Sphere Alumni Fellowship

Who is eligible to participate in the Sphere Alumni Fellowship?Alumni of Sphere programming who are active 5th‐​12th grade educators and leaders in the United States are eligible. Qualifying examples include Sphere Summit Alumni; those who have attended three or more Sphere webinars; or those who have participated in Sphere programming events held across the country.

Do I have to attend a Sphere Summit before applying to be in the fellowship? 
Attending the Sphere Summit as a first step is highly encouraged but not required. You may instead be an alumnus of other Sphere programming. Click here to learn more about alumni status. 

What does a fellowship project include?Applicants are encouraged to develop projects that further the objectives of Sphere and the fellowship in ways that advance the unique needs of their educational community. Examples may include developing and utilizing a suite of curricular materials, starting a student club that interacts with the greater community, drafting and implementing school‐​wide civil discourse guidance in tandem with professional development, or hosting events in the school and community that bring together speakers from across ideological differences. The sky is the limit, but all projects should at a minimum (1) meet a demonstrated need in the community, (2) build off the applicant’s skills and abilities, and (3) be executed or make meaningful progress within the six months of the fellowship.

What are my responsibilities as a participant?
Participants are expected to attend all programming components of the fellowship. This includes the opening virtual program, monthly virtual sessions, and the closing in‐​person retreat. Participants should also make earnest progress toward developing, executing, and evaluating the results of a project by the end of the fellowship, along with reporting on progress made. The closing in‐​person retreat includes workshops, policy sessions, and meals.

Are virtual sessions required?
Yes, the virtual opening program and monthly virtual sessions are required components of the fellowship. If a Fellow has a specific challenging circumstance, they should communicate this with their mentor in a timely fashion. Virtual sessions are not recorded.

What requirements must be met to attend the in‐​person closing retreat?
To qualify for the in‐​person closing retreat in Washington, DC on March 5–7, 2027, including receiving the $500 travel stipend and room and board, Sphere Alumni Fellows must be in good standing within the Fellowship program. This includes attending required virtual programming, making reasonable progress on their Fellowship project, and completing required reporting on progress made.

How many professional development hours are available?
At the conclusion of the closing in‐​person retreat, each fellow will receive a certificate for 30 hours of professional development. This includes the time spent in the opening virtual session and project development, monthly virtual sessions, and the in‐​person retreat programming.

Can I defer my acceptance to next year?
No, you cannot defer your position. We encourage you to apply again but cannot guarantee your acceptance at a later time.

Do participants need to take off school for the September launch dates?
The Fellowship launch is structured so that you don’t have to take off school. Thursday is an evening session, Friday has brief, scheduled 1–1s, and the remainder of the launch takes place on Saturday. However, do plan to potentially take off time for the March closing, as programming starts on a Friday in D.C.

Can I receive funding for continuing my project if I do not attend the in‐​person closing retreat?
Closing awards and funding opportunities for continuing projects beyond the fellowship will be limited to those who qualify and participate in the closing retreat.

What are the accommodations for Sphere Alumni Fellowship participants?
Participants will stay at a hotel within walking distance from the Cato Institute. The check‐​in date is Friday, March 5th, and the checkout date is Sunday, March 7th, 2027, 2027. Hotel accommodations are provided only for the duration of the seminar and are for single occupancy. Room fees and taxes are covered for the nights of March 5th — 7th. Participants are responsible for additional nights and any hotel incidentals, such as personal expenses, phone calls, room service, or extra meals.

Can family and friends participate in the closing retreat?
We are unable to accommodate family and friends.

Can I commute to the Sphere Alumni Fellowship closing retreat?
Yes. If you live in Washington, DC, or the surrounding areas, you are welcome to commute to the event each day; however, parking is unavailable at the Cato Institute and is limited in the surrounding neighborhood.

What expenses am I responsible for?
There is no fee to attend the Sphere Alumni Fellowship, but an application is required. The Cato Institute will provide a $500 stipend to offset the cost of travel expenses upon completion of the in‐​person closing retreat. Participants are responsible for any travel expenses that exceed that amount. Participants should be prepared to pay for all personal expenses, additional nights, and incidentals, such as room service or extra meals.

What expenses does the Cato Institute pay for?
The Cato Institute provides room and board for three days for in‐​person attendees at the closing retreat, starting with dinner on Friday, March 5th, and ending with lunch on Sunday, March 7th.

Each fellow is eligible to receive a stipend of $500 upon completion of the closing in‐​person retreat. Please note that we are unable to provide supplemental funding in cases where the stipend is insufficient to cover all travel expenses. Participants are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to and from the retreat. Failure to complete the closing retreat may result in a delay or denial of the stipend.

Fellows are also eligible for additional stipends to support project expenses, in amounts to be determined, as part of final project reports during the closing retreat. Not all participants will receive additional stipends. Winning project pitches will receive awards that are anticipated to be between $500 and $1500.

What is the cancellation policy?
If, for some reason, you are unable to participate in the Sphere Alumni Fellowship, you must notify Cato in writing of your cancellation as soon as possible to allow for another recipient to be invited. If you cancel after registration, you agree to pay a $75 cancellation fee. 

If you cancel your registration after the Sphere Alumni Fellowship has already launched, and prior to the closing Summit on March 5–7, 2027, the fee for cancellation will increase to $250. You will also assume this charge if you fail to attend all scheduled in‐​person events at the closing event, engage in disruptive behavior toward other attendees or hotel guests, or are responsible for any destruction of property. 

What is the application deadline, and when will I be notified of whether I have been selected?
Applicants will be notified of their status on a rolling basis, typically within 3–4 weeks of submitting. The deadline for applications is Friday, August 21, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EDT or when the program has reached capacity, whichever comes first. Applicants who are accepted will be directed to registration information.

Can I apply to both the Sphere Summit and the Sphere Alumni Fellowship?
It is strongly encouraged that Sphere Summit alumni only apply to the Sphere Alumni Fellowship. Applicants may apply to both programs, but participation will be limited to only one program at the discretion of Sphere Education Initiatives.

Can more than one educator apply from a given school?
Yes, educators from the same school may attend the Sphere Alumni Fellowship. Educators from the same school or district are encouraged to submit collaborative project proposals.

Should I bring a laptop or tablet?
Participants must bring their own laptop computers or tablets for workshops and project development.

Will there be internet access?
Yes, complimentary wireless internet access is available at the Cato Institute and at the hotel.