Eisenhower Fellowships

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Eisenhower Fellowships?
EF is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization founded in 1953 as a birthday gift to President Dwight Eisenhower from a group of prominent U.S. business leaders. We bring 40-50 mid-career professionals, ages 32-45, to the U.S. annually and send 8-12 U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents overseas as Eisenhower USA Fellows.

2. What is the purpose of the fellowship?
The program provides professional enrichment, leadership development and network expansion. Fellows have an opportunity to take time out from their occupations to meet leaders and senior experts in their field, enhance their leadership skills, and become part of a global network of Eisenhower Fellows. The network fosters international cooperation, furthering what Dwight Eisenhower said was the purpose of the program, which is to further in very practical ways mankind’s highest goal: peace with justice.

3. What do Eisenhower Fellows do during their travel?
International Fellows follow an intense program of meetings, conferences, speaking engagements and cultural events, typically visiting 8-10 U.S. cities. We schedule for them 50-60 appointments with leading experts in their field wherever they are located in the U.S. EF staff handles all of the administrative and logistical details of the travel. USA Fellows have a similar experience overseas.

4. How do Eisenhower Fellowships differ from other fellowships?
EF is not an academic program or restricted to only certain professions. Unlike most international exchange programs, every Eisenhower Fellowship is different, with each Fellow’s program custom-designed to fit his or her needs. Furthermore, the Fellowship does not end when travel has been completed: Fellows engage with a global network of world changers for the rest of their lives.

5. What kind of people become Eisenhower Fellows?
They are mid-career professionals (ages 32-45) from all walks of life: business, government, NGO’s, agriculture, the arts, sports, religion, etc. All have three things in common: (1) a track record of substantial achievement and demonstrated leadership, in their organizations and communities, (2) expectation of further professional and personal growth, and (3) a commitment to international collaboration.

6. What countries do Eisenhower Fellows come from?
Currently, 49 countries are invited to send international Fellows to the U.S. See Prospective International Fellows page. Some countries are invited annually, some biannually, some every three years. USA Fellows come from four areas: New England, Philadelphia, Research Triangle (North Carolina) and St. Louis. Our nearly 2,000 alumni are found in over 100 countries, where they hold positions of leadership and influence.

7. How are Eisenhower Fellows chosen?
Overseas, we rely on blue-ribbon committees composed of national leaders, including Eisenhower Fellow alumni, to identify, interview and recommend candidates to Eisenhower Fellowships headquarters in Philadelphia, which makes final selection decisions. In the U.S., distinguished Steering Committees perform the same functions with respect to USA Fellows.

8. When does the fellowship occur?
International Fellows come to the U.S. for seven weeks in two groups of roughly equal size (15-25 Fellows), one in the spring (April-May) the other in the fall (October-November). USA Fellows travel abroad individually at a time that suits them and their destination country.

9. What results are Eisenhower Fellows expected to produce?
During their travels, Fellows identify concrete projects that they undertake upon their return home. Projects range from ongoing collaborations with organizations encountered during the Fellowship travel to collaborative professional and philanthropic efforts with other Fellows.

10. Are academic institutions affiliated with Eisenhower Fellowships?
No, it is not an academic program or institution. However, an Eisenhower Fellow’s program may include meetings with academic experts at leading universities in his or her field.

11. What financial support do Eisenhower Fellows receive?
We cover the full cost of international travel, domestic transport, lodging and meals. There is also a subsidy to encourage spouses to join in part of the travel. EF staff provide programmatic, administrative and logistical support.

12. How is Eisenhower Fellowships funded?
Funds come primarily from private contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations. The organization’s annual budget is slightly in excess of $4 million. The U.S. Congress established a modest federal trust in 1990 to honor the centenary of Dwight Eisenhower’s birthday. Interest on the trust fund covers about 5% of the annual operating budget.

13. Are Fellows required to speak foreign languages?
International Fellows are required to be proficient in English so that they may operate independently at a professional level while traveling and participate actively in the worldwide alumni network thereafter. USA Fellows are supplied with an interpreter if one is needed overseas.

14. Can a Fellow's family accompany him or her during the travel?
Spouses and domestic partners are encouraged to accompany the Fellow. Children may not.

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