Q: Do I have to be working in a social enterprise to be considered for the Food Systems Fellowship?

No. Although many of our Fellows do work in social enterprises, we encourage applicants working with any kind of initiative that is connected to food systems work. We are looking for people that have worked for at least five years in the food systems space and have a vision for building nourishing, regenerative, and equitable food systems. 

Q: Is the Food Systems Fellowship only open to entrepreneurs?

No. Fellows go on multiple career paths and personal journeys, but many of the Fellows we’ve seen over the years include:

Social Entrepreneurs: Founding or leading a for-profit or non-profit organization that provides critical goods or services to underserved populations within food systems.

Social Intrapreneurs: Creating innovative solutions to tackle food systems challenges from within an existing institution by shifting its culture and/or strategy, and building new collaborations.

Organizational Builders: Supporting the growth of an organization focused on alleviating food systems challenges by building the internal structures, and processes that enable the organization to pursue its purpose.

Public Sector Leaders: Reimagining public policy and leveraging the government services to drive change within food systems.

Bridge Builders: Finding and connecting organizations and leaders to discover commonalities and activate a shared vision for food systems transformation.

Above all, we are looking for systems leaders with an entrepreneurial mindset who understand that it will take all of us to tackle the greatest food systems challenges of our time.

Q: What are the academic qualifications for the Fellowship?

There are no specific academic prerequisites.

Q: Are there a minimum or maximum age requirements for Fellows?

There is no age requirement as we do not believe Fellows need to be within a certain age range to create impact. We do look for individuals who hold influence in the food systems initiatives and communities they work with, so that they are able to create change where they work.

Q: Do I need to currently be involved in work focused on food systems?

Yes. We are looking for individuals who currently have a leadership role in one or more organizations or initiatives that are committed to food systems work on a full-time basis. We will consider applicants who are working part-time on an exceptional basis, as long as they demonstrate a full-time commitment to food systems work.

Q: Can two people from the same organization apply to the Food Systems Fellowship?

The Food Systems Fellowship is a significant investment in an individual’s leadership journey. As the Fellowship is competitive and only offers 20 seats per year, we aim to amplify our impact through the Fellows by asking them to take learnings from the Fellowship back to their teams and communities.

This means that in a given year, while multiple people from the same organization may apply, should you all meet our basic eligibility criteria, we will only be able to select one of you to advance in the selection process. We suggest keeping this in mind as you make the decision regarding whether one or more of you will apply in the same year.

Q: Can I apply if I have taken Acumen Academy courses?

Absolutely! Taking Acumen Academy courses prior to the fellowship is strongly encouraged.

Q: Can I apply if I have participated in The Rockefeller Foundation Food Systems Vision Prize?

Absolutely! We strongly welcome applicants to the Food Systems Vision Prize. Just state the name of your Vision in your application.

Q: Is English proficiency a requirement?

Yes. All seminars and workshops are conducted in English. Conversational proficiency in English is a requirement to ensure Fellows are able to give and get the most from this experience.

Q: Is someone eligible to apply for the Food Systems Fellowship if they have taken part in an Acumen Fellowship in a different region?

No. Each cohort of Acumen Fellows must be comprised of individuals who have not previously taken part in an Acumen Fellowship. This is specific to Acumen’s programs; candidates who have participated in other fellowships or leadership programs, or who have taken part in Acumen Academy courses or accelerators, are welcome to apply.

Q: How is the Fellowship structured?

Fellows will remain in their jobs while taking part in a total of five seminars - three deep immersives (2 in-person, 1 virtual) lasting 1 full week each; and two workshops spanning 5 weeks each, with a commitment of ~8 hours per week. Our immersives provide opportunities with intensive introductions to concepts as well as cohort-building activities. Our workshops allow Fellows to continue the journey and weave lessons into their work and lives. Attendance at each seminar is mandatory.

Q: What is the total time commitment required for the Fellowship?

