Frequently Asked Questions
You have questions about the program, eligibility, application process, or what to expect during the journey? Here are our answers to common questions to help you navigate your path to joining the Global Solvers Accelerator.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Global Solvers Accelerator is an 8-month, peer-driven, and collaboration-based learning journey to nurture leadership capacity and transform social impact projects. We invite you to read through the most frequently asked questions about the program, and discover insightful application tips, a deeper view into the program, scholarship information, and more!
Q) How is the Global Solvers Accelerator different from other such programs?
The Global Solvers Accelerator serves as a learning platform, a catalyst, and an accelerator for young SDG practitioners aged 20-35 who are invested in a local impact project and are looking to work with global peers to pivot their work.
Through an experiential learning journey that blends guided practice, peer exchange, dynamic facilitation, and cutting-edge insights, you will nurture your leadership, expand your networks, and gain the tools to amplify the transformative impact of your social projects. The program combines thematic learning, project work, and collaborative exchange to build practical capacity in areas such as collective leadership, systemic design, and sustainable impact, ensuring learning translates directly into action.
Collectively, we will strive towards you becoming the catalyst for transformative change who can leverage their global citizenship skills to connect and collaborate across boundaries of place, identity, and paradigms.
Q) How does the program align with the Sustainable Development Goals?
The Melton Foundation supports the Global Goals and contributes to SDG attainment by developing Global Citizenship capacity (SDG 4), cross-boundary collaboration (SDG 17), among others. At the start of the Global Solvers Accelerator, participants map their projects against the SDGs to unpack the impact they are creating. Through peer exchange and guided reflection, they explore the interconnected nature of the Goals and identify opportunities to strengthen their contribution. In this way, the Accelerator helps participants align their local initiatives with a broader, holistic SDG agenda.
Q) Can I apply to the program without a project?
No. The Global Solvers Accelerator is tied to your work in a social impact project or initiative and many elements throughout the program will be connected directly with that project. Your project could be at any stage– early planning or advanced implementation –but without a project, you would not be able to get the most out of the program.
Q) Does my project have to be correlated with specific SDGs to be considered for the program?
No, at the Global Solvers Accelerator, we do not focus on particular SDGs. Instead, we acknowledge that the 17 SDGs are interlinked and will ask you to identify the SDG(s) your project is contributing to, and how.
Q) Can I apply even if my project is in an early stage yet to be implemented?
Yes. The project you are applying with can be in any stage – early planning or advanced implementation – and it must meet these three criteria:
- The social impact project or project plan is currently existing
- It is concrete and connected to a particular territory and/or community (on the ground), and
- It continues AT LEAST for the duration of the program.
Q) Do I need to prepare any documents for my application?
Yes. The online application form, for one, is comprehensive and requires time to complete. Take a look at the Application Guide, which contains all the relevant information you will be asked to provide in the application form, and start preparing your application sufficiently early.
IF YOU REQUIRE A SCHOLARSHIP IN SUPPORT OF YOUR PROGRAM FEE, you must also present the following documents with your application:
- a personal statement outlining the need for support
- an endorsement letter from a trustworthy reference (e.g., a supervisor or co-leader of the project you’re applying with)
Be sure to check the Application Guide (linked above) for specifics.
Q) I am working with other people on my community project, can we apply to the program as a group?
No. The application is for an individual, and we encourage you to designate the best-suited group member from your midst to apply as a representative of your project. The Global Solvers Accelerator is project-based, so there will be ample opportunity to (indirectly) benefit from the program through your representative.
Q) Will I need to travel for the Global Solvers Accelerator?
Yes. Actively engaged participants will also participate in a week-long, fully-funded in-person Meet-Up, the Global Solvers Co-Lab. All other aspects and elements of the program are designed for virtual participation.
Q) Is GSA Co-Lab a trip or a travel experience?
No. the Co-Lab is a working week, not a retreat. Expect intensive schedules, unfamiliar environments, and shared learning spaces. The value is in the work you do there, not the destination
Q) What does the program actually cost, and is there financial support?
The program fee is $900 USD, payable only if you are selected. Scholarships covering 20%, 50%, or 80% of the program fee are available to participants with demonstrated financial need. Receiving a scholarship does not affect your chances of selection.
Our scholarships are guided by principles of solidarity economy. We encourage candidates to commit to a program fee they can genuinely afford, trusting that everyone contributes within their means. This shared commitment is part of how the program and its fee structure work.
If you require a scholarship, you must indicate this in the Application Form and provide the necessary documentation:
A personal statement outlining your need for financial support
An endorsement letter from a trusted reference, such as a supervisor or co-leader of the project you are applying with
Please note: Scholarships must be requested as part of your application. Only scholarships requested in the Application Form can be considered. Requests made after submission or after selection cannot be accommodated.
