Mozilla Foundation Fellowship 2027-2028
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Mozilla Foundation Fellowship 2027-2028
Last updated: November 2026. Official source: Mozilla Foundation 2027 Call for Applications.
The Mozilla Foundation has officially opened applications for its 2027-2028 Fellowship cohort.
Specifically, this prestigious program funds visionary leaders who are building technology alternatives that challenge the status quo.
Mozilla will award 10 Fellowships across two distinct tracks, providing funding, mentorship, and a global network of over 200 alumni.
Consequently, successful applicants gain the resources to turn their most radical ideas into reality.
Below, this guide explains the funding structure, focus areas, eligibility rules, and the step-by-step Letter of Intent process for Indian applicants.
Table of Contents
- Programme at a Glance
- What is the Mozilla Fellowship?
- Funding Tracks and Benefits
- Focus Areas for 2027
- Eligibility Criteria
- How to Apply: The Letter of Intent
- Deadlines and Selection Timeline
- Special Notes for Indian Applicants
- FAQs for Indian Applicants
Programme at a Glance
Mozilla Foundation Fellowship 2027-2028
First, let us examine the fundamental facts of the fellowship.
This summary table highlights the core details, funding amounts, and critical deadlines.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Name | Mozilla Foundation Fellowship 2027-2028 |
| Host Organization | Mozilla Foundation |
| Location | Global / Remote |
| Duration | 12 Months (Beginning June 2027) |
| Number of Fellowships | 10 |
| Maximum Funding | Up to $125,000 (Track II) |
| Application Method | Letter of Intent (LOI) followed by invited full application |
| Letter of Intent Deadline | December 17, 2026 (11:59 PM Pacific / UTC-8) |
| Official Portal | Mozilla LOI Submission Portal |
What is the Mozilla Fellowship?
Mozilla Foundation Fellowship 2027-2028
Since 2011, the Mozilla Foundation has designed and run Fellowship programs to uplift multidisciplinary talent at the intersection of technology and civil society.
Unlike traditional academic scholarships, this program backs builders, founders, and agitators.
Specifically, Mozilla seeks individuals working on technology that is too early, too unexpected, or too ambitious for traditional funders.
Furthermore, the program provides hands-on coaching from experts who have built products, organizations, and movements.
Therefore, fellows do not just receive a grant; they join a lifelong community of peers wrestling with similar global problems.
Funding Tracks and Benefits
Mozilla offers two distinct tracks to accommodate different working styles and project types.
Track I: Embedded Fellows
This track supports individuals who work in collaboration with a host organization.
Embedded Fellows receive a total of $100,000, which breaks down into a $75,000 stipend and a $25,000 project budget.
Track II: Independent Fellows
This track supports individuals who pursue their own independent projects.
Independent Fellows receive a total of $125,000, consisting of a $100,000 stipend and a $25,000 project budget.
Additionally, this track includes a Creative Advocacy stream for projects that are not exclusively technical.
Core Benefits for All Fellows
Regardless of the track, all fellows gain access to a global network of over 200 alumni.
Moreover, they receive mentorship, project support, and invitations to events like MozFest to swap ideas with other builders.
Focus Areas for 2027
Mozilla Foundation Fellowship 2027-2028
The 2027 cohort specifically seeks individuals reimagining emerging technology while its future is still being decided.
Applications should align with one or more of the following focus areas:
- Neurotech, biotech, and physical AI: Ensuring communities own, shape, and govern technology moving off the screen and into our bodies and land.
- Hard infrastructure: Opening up compute, energy, quantum, and extremes (orbit, seabed, data centers) so communities get data, tools, and a vote.
- Raising p(bloom): Funding AI that makes life better for far more people and breaking up gatekeeping behind the word “safety.”
- Business models for a post-agentic web: Building a new deal so creators, communities, and the open web survive the collapse of the old attention economy.
Eligibility Criteria
Mozilla Foundation Fellowship 2027-2028
To begin with, applicants must carefully review the following requirements.
Individual Status and Legal Requirements
The Fellowship only supports individuals, not teams or organizations.
Most importantly, any selected individual must be able to receive funding from a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organization.
Mozilla is legally required to verify this, so applicants must review the eligibility guidelines on the official website.
Geographic Focus
While open to applicants worldwide where Mozilla can legally make grants, there is a strong focus on the Global Majority.
Specifically, the program targets regions like Eastern Africa, MENA, Brazil, India, and Mexico.
How to Apply: The Letter of Intent
Mozilla Foundation Fellowship 2027-2028
Step 1: Prepare Your Concept
To begin the application, refine your idea to ensure it fits Mozilla’s focus areas.
They want to see the wildest, most radical version of your project—the one that questions who gets to decide.
Step 2: Submit the Letter of Intent (LOI)
Next, navigate to the official LOI portal linked on the Mozilla website.
Complete the initial form with your basic details and a brief summary of your project.
