The Roots of Progress Fellowship | How to Apply
Apply to the Roots of Progress Fellowship: A Blog-Building Intensive for Writers of the Future
The Roots of Progress Fellowship is now accepting applications for its 2025 Blog-Building Intensive—a 10-week program designed to help writers deepen their ideas, sharpen their skills, and grow their audiences. This opportunity is ideal for anyone eager to explore themes of human advancement, innovation, and abundance through thoughtful and impactful writing.
Who Is Eligible for the Roots of Progress Fellowship?
The Fellowship welcomes writers from a variety of backgrounds. Ideal applicants:
- Have published essays, blog posts, or newsletters on any topic
- Are intellectually curious and motivated to explore progress studies
- May be early-career writers or experienced professionals looking to pivot toward public writing
- Can commit 10–15 hours per week to writing, editing, and discussion
Prior experience with “progress studies” is not required, though applicants should demonstrate a strong interest in topics like science, technology, policy, economics, or human flourishing.
Requirements for the Roots of Progress Fellowship
To complete the fellowship, participants must:
- Commit to the full program duration from July 28 to October 10, 2025 (including a one-week onboarding period)
- Participate in live online sessions with peers, editors, and expert guests
- Publish four essays during the program (roughly one every two weeks)
- Provide and receive peer feedback on drafts
- Attend the 2025 Progress Conference in San Francisco (expenses covered)
Applicants interested in the agriculture or health, longevity, and biotech tracks should plan to write at least two of their four essays in those focus areas.
Benefits
The Roots of Progress Fellowship offers writers the chance to:
- Build a consistent writing practice and double their output
- Receive detailed editorial feedback from professionals
- Meet and learn from progress-focused thinkers like Tyler Cowen, Noah Smith, and Virginia Postrel
- Gain exposure and grow an audience for their blog or Substack
- Join a vibrant, mission-driven community of writers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and policy leaders
- Attend the Progress Conference in San Francisco with lodging, food, and travel included
There is no fee to participate. The program is fully funded by the Roots of Progress Institute and its donors.
Deadline
Applications for the Roots of Progress Fellowship close on June 1, 2025.
Interested writers can apply here.
For help preparing your application, check out these resources:
