The 2025-2026 Truist Foundation Fellowship: Your Pathway to Business Growth and Lasting Impact

If you're a small business owner, nonprofit leader, or entrepreneur dedicated to building solutions for underbanked or underserved communities, there's an opportunity you need to know about. The Truist Foundation Fellowship, powered by the Watson Institute, is now accepting applications for its 2025-2026 cohort, and it could be exactly what your venture needs to reach the next level.

What Is the Truist Foundation Fellowship?

This fully-funded venture and leadership development program is designed specifically for promising entrepreneurs who are creating real change in their communities. Since 2021, the Fellowship has served over 2,400 entrepreneurs, with 53 Fellows creating 433 jobs and raising $11.5 million in capital. Those numbers speak for themselves.

The program runs from March 4 through June 19, 2026, and includes everything from hands-on business workshops and personalized mentorship to pitch training and access to capital connections. This isn't just another online course—it's a comprehensive ecosystem designed to accelerate your growth.

What You'll Gain

Expert-Led Business and Leadership Workshops

Learn from practitioners who've walked the path before you. The Fellowship brings in successful entrepreneurs and small business owners to lead sessions on entrepreneurship, business acumen, and financial literacy. Past preceptors include founders of seed-stage investment funds, AI startup leaders, and organizational development experts who specialize in helping businesses scale.

Mentorship and Capital Connections

One of the most valuable aspects of this program is access to Watson Institute's extensive network of mentors, potential funders, and investors. These aren't surface-level introductions; they're meaningful connections that can help advance your venture toward its next funding milestone.

Basecamp Leadership Experience

Here's something unique: Fellows design and lead their own community-focused workshops called "Basecamps" for earlier-stage entrepreneurs. You'll receive training and a stipend to support this initiative. This is an opportunity to deepen your impact and establish yourself as a leader in your local entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Pitch Training and Summit Presentation

The program culminates with dedicated pitch training and an in-person Summit where you'll present your progress and impact to community partners, mentors, potential investors, and Truist Foundation team members. It's your moment to shine and showcase everything you've built.

Is This Fellowship Right for You?

The Fellowship is looking for entrepreneurs who meet specific criteria. Your business or organization should have been operating for 1-5 years with fewer than 10 employees. You should have engaged customers, measurable results, and some funding through grants, investments, donations, or revenue, but you're ready to grow.

Most importantly, you must be located in and creating impact across communities in the following regions: Southeast (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee), Mid-Atlantic (Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C., West Virginia), Northeast (New Jersey, Pennsylvania), South Central (Texas, Ohio), or Midwest (Indiana).

The program requires a real commitment: a 16-week program with weekly sessions on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM Eastern Time, plus 8-10 hours per week total. If you can make that commitment, the return on investment in your time could be transformational.

What Alumni Are Saying

"This program pushed me to think through how I wanted to make an impact with the community I'm seeking to serve," shared one recent graduate. Another alumna described receiving "a supportive community, expert guidance, and practical tools that helped me refine my business model, clarify my mission, and expand my impact."

The alumni success stories are impressive. Jessica Lewis, founder of MOBU Enterprises, has created more than 200 jobs through her green construction company. Patrick Rodriguez has raised $2 million for GACHEP, providing educational pathways for incarcerated individuals. Kiesha Halliburton went on to be accepted into Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women: Black in Business program.

Key Dates and How to Apply

Priority Application Deadline: January 12, 2026

Final Decisions Announced: February 9, 2026

Program Dates: March 4 – June 19, 2026

The application takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. Selected candidates will be invited to a 20-minute Zoom interview to share their entrepreneurial journey and discuss how the Fellowship aligns with their goals.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis after the priority deadline, so don't wait; spots will fill up.

If you're building something meaningful for underserved communities and you're ready to take your venture to the next level, this Fellowship deserves your serious consideration. It's fully funded, the track record is proven, and the network you'll build could open doors for years to come.

The entrepreneurs who change the world aren't always the ones with the most resources at the start—they're the ones who seize the right opportunities at the right time. This might be yours.

Ready to apply? Visit watson.is/truist-foundation-fellowship to learn more and start your application today.