Open Call: Leaders USA program 2025-26

The program focuses on emerging Leaders, 24-45 years old, who aim to drive lasting and inclusive change across sectors and issues and have at least three years of demonstrated impact. Participants are values-driven leaders from every corner of the nation who are ready to expand their impact and help strengthen the national democratic culture. Leaders will participate in the following core elements of the program:

• Program Arc: Over six months, Leaders come together for weekly virtual sessions featuring subject matter experts, practitioners, case studies, and peer learning to deepen their leadership practice. Leaders will discuss how to move from hope to action through practical tools and training on values-based leadership and strengthening democracy.
• A Community of Support: Leaders work in small groups designed to reflect the diversity of the cohort through interdependent peer learning and relationship building. Community groups meet on a monthly basis and are designed as brave, informal spaces for Leaders to discuss takeaways from each module, grapple with multiple diverse perspectives and approaches, and exchange their learnings on values-based leadership in action.
• Individual Leadership Coaching: Leaders are paired with a coach for monthly sessions to help them clarify and build out their individual goals, understand your unique strengths and values, and unlock their potential.

Benefits

• 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

Geographic Focus

• Your work is geographically focused on creating positive change within the United States. You demonstrate a strong commitment to continue to focus your work in the United States.

Eligibility Criteria

• You must 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
  • 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
• Language Proficiency & Age:
  • You are professionally proficient in English and you will be between 24 and 45 years of age on September 1, 2025.
• Leadership Experience:
  • You can demonstrate at least 3 years of relevant experience in your issue area.
• Jurisdiction and Ability to Participate in a U.S.-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).
• They seek to assemble cohorts of individuals who can learn from each other based on a range of experiences, approaches, and backgrounds. They work to recruit values-driven changemakers who hold a variety of views and perspectives so that they 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.
• They welcome Leaders from diverse backgrounds, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, spiritual beliefs, socioeconomic status, gender identity, sexual orientation, political affiliation, and ability. They 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. They 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, they 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 change making 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.

For more information, visit Barack Obama Foundation.