A powerful new fellowship opportunity is now officially open for Fulbright alumni worldwide — and it’s designed for those ready to turn big ideas into measurable global solutions.
The IIE Centennial Fellowship 2026, launched by the Institute of International Education (IIE) in honor of its historic partnership with the Fulbright Program, is now accepting applications for its seventh year. This prestigious annual fellowship recognizes Fulbright alumni whose work reflects the program’s deepest values: mutual understanding, leadership, and long-term global impact.
This year’s theme is especially timely and future-defining:
Advancing Responsible AI – From Framework to Deployment.
For Fulbright graduates working at the intersection of innovation, ethics, technology, governance, business, or social progress, this is a rare chance to receive major funding and global recognition for projects that shape the responsible future of artificial intelligence.
Fellowship Highlights: Funding, Prestige, and Global AI Leadership
The 2026 IIE Centennial Fellowship is not a traditional academic scholarship — it is an action-oriented award program supporting Fulbright alumni who are building solutions that matter.
Selected fellows will receive up to $25,000 to fund real-world projects that advance responsible AI practices, from early-stage design principles to scalable deployment and commercialization.
The fellowship’s mission is clear: to ensure AI strengthens human well-being, democratic values, economic security, and global stability — not undermines them.
Projects can focus on areas such as:
- Transparent and accountable AI system design
- Ethical deployment strategies at scale
- Commercial innovation without compromising safety
- Sustainable business models for responsible AI
- Post-deployment governance, monitoring, and labor-market protection
With only a few awards available globally, this fellowship represents one of the most competitive Fulbright-alumni funding opportunities of 2026.
Benefits of Winning the IIE Centennial Fellowship
Winning the IIE Centennial Fellowship is more than receiving funding — it is joining an elite circle of Fulbright alumni recognized for global leadership and innovation.
Fellows receive:
- Awards up to $25,000 for AI-focused impact projects
- Funding support for up to one full year
- Recognition as an official IIE Centennial Fellow
- Freedom to work independently without needing university or institutional affiliation
- A platform to advance solutions tied to responsible AI, governance, and deployment
- The opportunity to shape global conversations around ethical and scalable technology
Additionally, one outstanding recent Fulbright alumnus/a will receive the:
IIE New Leader Award
- Funding up to $15,000
- Reserved for alumni who completed Fulbright between 2021–2025
- Project must already be underway and aligned with the Responsible AI theme
This dual-award structure makes the program especially exciting for both experienced Fulbright leaders and emerging innovators.
Eligibility Requirements (Who Can Apply?)
To qualify for the IIE Centennial Fellowship 2026, applicants must meet a few key criteria.
- Must be an alumnus/a of the Fulbright Student or Scholar Program
- Proposed project must align with the 2026 theme: Responsible AI
- Project must be action-oriented and designed to produce measurable outcomes
- Applicants may work in any academic or professional field
- No institutional or organizational affiliation is required
- For the New Leader Award: Fulbright completion must be within the last five years (2021–2025)
This fellowship is ideal for Fulbright alumni working across technology, policy, education, entrepreneurship, economics, human rights, or global development.
Apply: https://www.iie.org/programs/iie-centennial-fellowship/
Application Deadline (Last Date to Apply)
The last date to apply for the IIE Centennial Fellowship 2026 is February 4, 2026, and applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time.