Q) How much time does this actually take?
We offer scholarships covering program fees up to 80%. Full scholarships are NOT available, and we encourage participants to raise the funds to participate in the program. Here are 10½ crowdfunding tips to help you organize the campaign and reach your crowdfunding goal.
Q) Is the Global Solvers Accelerator open to applicants from all countries?
Yes. The application is open globally. Anyone who meets the candidate requirements can apply, regardless of where they are from or where they are based currently. However, we expect participants to bring sufficient English language skills to participate in all aspects of the program.
Q) Is the Global Solvers Accelerator available in another language?
No. English is the primary means of communication at the Global Solvers Accelerator and all participants are expected to bring sufficient English language skills to participate in all aspects of the program.
Q) What kind of learning materials and contents will I have access to during the Global Solvers Accelerator?
The Global Solvers Accelerator entails 8 thematic modules and is a facilitated process geared toward unleashing participants’ fullest transformative potential. Topics covered throughout the learning journey include project effectiveness, team dynamics, collective leadership, intersectionality, (eco)systemic approaches, (social) innovation, regenerative practices, impact modeling, audience engagement & strategic visibility, and monitoring and evaluation.
With each thematic module, you will have access to a carefully curated resource section, join bi-weekly online sessions, tap into subject matter advisory and mentoring, and most importantly gain insight into the world of social impact elsewhere through your peers.
Q) How much time does this actually take?
About 4 hours a week for bi-weekly Zoom sessions and async work, plus one fully-funded, in-person week at the Co-Lab. A minimum participation rate of 75% is required to successfully complete the program.
Q) What technical equipment do I need to participate?
We strongly recommend having access to a desktop or laptop with a stable, high-speed internet connection, as well as a working camera and microphone – at least for the bi-weekly online sessions. Since the sessions are highly interactive and use tools like Miro, Howspace, and Google Docs, it’s also best to have a proper desk or workspace set up to stay fully engaged.
Q) Can I use ChatGPT or Claude to write my application?
You can use them to polish a final draft. However, don’t use them to generate or draft your answers, your authenticity matters and AI-generated applications will most likely be eliminated as part of the selection process
Q) How many people will be selected for the program?
Each year, we accept up to 20 motivated and well-suited candidates into the program.
Q) What happens after I submit?
The selection process spans multiple evaluation stages. If your application advances to the vetting stage, we’ll reach out to your two references in early December 2026 for a short letter of recommendation make sure to give them a heads up now that they may hear from us. Shortlisted candidates will then be invited to a 120 minute virtual assessment center, scheduled for 30 January 2027. Please expect to hear from us by mid-January with an update about your application, and possibly an invitation to the assessment center.
Q) What are participants expected to commit to?
By accepting a place in GSA, you’re committing to being an active member of the Global Solvers community. That means:
Attending and participating fully in all online and in-person sessions
Completing required readings, preparatory activities, and assignments
Arriving on time and engaging actively in workshops and discussions online and in person
Treating peers, facilitators, staff, and host communities with respect
Collaborating openly across cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives
Practicing empathy, active listening, curiosity, and constructive dialogue
Contributing to group activities and shared responsibilities
Upholding the values and code of conduct of the Melton Foundation
Q) Are there any other programs like the Global Solvers Accelerator offered by the Melton Foundation?
The Melton Foundation offers two 8-month programs, both are pathways to becoming a Melton Fellow. One is through the Global Solvers Accelerator, and the other is via the Global Citizenship Learning Program— the latter designed for students at Melton Foundation partner universities. While the programs are different with regard to goals, curriculum, candidate profile, and scope, both pathways equip emerging leaders with the skills, networks, and experiences to drive impact as part of a global community committed to sustainable development and global citizenship.
Q) What is the Community of Practice I join after completing the Accelerator?
Upon successful completion of the Global Solvers Accelerator, participants become part of the Melton Foundation’s lifelong Community of Practice, a global network of over 600 Melton Fellows. This community offers ongoing opportunities for mentorship, collaboration, leadership development, and access to resources that support personal, professional, and social impact growth across borders.
If you are a university student at one of our partner universities and are keen on the building blocks of Global Citizenship learning, You can explore the Global Citizenship Learning Program, a ten-month experience for students aged 18 to 25. The program offers immersive learning, mentorship, and collaborative opportunities to engage with global challenges while building local impact.
Ready to dive deeper?
Explore the Global Solvers Accelerator and discover how you can become part of our next cohort of changemakers.