Application Process

If you are interested in applying for the Accelerator, please complete our interest form. Contact our team at connect@redf.org if you have any questions.

Applications for our 2025 Cohort will open in July 2024. For information about our past application process, please review our informational webinar. Once applications open, we review applications on a rolling basis.

Yes! We understand that your business will continue to evolve and grow, and we will stay in touch to learn if a future program is a better fit for your enterprise.

Leaders and enterprises who have already been through the Accelerator or the Growth Portfolio (previously called the Venture Philanthropy Portfolio) are not eligible to participate again. It is our intention that leaders bring the program learnings back to their organization and have ongoing access to their curriculum archive in order to do so.

If you lead a social enterprise that has already been through the Accelerator but have since launched a new business line, you may be eligible to reapply.

We operate our review process with the lens of inclusion-centered decision-making — meaning our goal as an Accelerator is to accept every leader into our program that is eligible and ready. During our review process, we are looking for reasons to include leaders in our program, not exclude them. See our application rubric for greater detail.

Participant Criteria

This program is designed for one leader from the social enterprise with decision-making authority to implement changes within their social enterprise. Examples of past participant roles include CEOs and executive directors, founders, and social enterprise directors. Please reach out to us at connect@redf.org if you are unsure who from your enterprise should participate.

We approach our role as conveners with a deep sense of responsibility for the health and safety of everyone in attendance. Participants are expected to comply with our COVID policy. 

Participant Experience

Grants are disbursed at the completion of the program and evaluations.

The three cohort convenings, each a full week long, are times when you should plan to be “out of office.” 

In between convenings, plan to allocate 2 – 5 hours per week connecting with peer feedback groups and making progress on the projects you identify in the program. 

We anticipate you dedicating about 150 hours to this program in total:

  • Month 1: 40 hour in-person convening week + 3 hours/week inter-session 
  • Month 2: 2-5 hours of peer work each week
  • Month 3: 30 hour virtual convening week + 3 hours/week inter-session 
  • Month 4: 2-5 hours of peer work each week
  • Month 5: 40 hour in-person convening week + 3 hours/week inter-session 

All program materials (decks, workbooks, shared materials from the cohort, etc.) will be made accessible via REDF Academy. We will also offer suggestions for how to involve your team in specific projects. After graduating from the Accelerator, you and your extended team will have access to expanded offerings via our larger Community.

Program and Travel Costs

There is no fee to participate in the Accelerator. For our in-person cohort convenings, hotel accommodations and breakfast and lunch are provided. Participating leaders are responsible for purchasing their travel (plane tickets, etc.) to our in-person convening locations. REDF offers a limited number of travel stipends to support leaders who face financial hardship in attending the in-person cohort convenings. The stipend amount may not cover the full cost of your travel.

We understand that in-person cohort convenings require a significant travel commitment. Our second cohort convening is virtual to offset the time required away from your enterprise. Please note that during this virtual convening the workshops will still be full-day (with added accommodations and tailored scheduling to manage “screen time”).