Applications for the 2022 Essentials and Tiny Fellowships are Now Open!

Tl;dr: Applications for the Essentials and Tiny Fellowships are now open! For more info and resources, visit 4pt0.org/apply. Applications close 2/29 at noon central. Learn more about 4.0 here and more about our fellowships here.

We are incredibly excited to share that applications for the Tiny and Essentials Fellowships are now open! 4.0 is looking for our ext wave of education founders ready to turn their ideas into reality. Head over to 4pt0.org/apply to learn more.

About 4.0

At 4.0, we invest in new, community-centered models of education, and provide coaching, curriculum, community and cash to those with the imagination to envision a more equitable future of education. We believe that anyone can spark real change in their communities when they have access to resources to develop their ideas at the earliest stages.

Through our fellowships, we move money and power closer to communities, facilitating the creation of spaces where bold ideas can thrive. We then ensure that those ideas are tested, without the fear of failure or the need for expansion. We believe that these are the best conditions for imaginations to thrive.

Through our fellowships,we have made over 1,200 investments in founders with lived experiences grounded in the conditions they want to improve, and their ideas have gone on to benefit more than nine million students across the country. Our fellows have gone on to be recognized by Camelback Ventures, Echoing Green, Forbes 30 under 30, and Teach For America’s Social Innovation Award.

Our Fellowships

• The Essentials Fellowship is for people with early-stage ideas who don’t yet have organizations or programs. It asks fellows to reflect on their identity in relation to the work, to define the problem they’re addressing with their idea and to figure out if they are the right person to do the work. As a fellow, you will develop your ideas from a concept to a small-scale pop-up experience and will amass critical feedback from the people you want to work with and skills you need to continue refining your idea. Every fellow receives resources, feedback, a $300 grant and a community of peers cheering you on.
• The Tiny Fellowship takes you from an idea with early traction to a proof point that is ready to grow. This fellowship is designed for people with early-stage ideas who have gathered some community feedback. You’ll learn how to plan, run, and evaluate a recurring pilot. As a Tiny Fellow, you’ll receive coaching from experts, a $7,000 grant, and a community of peers, all pushing themselves to run disciplined tests of their ideas with their communities. By the end of the Tiny Fellowship, you’ll have evidence toward if people want your idea and if it works.

Who We’re Looking For

4.0 is looking for ANYONE with an idea to reimagine education for their community. SO, you. And by education, we mean that your idea is in service of learning — defined broadly — and designed to benefit children, families, and/or educators. Your idea can be a school (private, public, charter, homeschool, any kind), program, service, tech tool, physical product, or anything else that fulfills that mission.

We love working with people from all kinds of backgrounds. Past cohorts have often included a mix of parents, educators, students, and other community leaders.

How to Apply

Apply here for the Fellowships by April 29, 2022 at Noon Central Time.

Our selection process is designed to recognize the courage and vulnerability required to share an early-stage idea. There is a lot of gatekeeping by other funders , and we hope that our process feels human-centered and affirms your choice to build something new in education.

Here are some helpful tips as you begin your application:

1. Before you apply, check out all the resources available on the apply page and make sure you’re a good fit by taking our eligibility quiz.
2. Once you begin your application, there is not an option to go backwards to edit your answers. So make sure you download our application worksheet to pre-write your responses before submitting.
3. Don’t wait until the last minute. We’re very strict with our submission deadline of April 29 at noon CST and will not accept applications submitted after that time. Once you’re ready, hit send and don’t let your anxiety hold you back! You got this.

Application Resources Designed Just for You

• Read our One Pager to learn more about 4.0, our fellowships, and the application/fellowship timeline at a high level.
• Not Sure if our Fellowships are the Right Fit? Take our Eligibility Quiz. This self-assessment will help you decide if now is the right time to apply for a 4.0 fellowship. The assessment is free and has no bearing on your application.
• Check out our Application Toolkit with all the information you need about the application and our process to get you ready to apply. In the Toolkit, you’ll find: How to apply and key things to be aware of; a detailed application and fellowship timeline; frequently asked questions and answers; a copy of the fellowship applications; a copy of the application rubrics
• Get to know 4.0 and our alumni by registering for an alumni-led recruitment event. We have a variety of events you can find at 4pt0.org/events.
• 4.0 has an application coach ready to provide feedback on your application before you hit submit. Reach out for their support at apply@4pt0.org.

These resources and tons more can all be found at 4pt0.org/apply

Want to help us promote the Fellowships?

Check out our communications toolkit with graphics, logos, and draft language for newsletters, social and personal emails.

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