Submit this LOI before December 17, 2026. Late submissions are not accepted, and extensions are not granted.
Step 3: Wait for Invitation
After submitting the LOI, all applicants will receive an update by February 2027.
If shortlisted, Mozilla will invite you on February 16, 2027, to submit a full application.
The full application deadline will then be March 12, 2027.
Finalists will hear back on April 30, 2027.
Deadlines and Selection Timeline
Mozilla Foundation Fellowship 2027-2028
Mozilla enforces a strict multi-stage selection timeline.
| Stage | Date / Deadline | Note for Indian Applicants (IST) |
|---|---|---|
| Letter of Intent Deadline | December 17, 2026 (11:59 PM PT) | Submit by December 18 IST to avoid last-minute portal issues |
| All Applicants Notified | February 2027 | Monitor your email regularly |
| Invitation for Full Application | February 16, 2027 | Only for shortlisted candidates |
| Full Application Deadline | March 12, 2027 | Requires a detailed proposal |
| Finalist Notification | April 30, 2027 | Prepare for interviews |
| Fellowship Begins | June 1, 2027 | Plan your project timeline |
Special Notes for Indian Applicants
Mozilla Foundation Fellowship 2027-2028
Real Value of the Fellowship
At an approximate exchange rate of ₹85–₹90 per US dollar, the Track II total funding of $125,000 translates to roughly ₹1.06–₹1.12 crore.
The Track I total funding of $100,000 is approximately ₹85–₹90 lakh.
Keep in mind that exchange rates fluctuate, so treat this as indicative only.
India is a Priority Region
Mozilla explicitly highlights India as a focus geography for the Global Majority.
Furthermore, the current 2026 cohort includes Arghya Bhattacharya from Bengaluru, who co-founded Adalat AI.
His work on privacy-first AI for Indian courts was backed by Y Combinator, proving that Indian founders can achieve massive success through this fellowship.
The 501(c)(3) Requirement
Indian applicants must ensure they can legally receive a grant from a US-based 501(c)(3) organization.
This typically requires compliance with Indian foreign funding regulations (FCRA) if you are routing funds through an NGO, or having an appropriate individual banking setup.
Review Mozilla’s Grant Eligibility Guidelines PDF carefully before submitting your LOI.
Beware of Unauthorised Agents
No third-party website or agent can submit a Mozilla Fellowship application.
Use only the official LOI portal linked from the Mozilla Foundation website.
FAQs for Indian Applicants
Eligibility and Focus Areas
1. I am an Indian citizen. Am I eligible for this fellowship?
Yes, Indian citizens are highly encouraged to apply. Mozilla explicitly focuses on recruiting Fellows from the Global Majority, including India.
However, you must be able to legally receive funding from a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organization.
2. Can I apply if I am part of a startup or a team?
No, the Fellowship only supports individuals.
If you are a team with a working product that already has users, Mozilla suggests applying to their Incubator program instead. You can apply to both if you wish.
3. Do I need a working prototype to apply?
No, working technology and users are welcome but not required.
Mozilla is looking for ideas that are too early, too unexpected, or too ambitious for anyone else to fund.
Funding and Legal Requirements
4. What is the difference between Track I and Track II?
Track I (Embedded) is for individuals working in collaboration with a host organization and offers $100,000 total. Track II (Independent) is for individuals pursuing their own projects and offers $125,000 total.
Track II also includes a Creative Advocacy stream for non-technical projects.
5. What is the real value of $125,000 in Indian rupees?
At roughly ₹85–₹90 per dollar, $125,000 works out to about ₹1.06–₹1.12 crore.
However, this total includes a $25,000 project budget. The stipend portion is $100,000, which is roughly ₹85–₹90 lakh.
6. What does the 501(c)(3) requirement mean for me?
It means you must have a legal mechanism to receive a grant from a US-based nonprofit.
For Indian applicants, this often involves routing funds through an FCRA-registered entity or having an appropriate individual banking setup. Review Mozilla’s eligibility guidelines carefully before applying.
Application Process
7. Is the application deadline December 17 or March 12?
The first and most critical deadline is the Letter of Intent (LOI) on December 17, 2026.
If shortlisted, you will be invited to submit a full application by March 12, 2027. You cannot submit the full application without an invitation.
8. Where do I submit the Letter of Intent?
All LOIs must be submitted through the official portal linked on the Mozilla Foundation website at mzl.la/fellowshipsLOI.
Never submit your details to third-party websites or agents.
9. Can I edit my application after submitting?
No, once you submit the LOI, it can no longer be edited or updated.
Therefore, review your proposal carefully and ensure all details are final before clicking submit.
10. What if my project is not purely technical?
The fellowship supports projects that are primarily, but not exclusively, technical in nature.
If your project is non-technical, you should apply for the Creative Advocacy stream outlined in Track II: Independent Fellows.
