Fellowship FAQ

Eligibility & Background

    • Individuals whose work connects scholarship to real-world systems or policy change and who are eligible to work within the United States, are encouraged to apply. 

      • Applicants may be young and emerging scholars (e.g., postdoctoral fellows, assistant professors) or seasoned researchers (e.g., associate or full professors). 

      • Applicants do not need to hold a PhD or be affiliated with a university. There is no minimum education requirement, but applicants should not be active students pursuing academic degrees. Graduate students are not eligible to apply.

  • Yes. Practitioners and nonprofit professionals are eligible to apply so long as they have research experience and/or work history that connects scholarship to real-world systems or policy change. All applicants must be eligible to work within the United States.

  • No. Applicants may live anywhere within the United States.

  • Yes. Researchers who are currently working or who have previously worked on a United WE project are encouraged to apply.

Fellowship Structure & Requirements

    • The Fellowship is designed to be completed alongside other professional commitments, with flexible pacing over 12 months.

    • In addition to the time required to complete the research and written deliverables, Fellows will be required to attend a two-day Fellowship Symposium hosted by United WE. Virtual convenings will be short (2 hours or less).

    • One original white paper.

    • Two short-form written pieces that present evidence and apply research findings to provide actionable information to policymakers and community leaders. One of these pieces will be a two-page research brief that applies the Fellow’s research to answer the question, "What actions can community leaders and policymakers take to help rural communities thrive?" 

    • Attendance at a two-day in-person Fellowship Symposium at the conclusion of the Fellowship (location and timing TBD).

    • Participation in virtual convenings

  • The date and location of the Fellowship Symposium have not been set. Fellows will be given sufficient advance notice to plan their attendance.

Research Scope & Fit

  • There is no requirement that Fellows’ research focuses on women, although United WE does encourage projects that illuminate how policies, systems, and trends uniquely affect women and their roles in rural communities.

  • For the purposes of this Fellowship, rural is defined as any U.S. county with fewer than 50,000 residents.

  • No. Fellows’ research may study any rural U.S. communities. However, if a Fellow’s research does not focus on rural Kansas or rural western Missouri, the research should have clear implications for these specific rural areas.

    • Fellows’ research should advance understanding of issues facing rural communities, with implications for systems change that can improve the well-being of those who live there.

    • Potential areas of study include–but are not limited to–economic development and entrepreneurship, workforce participation, caregiving and family support, civic participation, health care access, physical infrastructure, education, and community cohesion and belonging. A more detailed list is available here. 

    • Applicants may propose research on another area so long as it is consistent with the goals of the Fellowship.

  • Fellowship awards are designed to support new study and exploration of issues impacting rural American women and their communities.

    • No. Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval is not required before applying for the Fellowship. If an applicant’s project requires IRB approval, the applicant should articulate a plan for securing it and reflect this step within their project plan.

    • Any applicant selected for a Fellowship whose research project requires IRB approval will be solely responsible for securing IRB approval. 

Award Funding

  • Fellowship awards will be paid to each Fellow as an individual independent contractor or to the Fellow’s eligible business entity (e.g., LLC). All Fellows will be required to complete a W-9. 

    • No. To ensure the full award amount goes directly to the Fellow and is not subject to institutional overhead or administrative requirements, funds cannot be routed through Fellows’ employers. The payment must be made to the individual recipient or to their independent business entity (such as an LLC).

    • Fellowship awards are considered taxable income, whether received as an individual or through an LLC. Fellows are solely responsible for fulfilling any federal, state, local, or other tax obligations. United WE does not withhold taxes and is not responsible for any tax-related obligations.

    • United WE will issue the appropriate tax form at year-end, and recipients are responsible for reporting the income on their tax return. United WE is unable to provide individual tax or legal advice. Recipients are encouraged to consult a tax professional if they have questions about how the award affects their personal or business taxes.

    • Yes. Recipients will complete:

      • a brief contractor agreement outlining expectations,

      • a W-9 form (individual or business), and

      • ACH payment information.

    • The Fellowship award is intended to compensate recipients for their time, expertise, and participation in the Fellowship. It may be used to support the development and completion of Fellows’ projects (e.g., supplemental salary, research expenses, travel, etc.).

    • Funds are not treated as a reimbursement for documented expenses, and recipients are not required to submit receipts. Because the award compensates for time and contributions, it is treated as taxable income under IRS rules. While the project may involve some personal expenses, the award is designed to recognize the value of your time and insights rather than itemized costs.

  • No. The award amount is fixed and cannot be adjusted for overhead, fringe, administrative costs, or other reasons.

  • Each Fellow will receive $15,000 after signing a Fellowship agreement with United WE. The remaining $5,000 will be distributed upon Fellow’s completion of the Fellowship requirements (see question 12). 

  • Recipients are responsible for understanding and following any policies their employer may have regarding outside work, independent contractor income, or fellowship funding. If you are employed by a university, nonprofit, or other institution, please check any internal requirements and communicate with your employer as needed. United WE does not contact employers on your behalf.

Application Components & Process

  • Strong proposals will demonstrate a clear potential to influence rural policy, practice, or systems and make meaningful contributions to the area of study. Further, projects that illuminate how policies, systems, and trends uniquely affect women and their roles in rural communities, as well as address topics central to United WE’s mission will be viewed especially favorably.

    • All applications will be reviewed by three independent reviewers. Reviewers will use a scoring rubric to assess applications, giving each an overall score. The overall scores from the three reviewers will be averaged, with the highest scoring applications becoming finalists.

  • No. The Rural Research Fellowship is designed to support an individual’s independent research. If the proposed project involves collaboration with other researchers, the application should list these collaborators along with their titles, affiliations, and a brief description of their roles.

  • No. Applicants are limited to one proposal only.

  • No. Letters of recommendation are optional.

  • United WE expects to notify applicants about the status of their application in May 2026.

  • No. United WE is unable to provide feedback on applications.

Fellowship Experience

  • The Rural Research Fellowship seeks to build relationships between Fellows through a virtual convening at the start of the Fellowship, the Fellowship Symposium at the conclusion of the Fellowship, and throughout the Fellowship in bite-sized engagement opportunities.

  • Yes. United WE will cover travel and accommodations to the Fellowship Symposium.

  • Fellows may request up to one 3-month (90 day) extension to complete Fellowship deliverables. Requests must be made to United WE in writing and at least 30 days in advance.

Post-Fellowship Expectations

  • Fellows retain ownership of their research and deliverables. By accepting the Fellowship, Fellows grant United WE a nonexclusive, royalty-free license to publish, reproduce, and distribute Fellowship deliverables, with appropriate attribution.

  • While Fellows are not required to participate in United WE events or dissemination activities after completing the Fellowship, United WE welcomes an ongoing relationship with Fellows, including in the identification and selection of future Fellows.

  • Fellows may request up to one 3-month (90 day) extension to complete Fellowship deliverables. Requests must be made to United WE in writing and at least 30 days in advance.

Post-Fellowship Expectations

Application Open: March 4, 2026

Application Close: April 6, 2026

Application Review Period: April 6 - May 25, 2026

Fellowship Awards Announced: May, 2026

Fellowship Duration: June 2026 - June 2027

Convenings, including symposium

  • Convening A (Fellowship kick-off): Date TBD (June 2026)

  • Convening B (Mid-point check-in) and deliverable of first short-form written piece: Date TBD

  • Symposium and completion of remaining deliverables: Date TBD (Summer 2027)

Please email any questions unanswered by this FAQ resource to Fellows@united-we.org.

Allow 2 business days for a response.