Fellowships

Mozilla Foundation Fellowships 2027–2028: Funding of Up to US$125,000

Organization: Mozilla Foundation Funding type: Fully Funded Deadline: Dec 17, 2026

About this opportunity

Mozilla Foundation is accepting applications for 10 fellowships for 2027–2028. The programme supports individuals developing technology that gives people and communities greater control over the systems they use.

Fellows join an international network of more than 200 previous participants, with opportunities to develop their projects and strengthen their leadership.

Letter of Intent deadline: 17 December 2026 at 11:59 PM Pacific (UTC−8).

Fellowship tracks and funding

Two tracks are available:

Track	Stipend	Project budget	Total funding
Track I: Embedded Fellows	US$75,000	US$25,000	US$100,000
Track II: Independent Fellows	US$100,000	US$25,000	US$125,000

These totals include the project budget; they are not entirely personal stipends. Official funding breakdown

Embedded Fellows collaborate with a civil society host on an independent project benefiting its communities. They are not employees of the host organisation.

Independent Fellows generally bring more senior experience and pursue their own project. Track explanations

The Embedded hosts are:

BASAibu — Indonesia.
Fundación Kamanau — Chile.
LAS Art Foundation — Germany.
Quantum Village — United States.
Slum & Rural Health Initiative — Nigeria. Host organisations

Most hosts can accommodate remote Fellows, but you must check their location and time-zone preferences. Remote participation guidance

Programme duration and support

The fellowship begins on 1 June 2027 and lasts 12 months. Programme dates

It is primarily remote, with funded travel to key events, including the July 2027 Fellows Kick-off and MozFest 2027. Support includes coaching, workshops and a dedicated programme team.

Expect approximately five to ten hours monthly for fellowship-community activities, in addition to your project work, with higher commitments around major events. Full Request for Proposals

What projects does Mozilla support?

The call covers:

Neurotechnology, biotechnology and physical AI.
Computing, energy, quantum and other emerging infrastructure.
Raising p(bloom) — increasing AI’s benefits for people.
Business models for a web increasingly shaped by AI agents.
Affordable security and auditing for small organisations.
Community-controlled AI and sustainable public infrastructure.
Creative Advocacy.
Wildcard proposals outside the listed areas.

One Independent Fellowship is reserved for Creative Advocacy. Official focus areas

Who can apply?

The fellowship funds individuals, rather than teams. Projects must be primarily technical, except for the Creative Advocacy stream. Eligibility FAQs

You must be able to:

Legally receive funding from Mozilla Foundation and enter into a grant agreement.
Receive payments in US dollars through your bank account.
Demonstrate a charitable purpose and meaningful public benefit.
Meet Mozilla’s sanctions, conflict-of-interest and other funding restrictions.

A project’s public benefit must extend beyond the applicant’s commercial interests. Using an open-source licence alone does not establish charitable eligibility. Grant eligibility guidelines

Mozilla looks for evidence that you can deliver useful work, involve affected communities and contribute to the cohort. Public examples—such as repositories, demonstrations, datasets, research or performances—help reviewers understand your capabilities. Applicant profile

Clarification for projects at the idea stage

The FAQ says working technology and users are not required. However, the RFP excludes idea-only projects except in Creative Advocacy. If this affects your proposal, seek clarification from Mozilla before assuming eligibility. FAQ, RFP

Open working and ownership

You retain ownership of your work. However, Fellows must release code and non-confidential content under open licences agreed with Mozilla and regularly share their progress and learning. Ownership and participation conditions

Consider these commitments when deciding what to propose, particularly if your project involves collaborators, an employer or existing intellectual property.

What the Letter of Intent requires

Prepare your professional background, track choice, project proposal, target users, existing progress, impact, milestones and public benefit.

Selected response limits include:

Response	Maximum
Project title	10 words
Project summary	200 words
One-line pitch	30 words
Quarterly milestones	150 words
Relevant experience, including two or three examples	150 words total

The form contains further questions and limits; review it before drafting. Official Letter of Intent form

Applications must be in English. AI and translation tools may support brainstorming, clarity and translation, but must not generate complete responses or replace your input. You must disclose AI use. Application instructions

How to apply

Read the full call and eligibility guidelines.
Choose your track. For Embedded applications, study the selected host’s project brief.
Prepare your responses and evidence of previous work.
Complete the online Letter of Intent.
Review carefully before submitting.

Saved drafts can be resumed through the personal link emailed to you. Submitted applications cannot be edited. Late submissions and deadline extensions are not accepted. Application FAQs

Selection timetable

The main review takes place at the Letter of Intent stage. Only shortlisted applicants are invited to submit a full application.

Milestone	Date
Full-application invitations	16 February 2027
Invited full applications due	12 March 2027, 11:59 PM Pacific (UTC−8)
Final applicants notified	30 April 2027