Applicant Eligibility
Can multiple founders of one business apply for the Fellowship?
Only one individual founder per entity may apply.
Is the Fellowship open to non-U.S. citizens?
The Fellowship is open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.
Is there an age requirement to apply to the program?
Individuals must be 18 years of age or older to apply.
What is the expected time commitment for the Fellowship?
The Fellowship is a full-time commitment with grant funding intended to enable Fellows to devote their full working time and attention to their ideas and new ventures. Expected time commitment from Fellows should be consistent with full-time employment and working on your venture should be your main professional priority. As such, full-time students or candidates unwilling to step away from other full-time employment are not eligible to apply.
Fellows also will be expected to attend in-person and virtual meetings and events in Birmingham and one annual in-person Fellows convening at ECMC Group’s headquarters in Minneapolis.
What education requirements are required to apply for the Fellowship?
The Fellowship is open to individuals who have completed postsecondary education in the last five years or are currently enrolled and will complete their postsecondary education before June 1, 2025.
What types of postsecondary education are required to apply for the Fellowship?
Postsecondary education includes any four-year degree from a college or university, an associate degree or other equivalent degree from a community college or a certificate from a vocational program.
How will the $120,000 award be distributed?
Fellows will receive payment installments distributed over the two years based on the successful completion of professional and business milestones.
Do I need to live in Birmingham to apply?
Applications are open to residents of the Greater Birmingham area. For this Fellowship, the Greater Birmingham area is defined as locations within a 50-mile radius of Birmingham. Applicants must commit to building their business in the area throughout the two years in the program.
Organization Eligibility
What type of businesses can qualify for the Fellowship?
Founders of all types of businesses are eligible to apply, including technology, consumer products, service-based businesses and more. These can be existing businesses or business ideas that will be developed with the support of the Bold Path Fellowship.
Are nonprofit ideas eligible to apply for the Fellowship?
Revenue-generating nonprofits—nonprofits that don’t solely rely on grant funding for sustainability—are eligible to apply.
What is a business that supports social impact?
We will support businesses that align with at least one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Can my business or idea have impact beyond Birmingham?
Yes. The submitted business must have local social impact, but the scope of the business can expand beyond Birmingham.
While local employment is one area of impact, we hope businesses support long-term employment as the sole local impact outcome does not qualify as "social impact" for the Bold Path Fellowship. Submissions should be linked to a specific social impact goal as defined by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and connected to the Birmingham area. For example, a tobacco company that employs local residents would not qualify; however, a business that produces affordable housing in Birmingham and other areas (nationally and internationally) would qualify.