Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans

Business Profile

Core Value Proposition

Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans provides merit-based funding for New Americans—immigrants and children of immigrants—to pursue graduate or professional education in the United States, including up to $90,000 in financial support over two years.

Target Customer

New Americans (immigrants and children of immigrants) who are pursuing graduate or professional school in the United States.

Key Differentiator

A holistic, merit-based fellowship with no GPA or test score requirements, plus a lifelong, nationwide alumni network (PDSFA) and two all-expenses-paid weekends in New York City for Fellows, fostering visibility, credibility, and community for immigrant excellence.

Implementation Timeline

{"The application for the 2026 Fellowship opens April 9, 2025 and is due October 30, 2025.","Top 77 applicants designated as finalists; virtual interviews in late January–February 2026.","30 Fellows selected and notified in March 2026; Fellows announced publicly in April 2026.","2026 Fellows begin receiving funding in Fall 2026."}

Pain Points

1Need for substantial financial support (tuition and living stipend) to pursue graduate/professional education.
2Debt burdens and financial uncertainty affecting ability to pursue advanced studies.
3Limited visibility, credibility, and professional networking opportunities for New Americans pursuing higher education.

Key Features

1Up to $90,000 in financial support over two years (comprising $25,000 per year in stipends and up to $20,000 per year in tuition support).
2Two all-expenses-paid weekends in New York City during the Fellow’s first two years.
3A holistic, merit-based selection process with no GPA or test score requirements.
4A lifelong alumni community (PDSFA) and nationwide network of Fellows.
5Online application process with an eligibility framework (Eligibility Quiz) and a structured timeline for the 2026 cycle.

Target Customer Industries

Decision Makers

1Investigator, The AbuGoot Lab
2Trumpet Player, Composer & Educator
3Partner, Hogan Lovells
4Assistant Professor, University of Texas, Austin
5Co-Director, Stanford’s Human-Centered AI Institute
6Surgeon General, United States
7Associate General Counsel, OpenAI
8Partner, Winston & Strawn LLP
9United States Attorney, Southern District of New York
10Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
11Head of Global Agency Business Development, Google

Client Results

1Funding supports graduate education: up to $90,000 over two years (stipend + tuition).
2A network of 835 Fellows as of 2025; Fellows span 103 countries of heritage.
330 Fellows are selected each year; 77 finalists for the 2026 cycle; 2026 Fellows announced in April 2026 and funding begins Fall 2026.
4A lifelong community for New Americans, including an alumni association (PDSFA) and ongoing insights from Fellows.

Competitive Advantages

1Holistic, level-playing-field selection that accounts for diverse immigration backgrounds and non-traditional academic pathways.
2Significant financial support combined with tuition coverage to reduce education-related financial risk.
3Clear visibility and credibility from the fellowship, plus access to a lifelong, national network of peers and mentors.
4In-person community-building opportunities (two weekends in NYC) and campus-based fellowship support.

Key Benefits

1Up to $90,000 in support over two years (stipend + tuition).

2Lifelong alumni community (PDSFA) and networking opportunities.

3Two in-person, all-expenses-paid weekends in NYC for Fellows.

4Holistic selection without GPA/test-score prerequisites, promoting diverse pathways to success.

Case Studies & Success Stories

Shantanu Gaur, 2009 Paul & Daisy Soros Fellow

Case #1

Fellowquote: 'The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship liberated me from the traditional path I was expected to follow. Unburdened from debt & energized by peers who were taking the road less traveled, I have been able to thrive.'

Fellows’ Insights & Highlights

Case #2

Examples include profiles and achievements across medicine, science, technology, law, arts, and public service, illustrating the broad impact of the fellowship on Fellows’ careers.

Additional Product Information

Product Description

A merit-based fellowship program that funds the graduate education of New Americans—immigrants and children of immigrants—in the United States, offering financial support, visibility, credibility, and a lifelong alumni network.

Target Market

New Americans pursuing graduate or professional education in the United States; individuals leveraging immigrant experiences to advance in medicine, science, law, policy, technology, arts, academia, and beyond.

Unique Value Proposition

Holistic, debt-reducing funding combined with a robust alumni network and ongoing professional opportunities, specifically designed to empower New Americans to contribute to U.S. society, culture, and academia.

Technical Requirements

Online application process; eligibility considerations including an eligibility quiz; clear timeline for the 2026 cycle (April–October 2025 for applications; interviews in early 2026; funding begins Fall 2026).

Pricing Model

Funding model rather than pricing: up to $25,000 per year in stipend and up to $20,000 per year in tuition for up to two years, totaling up to $90,000 over the two-year period; no tuition or tuition-payment method beyond direct university payments is specified beyond these amounts.

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