The Tory Burch Foundation began in 2009 to support and empower women entrepreneurs. Their Fellows Program is a year-long program designed to help women-owned businesses grow. In this post, we will discuss what the Fellows Program is, who qualifies, and how to apply.

What is the Tory Burch Fellows Program?  

The Tory Burch Fellows Program is a year-long program that will start in the Summer of 2022, following the selection of 50 fellows in the Spring. Winners will receive a one-year fellowship with the Tory Burch Foundation, which includes business guidance, workshops, and virtual education programs.

Winners will also receive a $5K grant for business education, an opportunity to participate in the Fellows Lab (a mentorship event with certain industry leaders), access to a private online peer community to provide ongoing support and encouragement, and a fully paid trip to New York City for a workshop and networking.

Who is Eligible For the Fellows Program?

To qualify, a business owner must be a woman or woman-identifying entrepreneur, must own 51% or more of the business, be 21 years old, be proficient in English, and be a legal resident of the U.S. Businesses must be for-profit (from any industry), must generate at least $75K in annual sales, must be formed in the U.S., and preferably be within the first five years of operation. Non-profits, franchises, and un-formed businesses are not eligible.

How Do I Prepare for and Apply to the Fellows Program?

When you apply for the Fellows Program, you will first need to create an account with Survey Monkey. When you click on the "apply" button on the Tory Fellowship website, you will be redirected. Once you create an account with survey monkey and sign in, you can begin the Fellows Program application.

You begin by certifying that you are 21 or older, run your business full-time, and are the woman or woman-identifying entrepreneur that owns the majority share of your business. You will then be brought to your application home page. You will need to upload and submit a total of six items: the application, your resume, your polished business plan, a headshot, business and/or product photos, and an elevator pitch video.

The elevator pitch video is not required, but we recommend that you create one. An elevator pitch video is a great way to highlight your business and explain why you would benefit from this fellowship. Be memorable and succinct with your pitch because the video can only be two minutes long. The application deadline is November 12, 2021.

Need More Funding Assistance?

If you need more funding for you business, check out the Skip app. Join thousands of businesses that receive small business grants and loans updates, every week. If you want help navigating funding options for your business (grants, EIDL, PPP, and more), you can use this invite link to skip the 2,000+ on our waitlist to receive personalized 1-to-1 support from someone on our team.