Stanton Fellowship 2026: $100K Grant for LA Leaders – Apply by June 24
Are you a leader in Los Angeles making a real difference in your community? The Stanton Fellowship 2026 offers a chance to step back, think big, and find new ways to solve tough problems. This program from the Durfee Foundation gives experienced change-makers up to $100,000 over two years to explore bold ideas that can improve life in Los Angeles County.
Application Timeline
The process moves quickly, so mark these dates on your calendar. Applications open on April 1 and close on June 24. Site visits happen from August 4 to 27, with award notices in early September. The in-person orientation starts in January 2027.
For any questions, reach out to admin@durfee.org. Staying on top of these steps helps you prepare a strong application.
About the Stanton Fellowship
This fellowship picks up to six leaders each year. It provides $100,000 over two years to dig into a big question with high impact for Los Angeles County. Leaders from nonprofits, government, arts, social movements, or social entrepreneurship can apply if they have at least 10 years of experience.
The money is flexible. Use it for travel, meetings, research help, conferences, or team activities. The goal is to give space for fresh thinking that daily work often does not allow.
Fellowship Experience
Fellows join a group of diverse peers from different fields. They share ideas and learn from each other. Key parts include at least three months of focused project time over two years, in blocks of two weeks or more. There are also three overnight retreats and six full-day meetings.
Fellows must take part fully and share what they learn with others. This builds strong networks and spreads new insights.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify, you need to live and work in Los Angeles County. Your organization must operate there too. Show 10 years of leadership with real results. You should influence others, like peers or leaders, and have a clear “big question” to explore over two years.
The fellowship acts as extra support, so prove you need it. Commit to all activities, and do not have similar funding from work or school. Avoid if you got a Durfee Sabbatical in the last five years. Applications from groups serving BIPOC, LGBTQ, or low-income communities get strong encouragement.
Review Criteria
Judges look at three main areas.
The Candidate
They check if you are a known leader with a good name in your field. Do you welcome new tests and ideas? Can you share what you learn? Will you add to the group and have time away from daily tasks? Do you lack other ways to do this research?
The Inquiry
Your project must tackle a key issue in Los Angeles County. Make it clear, new, and doable in two years. Plan how to use time and money well.
Timing
Show this fits your career now. Explain why it matters right away. Prove your life and work allow you to finish.
Program Goals
The fellowship lets leaders study big issues deeply. It creates a mix of thinkers from different areas. In the end, it sparks ideas, links, and changes that help systems and people across Los Angeles County.
How to Apply
Build a strong proposal about your question. Submit by June 24 through the online form. Apply here. Take time to make it stand out based on the review points.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Stanton Fellowship 2026?
The Stanton Fellowship from the Durfee Foundation gives up to $100,000 over two years to experienced leaders in Los Angeles County. It helps them explore bold ideas to solve big community problems.
Who is eligible to apply?
You need at least 10 years of leadership experience in areas like nonprofits, government, or social entrepreneurship. You must live and work in Los Angeles County and have a big question to study.
What is the application deadline?
Applications open on April 1 and close on June 24, 2026. Submit your proposal through the online form at the Durfee Foundation site.
What does the fellowship experience include?
Fellows get flexible funding for projects, join three overnight retreats and six full-day meetings, and spend at least three months on focused work. They build networks with diverse peers.