The 3 immersive seminars require a total of 18 full days to be committed to the Fellowship. This is in addition to travel time to locations for the in-person seminars. Whenever possible we have scheduled seminars to run from Monday to Saturday.

The 2 workshops require a total of 10 weeks (~8 hours per week) to be committed to the Fellowship. These include synchronous sessions with the whole cohort, and self-paced activities and assignments between sessions.

Between seminars, you will be expected to spend additional time on program-related assignments, email correspondence and collaborative projects for ~3 hours per week.

See more details in our Food Systems Fellowship Overview.

Q: Where will the different seminars and meetings for the program be held?

Individuals will be notified of the exact dates of all seminars, and locations of the in-person seminars, upon being selected as a Food Systems Fellow at the beginning of 2023.

Q: What happens during and between the seminars?

During the Food Systems Fellowship, Fellows are equipped with the knowledge, support systems, and skills to challenge the status quo, work across lines of difference, and mobilize their communities to build more inclusive food systems for all.

Our curriculum draws on powerful leadership frameworks, tools, and approaches, including Systems Thinking, Adaptive Leadership, Authentic Voice, Good Society Readings, Immunity to Change, and Polarities Management. Fellows also build trust and test new leadership skills within their cohort. This cohort-based model creates deep bonds of trust and fellowship, which persist long beyond the first year and which Fellows utilize to create greater impact.

Q: What is the attendance policy? What if I need to miss a seminar?

The Food Systems Fellowship has a 100% attendance requirement, and all selected Fellows must attend all seminars and complete assignments between seminars or face possible removal. We make exceptions for emergencies on a case-by-case basis.

Q: Is internet connectivity a requirement to participate in the fellowship?

Yes. The primary method of communication regarding logistics and other important information is email, online sessions are held using Zoom, and assignments between seminars will be provided via an online learning platform. Therefore, all Fellows must have regular and reliable internet access that allows the downloading and uploading of documents as well as audio and video files.

Q: How does Acumen Academy design for an inclusive experience?

Acumen Academy is deeply committed to equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We encourage applications from all food systems builders, as long as they have the motivation to make it happen.

Q: What should I keep in mind while applying?

Keep the following tips in mind as you approach your application. 

• Be concise. Please be mindful of stated word limits as the application will not allow you to exceed them. It is strongly recommended that you compose your responses in a word processor with a character count feature. 

• Save your draft often. From the beginning, make a habit of clicking the SAVE DRAFT button at the bottom of the page to avoid losing your work. You can always return to your application form when you save it as a draft, however you will not be able to make changes after you complete the submission. 

• Save an offline copy. We strongly recommend you read through the entire application form first. Enter and save your background information, then spend time offline composing your responses to the essay questions. When you are ready to submit, copy and paste your responses into the online form. Acumen is not responsible for any lost text, so save early and save often.
• Apply early. Start well in advance to avoid any last-minute technical difficulties or connectivity problems. We do not accept applications after the deadline. 

Q: What are the technology requirements for accessing and completing the application? 

To apply to the Acumen Fellowship, applicants will need a stable internet connection as the application is meant to be completed on an online platform. Additionally, we highly recommend applying through a laptop as the mobile experience is not recommended. All application documents and components must be submitted through the online portal. We highly recommend using Google Chrome or Firefox as your browser. 

If you experience issues submitting any element of your application, please try submitting your application from a different browser, computer, or a different location with stronger internet connectivity. 

Late submissions due to internet/technology issues will not be accepted so we encourage you to submit your application well in advance before the deadline. If you continue experiencing issues, please contact the Acumen Academy team via fellows@acumenacademy.org.

Q: What if I have trouble completing or submitting my application? 

To submit your application, you’ll need to check that the deadline hasn’t yet passed. Then, you'll need to complete all required tasks within your application. Finally, you’ll need to confirm that you’re responding to all the mandatory questions and that the files you’ve uploaded are meeting the requirements.  

