Who it is for
- Emerging leaders across research, technology, policy, education, journalism, and community organizing
- Those working to improve access to digital financial services
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Interledger Fellowship Program
For researchers, developers, advocates, and educators working on open financial systems.
Work on Real Financial System Challenges
The Interledger Fellowship is a 12-month program supporting emerging leaders who are researching, building, and advocating for more open, interoperable financial systems. Fellows work on projects they define, with funding and institutional support from the Interledger Foundation to carry them through. The program is open to researchers, developers, educators, policy advocates, journalists, and community organisers working at the intersection of technology and access to digital financial services.
The 2026 application window has closed. Sign up to our newsletter for future opportunities.
At a Glance
What it supports
- Independent research
- technical development,
- policy advocacy,
- educational resources,
- community building
How it works
- 12-month program.
- $72,000 stipend plus $20,000 project funding.
- Applications are closed for the 2026 grant cycle.
What Fellows Get
- $72,000 fellowship stipend across the program year
- $20,000 project funding to support research, development, or advocacy work
- Access to the Interledger Foundation’s global network of researchers, developers, policymakers, and institutions
- Peer learning and collaboration with the current fellowship cohort
- Opportunities to present work at the Interledger Summit and other Foundation events
- Institutional support and mentorship throughout the program
What Are We Looking For?
Strong proposals address real barriers that prevent people from participating fully in digital financial systems. These may include the cost of transactions, documentation requirements, absent or inadequate infrastructure, regulatory frameworks that exclude rather than protect, or a lack of accessible tools and knowledge. We fund work across five areas:
Research
Studies examining the regulatory, economic, technical, or social barriers to digital financial access
Knowledge and capacity building
Educational resources, curricula, or training programs for communities with limited exposure to digital financial tools
Policy and standards
Advocacy for regulatory frameworks and technical standards that enable broader participation
Solutions for underserved communities
Technical infrastructure, products, or services designed for populations currently excluded or poorly served
Ecosystem strengthening
Communities, networks, and support systems that help people navigate and benefit from digital financial services
Get Inspired by Past Fellows
The Interledger Foundation Fellowship program is a pilot initiative that builds upon the success of the preceding Interledger Ambassadorship program. Since 2020, the Interledger Ambassadorship program has supported researchers, advocates, educators, technical developers, and journalists in our ongoing areas of interest: open-source technology, community engagement, advocacy, accessibility, education, and research. These areas will remain central to the Fellowship. This initiative is designed to remove barriers to economic participation worldwide. Here are some of their stories.
Andria Barrett
"Mi objetivo es proteger esta tradición de confianza y, al mismo tiempo, utilizar la tecnología para reducir los costos, ampliar el acceso y facilitar la participación de las personas".
Ayden Férdeline
"Los pagos no son solo transacciones; son gobernanza hecha realidad".
Erica Hargreave
"Centrar la atención, la intención y el valor en asegurar que la accesibilidad se integre en el sistema desde el código".
Gavin Chait
"La exclusión financiera se produce porque las personas no tienen acceso a la economía formal".
Jeremiah Lee
"Unas pocas empresas no deberían controlar la esfera pública digital, ni el movimiento de dinero a nivel global".
Kokayi Walker
"La inclusión financiera tiene que ver con la dignidad y la capacidad de decisión. La capacidad de participar plenamente en la vida económica".
Lawil Karama
"Como artista que trabaja con comunidades de la diáspora y voces marginadas, vi cómo la exclusión financiera agravaba otras formas de exclusión".
Santosh Viswanatham
"Imagino un futuro en el que la inclusión financiera esté integrada de forma natural en la web".
Sheena Allen
"La inclusión financiera digital representa equidad, acceso y supervivencia económica para millones de personas".
Smriti Parsheera
“Comprender cómo las distintas comunidades, en especial los grupos marginados, acceden a los servicios financieros digitales e interactúan con ellos es una pieza importante del rompecabezas”.
Stephanie Perrin
"Existe una gran necesidad de seguir trabajando para explicar adónde van los datos, dónde se almacenan y qué protecciones existen para ellos".
Victoria Coker
"Para mí, el futuro de la inclusión financiera consiste en que todas las personas tengan acceso a los servicios financieros, independientemente de sus ingresos, su raza o su ubicación".
Xiaoji Song
"El futuro de la inclusión financiera es un futuro en el que se redistribuye el poder, no solo se mejoran las interfaces".
Fellowship FAQs
All you need to know about our Fellowships
Although applications for this grant are currently closed, these FAQs still cover all the essentials should you be interested in a future round of funding.
Who can apply
The grant program is open to emerging scholars, practitioners, engineers, journalists, activists, and artists working on financial access, financial inclusion, or financial health.
Funding
Fellows will be compensated with a total stipend of $72,000 and a $20,000 project budget.
Project duration
The Fellowship program will run within a 12-month timeframe.
Focus areas
Open Payments, Interoperability, Digital Access, Digital Financial Inclusion, Digital
Eligible activities
Funding is intended to support proposals that will focus on:
- Research: Studying the regulatory, economic, technical, or social obstacles that prevent people from using digital financial services effectively
- Building knowledge and capacity: Creating educational resources, curricula, or training programs for communities with limited exposure to digital financial tools
- Advancing policy and standards: Advocating for regulatory frameworks and technical standards that enable rather than restrict participation
- Developing solutions for underserved markets: Creating technical infrastructure, products, or services designed for populations currently excluded or poorly served
- Strengthening ecosystems: Building communities, networks, or support systems that help people navigate and benefit from digital financial services
Please note that the full application process and program are in English, so fluency is required to successfully complete the Fellowship.
Timeline
The application period for 2026 has now closed. Successful Fellows will be notified by the end of August 2026.
Starting Date: September 1, 2026
Application requirements
To apply, applicants must use the Submittable platform and upload the following required documents:
- Grant application
- Budget and Timeline with milestones
- Detailed Curriculum Vitae
- Recommendation letters
Where can I get more information?
For details on the current call for proposals' eligibility requirements, application form, and additional information, please refer to the Application Guide.
To apply for the Fellowship Program, please create an account on Submittable and complete the application.
We are looking forward to reviewing your application!
Our Approach to Grantmaking
Check out our Grantmaking FAQs to know our approach and expectations across all our grants. For additional clarification, reach out to programteam@interledger.org.