Melton Foundation Global Solvers Accelerator 2027

Applications are open for the Melton Foundation Global Solvers Accelerator 2027, a ten month leadership and peer learning programme for emerging changemakers who are actively driving social impact in their communities. The programme brings together a cohort of approximately 15 to 20 practitioners from around the world to strengthen their leadership, develop their projects and learn through meaningful cross cultural collaboration.

The Global Solvers Accelerator is designed for people who are already working on social, economic or environmental challenges and want to deepen both their practice and their personal leadership. Rather than focusing mainly on rapid growth or scaling, the programme provides a space for participants to examine difficult questions, explore practical challenges, receive feedback and learn alongside peers working in different contexts.

The 2027 programme combines online learning, collaborative inquiry, practical assignments and peer exchange with a fully sponsored in person Global Solvers Co Lab in Germany. Participants will engage with trainers, mentors and fellow changemakers while applying what they learn directly to their ongoing initiatives.

About the Global Solvers Accelerator

The Global Solvers Accelerator is a flagship programme of the Melton Foundation that connects emerging social impact practitioners through a sustained learning journey. Participants are encouraged to bring real challenges from their work into the programme and explore them through reflection, experimentation, peer feedback and collaborative learning.

The programme is guided by the Melton Foundation’s Global Citizenship Development Framework. It places emphasis on understanding social challenges across cultures and systems, strengthening leadership and shared leadership, and building relationships based on openness, honesty and trust.

Participants can come from diverse fields including education, climate action, public health, civic engagement, livelihoods, disability inclusion, social entrepreneurship, research and other areas of sustainable development.

The 2027 online programme will run from April 1 to November 30, 2027, following onboarding in March. The in person Global Solvers Co Lab is tentatively scheduled for July 3 to July 10, 2027, in Germany. The Co Lab is fully sponsored.

Participants who successfully complete the programme will be formally inducted into the lifelong Melton Fellowship network, providing continued opportunities for learning, collaboration and professional development.

Programme Benefits

• Ten months of leadership and peer learning

• Global network of social impact practitioners

• Practical tools, methods and learning resources

• Peer feedback and collaborative inquiry

• Guidance from trainers and mentors

• Opportunities to strengthen an existing social impact project

• Cross cultural and cross sector collaboration

• Fully sponsored week long Global Solvers Co Lab in Germany

• Access to the lifelong Melton Fellowship network after successful completion

• Opportunities for continued mentoring, learning and collaboration through the Melton community

• Need based scholarships covering 20%, 50% or 80% of the programme fee

Programme Areas

The Global Solvers Accelerator welcomes practitioners working across different areas of social change, including:

• Education

• Climate action

• Public health

• Civic engagement

• Sustainable livelihoods

• Disability inclusion

• Social entrepreneurship

• Community development

• Research and innovation

• Social, economic and environmental challenges connected to the Sustainable Development Goals

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants should:

• Be between 20 and 35 years old

• Be actively involved in an ongoing social impact project, enterprise, research effort, movement or community initiative

• Have the ability to influence decisions within the project or initiative

• Demonstrate a track record of real social impact

• Be interested in advancing sustainable development and creating positive social change

• Be curious, open minded and willing to work with people from different cultures, backgrounds and identities

• Be ready to learn, unlearn and relearn through peer exchange

• Have sufficient English language skills to participate fully in the programme

• Be able to commit approximately four hours per week to programme activities between March and November 2027

• Be able to participate fully in the in person Global Solvers Co Lab in Germany

• Be able to contribute toward the programme fee if selected, with scholarships available for applicants with demonstrated financial need

Required Application Information

Applicants should be prepared to provide information through the online application form, including:

• Personal and professional background information

• Details about their current social impact project or initiative

• Information about their experience and impact

• Responses to the programme application questions

• Information demonstrating their motivation to participate

• Information about their leadership and involvement in their project

• Scholarship request information if financial assistance is required

• References who can provide a recommendation if the application advances to the vetting stage

How to Apply

1. Review the Global Solvers Accelerator 2027 eligibility requirements and programme structure.
2. Read the Melton Foundation Application Guide carefully before beginning the application.
3. Prepare your information about your social impact project, leadership experience, motivation and expected contribution to the peer learning community.
4. Complete the official online application form.
5. Request a scholarship within the application if you require financial assistance.
6. Submit the completed application by November 15, 2026 at 23:59 US Eastern Standard Time.
7. If shortlisted, prepare to participate in the virtual assessment centre and ensure that your references are available to provide recommendations if contacted.