Following this, you should be able to submit your application without encountering any issues. See SMApply “Completing an Application FAQ” and if you keep facing issues contact the Acumen Academy team via the regional team email address (that you’ll find inside the application form) or fellows@acumenacademy.org sharing your email address and screenshot of the issue you’re facing. 

Q: Will I get notified after my application has been submitted?

Yes. Our system automatically sends a confirmation email once your initial application has been submitted. If you do not receive one immediately after submitting your application, please check your email settings to make sure that our emails are not caught in your spam filter. We will send emails through the following domains: smapplycsm@momentive.ai, @acumenacademy.org, and @acumen.org  

Q: Can I edit my application after it’s been submitted?

No, this is not possible. However, it is possible to save your application before submitting, and  return to it later for editing. Make sure you double check all elements of your application before it is submitted. We cannot accept edits or changes after the fact, either through the platform or by email.

Q: Are recommendation letters required?

No. However, during the later stages of the selection process, we will ask you to provide the contact information of two professional references that we can reach out to, if you make it to the final stage of the selection process. Your references should be people with whom you have worked closely. They should not be family, friends, or spouses.

Q: Which costs does the Fellowship cover?

Acumen covers all fellowship-related expenses during the fellowship year. This includes all costs associated with the in-person seminars including lodging, food, transportation and visas, as well as technology costs associated with virtual seminars.

Q: Does the Fellowship provide scholarships, funding or additional benefits?

No. As this is a part-time fellowship, we do not provide stipends, funding, or insurance in addition to the program costs that we cover.

Q: Do I automatically qualify for grant funding or an investment if I participate in the Fellowship?

No. Acumen’s leadership development initiatives are completely independent of our investment activities.

Q: What are the application deadlines? And what happens after I submit my application?

Upon application submission, our selection team will carefully review submissions and participation at each stage of the process, and select candidates who will advance to the next stage. At each stage of the application process, all candidates will receive communication from our team about the progress of their application.

Q; How many Fellows are selected for the Food Systems Fellowship?

Acumen will select 20-22 Fellows from across the world for each cohort of the Food Systems Fellowship.

Q: What are the technology requirements for accessing and completing the application?

For all stages of the application process, applicants will need a stable internet connection. All application documents and components must be submitted through an online portal. We highly recommend using Google Chrome or Firefox as your browser. Late submissions due to internet or technology issues will not be accepted. Please plan to submit your application well in advance before the deadline.

If you experience issues submitting any element of your application, please try submitting your application from a different browser, computer or a different location with stronger internet connectivity. If you continue experiencing issues, please contact the Acumen team via foodsystemsfellows@acumenacademy.org

Q: Will I get notified after my application has been submitted?

Yes. Our system automatically sends a confirmation email once your initial application has been submitted. If you do not receive one immediately after submitting your application, please check your email settings to make sure that our emails are not caught in your spam filter. 

Q: Are recommendation letters required?

No. However, if someone from the Acumen or The Rockefeller Foundation communities has recommended you using our process, please get a referral link from them to include in your application.

Q: Can I edit my application after it’s been submitted?

No, this is not possible.

However, it is possible to save your application before submitting it, to return to later for editing. Make sure you double check all elements of your application before it is submitted. We cannot accept edits or changes after the fact, either through the platform or by email.

Q: Is post-Fellowship job placement provided?

No.

Q: What do Fellows do after completing the program? What type of professional and personal development support does the Food Systems Fellowship offer?

Acumen is invested not only in each Fellows’ growth over the course of the year-long program, but also in their development as lifelong builders of food systems work. After completing the first year, Fellows may receive continued mentorship and coaching. Acumen and the Rockefeller Foundation also have a very active and growing network of social sector organizations, thought leaders, and Fellows across the globe. We engage all Acumen Fellows through events, newsletters and subsequent recruitment and selection processes. In addition, after the program the Fellows become part of a community of moral leaders who are fighting poverty or injustice in their region and across the world.