Who it is for
- Emerging leaders across research, technology, policy, education, journalism, and community organizing
- Those working to improve access to digital financial services
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
"My goal is to protect this trusted tradition while using technology to reduce costs, expand access and make it easier for people to take part."
Ayden Férdeline
"Payments are not just transactions; they are governance made tangible."
Caroline Sinders
"Design can explain or confuse users as to what the technology is doing. Design isn't neutral, it's deeply political."
Erica Hargreave
"Placing focus, intention and value in ensuring we are building accessibility into the system, starting with the code."
Gavin Chait
"Financial exclusion arises because individuals don’t have access to the formal economy."
Jeremiah Lee
“A handful of companies should not control the digital public square, nor should a handful of companies control global money movement.”
Kokayi Walker
"Financial inclusion is about dignity and agency. The ability to fully participate in economic life."
Lawil Karama
"As an artist working with diaspora communities and marginalized voices, I saw how financial exclusion compounded other forms of erasure."
Santosh Viswanatham
"I envision a future where financial inclusion is naturally embedded into the web."
Sheena Allen
"Digital financial inclusion represents equity, access, and economic survival for millions of people."
Smriti Parsheera
"Understanding how different communities, particularly marginalized groups, access and engage with digital financial services is an important piece of the puzzle."
Stephanie Perrin
"There is a great need for more work on explaining where data is going, where it is being stored, and what protection exists for it."
Victoria Coker
"The future of financial inclusion, to me, looks like access to all regardless of income, race, or location."
Xiaoji Song
"The future of financial inclusion is one where power is redistributed, not just interfaces improved."
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.