Fulcrum Fellowship 2026
Applications close October 15, 2026.
Leadership shapes what’s possible in community investment, especially now. In a moment of real uncertainty, the Fulcrum Fellowship supports leaders who are already shaping capital, policy and practice to build a more just and resilient future for their communities. This year’s search comes at a time when leaders are helping their communities navigate a rapidly changing political and economic landscape, with particular attention to small- and mid-size cities and communities across the South.
Save the Date - Information Session: September 28, 2026 at 1 p.m. CT / 2 p.m. ET
We will be hosting an information session for interested applicants. Join us to hear from Fulcrum alum and CCI Executive Director Omar Carrillo Tinajero.
About the Program
We’re building a cohort with experience across today’s most pressing issue areas. Throughout the 13-month program, fellows engage in collaborative problem-solving, personalized coaching and systems thinking exercises to deepen their leadership practice and create actionable strategies for their communities.
Applicants should be prepared to hold the following dates for in-person seminars in Berkeley, California:
April 13-15, 2027
July 13-15, 2027
October 26-28, 2027
February 1-3, 2028
May 2-4, 2028
See our FAQs here, check out the application guide and apply here.
CCI's Capital Absorption Framework
Fellows use CCI’s Capital Absorption Framework and systems thinking tools to understand how capital moves in their communities, design strategies for change and build the mindset needed for collaborative, system-wide solutions.
Seminars, Coaching and Group Sessions
Over the course of the 13-month program, fellows participate in five multi-day in-person seminars, complemented by virtual monthly coaching and group sessions.
Experienced Faculty
Led by experienced faculty, the program creates a space for personal and professional growth, fueled by a diverse community of peers tackling complementary challenges.
Program Goals
What Fellows Walk Away With
This cohort will reflect a range of perspectives. We’re building a cohort that spans sectors, geographies and career paths, because innovation happens when leaders engage the work differently.
Fellows strengthen their ability to move capital toward community-defined change, using the Capital Absorption Framework and systems thinking tools to confront the structures that shape opportunity in their communities.
Fellows test new approaches to leadership and capital strategy alongside peers who are facing similar challenges from different vantage points.
Fellows leave the program with renewed collaborative capacity they can keep building with, and a network of leaders shifting the community investment ecosystem.
What Does an Organization Gain?
Fulcrum Fellows develop sharper strategy, a stronger network and a robust leadership toolbox they can put to work immediately, strengthening their organization’s capacity along with their own.
Program Criteria
Who Can Apply to Be a Fellow
This fellowship is built for leaders with real authority in their organizations, a strong bench of peers and partners to build with and an idea for their community that will require capital to achieve its impact. Experience matters, and so does the willingness to keep growing.
Eligible participants are those who:
Are leading strategic work that has meaningful importance to their organization, community, or the broader field
Are committed to advancing racial equity and can demonstrate tangible results or sustained efforts in their work
Have been working for at least 10 to 15 years in one of our focus fields—shared ownership, climate resilience, housing and community development, creative placemaking, philanthropy, and finance
Are willing to rethink and reframe current strategies to accelerate progress and deepen impact
Are interested in developing deeper self-awareness and personal efficacy in their leadership
Are eager to learn, give and receive coaching, and participate in a network of diverse, committed peers
Can commit to the entire 13-month program, with written endorsement from their organization
Learn More: CCI Program Alumni
Meet leaders who are already shaping capital, policy and practice in their communities. Their work spans geographies and sectors, and shows what’s possible when leaders engage differently:
Whatever it Takes to Support Working People in Los Angeles: Rudy Espinoza’s Story
GRID Alternatives: The Power of a Pipeline
Rebuilding for Resilience: How Damon Burns Turned Finance New Orleans into an Engine of Change
Stay Connected
Contact
If you have additional questions or would like to connect, email [email protected].
