The Application Process
The Education Entrepreneur Fellowship uses a rolling application and review process with no set deadlines. Applicants are free to submit their applications at the time that best suits their individual readiness. There are two main steps to the application process: the Statement of Intent, and the Full Application. All applicants must submit a Statement of Intent to be considered for the Fellowship. Based on review of the Statements of Intent, select candidates will be invited to submit a Full Application.
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Step 1 - Statement of Intent: All Applicants
This initial step provides an introduction to your proposed venture. It will be used to determine which candidates will be invited to submit a Full Application. The online application form requires the following:
- Contact Information
- Gender
- Date of Birth
- Country of Citizenship
- Professional History
- Academic History
- Initiatives Launched - If you have played a leading role in launching any significant organizations, initiatives, programs or projects (including during school), you will be asked to include that information in your Statement of Intent.
- Essay Questions:
- Describe your initiative in 50 words or less.
- Please clearly explain your initiative and how you will use the Fellowship to develop (or further develop) and launch it. Please include how Indianapolis will be a part of the initial growth plans of your initiative. (2,000 words or less)
Step 2 - Full Application: Invited Applicants Only
Only select candidates will be invited to submit a Full Application. The online form will require the following:
- Letters of Recommendation – Candidates invited to submit a Full Application are asked to have three letters of recommendation submitted on their behalf. Recommenders should submit their letters directly to The Mind Trust via email, fax or mail.
- Hard copies should be mailed to: The Mind Trust, Attn: Fellow Recommendations, 407 North Fulton Street, Suite 102, Indianapolis, IN 46202.
- Electronic copies may be emailed to: fellowship@themindtrust.org.
- Faxed letters should be sent to: Attn: Fellow Recommendations at (317) 822-8149
- Please note: All letters of recommendation must be received by The Mind Trust within one week of the applicant’s submission of the Full Application.
- Description of applicant’s history of community involvement
- Description of applicant’s awards, honors and/or published work
- Essay Questions:
1. Describe your initiative in 50 words or less. (Please feel free to restate and/or revise your Statement of Intent essay.)
2. Clearly explain your initiative and how you will use the Fellowship to develop (or further develop) and launch it (2,000 words or less). Please include how Indianapolis will be a part of the initial growth plans of your initiative. (Feel free to restate and/or revise your Statement of Intent essay.)
3. How did you come up with your idea? (500 words or less)
4. Describe how your initiative addresses an urgent and compelling need. Focus your answer on your initiative. (1,500 words or less)
5. What other significant initiatives, if any, are similar to the initiative you are proposing to launch? This could include initiatives working to address a similar need, working with a similar target population, or using a similar structural model. How does your approach differ from theirs? What could you learn from their approaches? (750 words or less)
6. How will you measure your success in addressing the urgent problem you plan to tackle? (750 words or less)
7. Why are you the right person to launch the proposed initiative? (750 words or less)
8. Which of the initiatives launched, listed in your Statement of Intent, best demonstrates your entrepreneurial skills? (750 words or less)
9. What is your intended geographic scope? (The Mind Trust fully expects and hopes that many initiatives launched by Fellows will extend regionally or nationally. Fellows, however, must include Indianapolis in their initial growth plans.) (250 words or less)
10. Why is your proposed initiative financially achievable and sustainable? (750 words or less)
The Mind Trust will review all Full Applications. Select candidates will be contacted regarding interviews.
Frequently Asked Questions: All Applicants
All applicants are encouraged to review our comprehensive Frequently Asked Questions section before beginning the application process. The FAQ section has been organized by subject matter for your convenience:
- Description of Fellowship
- Eligibility
- Application