
The Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center Residency Program is a prestigious global fellowship that supports scholars, artists, policymakers, and innovators working on projects that address major global challenges. The residency takes place at the **Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center located on **Lake Como in **Italy.
The program provides a unique environment for leaders to focus on impactful work while collaborating with a diverse group of global thinkers and practitioners.
• Program: Bellagio Center Residency Program
• Organizer: Rockefeller Foundation
• Location: Lake Como, Italy
• Duration: About 26 days (around four weeks)
• Participants: Scholars, artists, policymakers, and practitioners
• Cohort size: Up to 14 residents per session
The residency brings together global leaders from different disciplines to collaborate, exchange ideas, and develop innovative solutions for global challenges.
Selected participants receive comprehensive support during the program.
• Fully funded stay at the Bellagio Center
• Private workspace or studio
• Accommodation and meals provided
• Travel funding support
• Opportunity to collaborate with global experts
• Membership in the Bellagio alumni network
Residents are given uninterrupted time to focus on their projects while interacting with an interdisciplinary group of global innovators.
The program supports projects that address major global challenges and advance human well-being. Key thematic areas include:
• Clean and universal energy access
• Food systems and nutrition
• Economic mobility and job creation
• Global health challenges
• Climate solutions and sustainable development
• Technology and innovation for social impact
Projects should aim to create solutions that benefit society and contribute to global progress.
The residency welcomes applications from individuals across different sectors and disciplines.
Eligible applicants include:
• Researchers and academics
• Artists and writers
• Journalists and policymakers
• Nonprofit leaders and social innovators
• Private-sector leaders working on social impact
Applicants should have a strong track record of professional achievement and demonstrate the potential to create meaningful global impact.
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
• Must be at least 18 years old
• Must demonstrate significant professional achievements
• Must propose a project with clear social or public impact
• Must be willing to collaborate with other residents
• Must not have participated in the residency within the last five years
The program accepts applicants from all countries and disciplines.
During the residency, participants will:
• Work independently on their project
• Participate in interdisciplinary discussions
• Share insights and feedback with other residents
• Build long-term collaborations
The residency environment encourages cross-sector collaboration among participants from diverse backgrounds.
• Expression of Interest opens: March 2026
• Deadline: 20 March 2026 (5 PM EDT)
Applicants must submit an expression of interest before being invited to complete the full application.
Since its launch in 1959, the Bellagio Center has hosted more than 4,000 global leaders from over 130 countries, including Nobel Prize winners, policymakers, and renowned writers.
The program is designed to give leaders the time, resources, and collaborative environment needed to advance ideas that can shape global policies, research, and social innovation.
| Type of Opportunity | Exchange Programs |
|---|---|
| Deadline | Ongoing |
| Country | Italy |
| Open to | All Nationalities |