Fisher Family Summer Fellows Program on Democracy and Development
Fisher Family Summer Fellows Program on Democracy and Development supports mid-career practitioners through training and peer exchange to advance democracy, development, and the rule of law.
Funder: Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law
Due Dates: January 12, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. PST (Application and recommendations) | July 18–August 6, 2027 (Program)
Funding Amounts: Accommodations, meals, and transportation during the three-week program; fellows typically cover round-trip airfare
Summary: Stanford-based training and peer exchange help mid-career practitioners advance democracy, development, and the rule of law.
Key Information: This is a practitioner fellowship, not an academic fellowship; applicants need at least 10–12 years of experience.
Description
The Fisher Family Summer Fellows Program on Democracy and Development is an annual, three-week residential training program hosted by Stanford University’s Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law (CDDRL), part of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies. Launched in 2005 and formerly called the Draper Hills Summer Fellows Program, it brings together approximately 30 mid-career practitioners from countries in political transition.
The program supports leaders advancing democratic practices and economic and legal reform where freedom, human development, and good governance are fragile or at risk. Academic sessions, case-study workshops, fellows’ talks, and guest lectures connect theory with practical reform challenges. Participants explore democratic transitions, law and economic development, public administration, and transitional justice while exchanging experience with Stanford faculty and peers.
