exclusively for alumni to connect, and more.

The program currently invites individuals residing in the following US states and territories to apply:

Leaders can come from  all 50 states, the District of Columbia, on tribal lands, and in United States territories to apply, including American Samoa; Guam; the Northern Mariana Islands; Puerto Rico; the United States Virgin Islands; the Minor Outlying Islands; Bajo Nuevo Bank; Baker Island; Howland Island; Jarvis Island; Johnston Atoll; Kingman Reef; Midway Islands; Navassa Island; and Palmyra Atoll.

Citizenship and Residency 

You must be living in the region for the duration of the program and meet one of the following criteria:

• Citizen of the United States, U.S. territory, and/or tribal nation OR 

• Permanent resident of the United States or an eligible U.S. territory OR 

• A refugee or asylum seeker in the United States or an eligible U.S. territory OR

• Have lived in the United States, a U.S. territory, or on tribal lands for at least the last 5 years, regardless of citizenship or permanent residence status

Geographic Focus

Your work is geographically focused on creating positive change for local communities, an eligible US state or territory, and/or the broader US. You demonstrate a strong commitment to continue to focus your work in the US state or territory.

Leadership Experience

You can demonstrate at least 3 years of relevant experience in your issue area.

Age

You will be between 24 and 45 years of age on September 1, 2025.

Language Proficiency

You are professionally proficient in English.

Political Campaigns

You will refrain from participating in an electoral campaign as a candidate for political office from the time you are accepted into the program through May 1, 2026.  Selection decisions are currently scheduled to be sent in June 2025.

Program Commitment

You can commit to fully participating in the entire duration of the six-month program. Official program dates are yet to be determined but will fall somewhere between September 1, 2025 and May 1, 2026. You must be able to attend between 8 and 12 hours of required virtual programming each month, as well as attend required leadership coaching sessions and engage in community group discussions throughout the program duration.

Jurisdiction and Ability to Participate in a US-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).

No, there is no education requirement for admission to the Obama Leaders program.

Absolutely! We welcome applicants from diverse settings, including small, rural communities. We recognize and value the significance of work in various contexts. Our selection process considers the depth and meaningfulness of your contributions, regardless of the scale.

No. Candidates do not have to be doing their changemaking work full time or as their main profession to be eligible. Ideal candidates have a clear issue area of focus and can clearly illustrate the impact of their work.

We encourage you to begin the application! There are a series of questions that will help determine your eligibility at the start of the application. If you have questions about a specific eligibility requirement, please email globalleaders@obama.org. We do not make exceptions to the specified eligibility criteria.

Due to the high volume of applications, you might experience a delay in response, so please contact us well before the deadline.

The Foundation currently operates Obama Foundation Leaders programs in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the United States. Please be aware that, even if you meet the eligibility criteria for multiple Leaders programs, you may only submit an application for one program. If you have questions about which program is right for you, please visit our website to learn more about each Obama Leaders program and its eligibility requirements.

Applicants from American Samoa, Hawaiʻi, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands are eligible to apply to either the Leaders Asia-Pacific or Leaders USA programs, but they may only submit an application for one program. This policy encourages applicants to thoughtfully consider the unique offerings and cohort experiences of the respective  programs and regional communities and how it best aligns with their goals for advancing their work. Both programs integrate our Hope to Action curriculum. The Leaders USA program curriculum specifically focuses on strengthening democratic culture in the U.S. locally and globally, while the Leaders Asia-Pacific program focuses on change-making work in and across the regions of Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania.

If you have previously participated in an Obama Foundation Leaders program, regardless of the region, you are not eligible to apply. If you have previously participated in another Obama Foundation program, such as Voyagers or Scholars, you are welcome to apply.

You are eligible for the program only if you currently reside in the United States or U.S. territory. Applicants who currently reside outside of the United States are not eligible to apply.

Absolutely! We welcome applicants who were not selected in previous years to apply again, as long as you still meet the eligibility criteria. Previous applications will not influence this year’s review process.

We are committed to making this program accessible to Leaders with disabilities. We are able to accommodate certain accessibility needs throughout the length of the program. More information will be provided to finalists once invited to become Leaders; in the meantime, please contact us at globalleaders@obama.org with any questions about accommodations that may help you determine whether or not to apply.

You will need access to a computer with a camera and a reliable internet connection to fully participate in the program.

The application will close on Sunday, January 5, 2025, at 12:00 PM United States Central Time (GMT-6). Late or incomplete applications will not be considered, so please take care to ensure you take into account varying time zones when you submit your application. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and we strongly recommend that you submit your application as early as possible.

To request technical support, please locate the support widget positioned at the bottom of the application page and utilize it to submit your help ticket. All technical support inquiries must be submitted through this designated method.

Unfortunately, we cannot accept applications after Sunday, January 5, 2025, at 12:00 PM United States Central Time (GMT-6).