Heed the Call

When was the application deadline?
The final application deadline was 12:00 noon HST on Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Only applications received by the early deadline of 12:00 noon HST on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 will receive confirmation of receipt or notification of missing items.

How will I know if my application is complete?
You will receive an email confirming the status of your application within five business days of submission or by Friday, March 1, 2024 at the latest if you submit by the early application deadline of 12 noon HST on Wednesday, February 28, 2024.

If you did not submit your two letters of support with your online application, we highly recommend that you contact your letter writers directly to make sure it was received by our office. Your letter writers will receive confirmation of receipt from our office within five business days. Letters of support should be submitted with your application form or emailed directly to info@omidyarfellows.org.

What dates should I block for interviews?
We ask that you block the following dates:

• Semifinalist Small Group Process: April 15 and April 16
• Finalist Zoom Interview: May 10 and May 11*
• Finalist In-Person Interview: May 13 and May 14

*As of March 6, we are adding May 10 or 11 for a 20-minute finalist Zoom interview. If you are unable to participate in a Zoom interview on these dates, please email us at office@hawaiileadershipforum.org.

Interview sign-ups are on a first-registered, first-served basis, so you may not receive your preferred time slot. We are unable to accommodate alternate dates or specific times.

Once your time slot is confirmed, you will only need to be present for one day for the semifinalist small group process and one day for the finalist in-person interview.

We may also ask for a phone interview between Monday, March 18 – Wednesday, March 27.

Is attendance mandatory for all sessions?
Yes, we ask each Fellow to commit to attending all sessions. Please review the schedule posted to ensure that you can commit to each one. Attendance is important because the context for transformative learning is community. The ability of a group to form a sense of shared identity creates a basis for moving forward together in learning. 

What is the cost associated for this program?
There is no cost for the Fellow or sponsoring organization. The program covers all costs for each participant, including airfare, ground transportation, and lodging for neighbor island Fellows.

Will you cover costs for neighbor island travel during the selection process?
Airfare and ground transportation costs will be covered for candidates.

How many candidates may an organization sponsor?
For cohort diversity, if we receive more than one candidate application from the same organization, only one candidate may be selected as a finalist.

Are elected officials eligible to apply for the Omidyar Fellows program?
Given the demands of the program, the unique nature of political leadership, and the requirements of the legislative calendar, elected officials are not eligible for participation in the Omidyar Fellows program. Hawai‘i Leadership Forum is launching the Leaders Lab initiative with an offering for public officials and government leaders.

Can a letter of support be written by an Omidyar Fellow?
Omidyar Fellows may only write letters of support if they are the CEO or board chair of your sponsoring organization.

Can I provide more than two letters of support?
Please submit a total of two letters of support: one from your chief executive and one from a colleague outside of your organization. Detailed information about what each letter should address is available here.

Who should I address my letters of support to?
Please address your letters either to the Selection Committee or To Whom It May Concern.

If I am a sole practitioner or entrepreneur, who should write my chief executive letter of support?
Please have your board chair write your letter. If you do not have a board, please have a community executive write your letter. Please note that Omidyar Fellows may not write your letter of support.

If the chief executive in my organization resides out of state, may I submit a letter of support from the regional executive based in Hawaiʻi?
Yes, since the regional executive may be more familiar with your work, feel free to submit a letter from the top executive based in Hawaiʻi.