The Global Solvers Accelerator (GSA) 2027, run by the Melton Foundation, is a ten-month peer-learning and leadership program for people aged 20 to 35 who already lead a project tied to the Sustainable Development Goals. Applications close on 15 November 2026, and the page does not state a time zone. The program is built for practitioners who can steer their project’s decisions, not for people with an idea still on paper. It is not a growth or scaling accelerator.
Global Solvers Accelerator 2027 at a glance
| Application deadline | 15 November 2026 (time zone not stated) |
| Who can apply | People aged 20 to 35 actively involved in an ongoing SDG-related project, enterprise, research effort, movement or community initiative, with influence over its decisions |
| Format | Online program from 1 April to 30 November 2027, plus a week-long in-person Co-Lab in Germany |
| Time commitment | About 4 hours per week |
| Cohort size | 15 to 20 practitioners per year, as the program page states |
| Cost | Program fee of USD 900, payable only if selected. Scholarships cover 20%, 50% or 80% for proven need |
| Apply at | Application form |
Who can apply?
You need to be between 20 and 35, involved in an ongoing initiative linked to the SDGs, and able to influence its decisions. The Melton Foundation also asks for demonstrated social impact, enough English to take full part, and about four hours a week. You must be able to attend the week-long Co-Lab. The page sets no country restriction.
For practitioners who read this publication to find programs built around evidence of results, the track record requirement is the criterion to test first. If you cannot point to documented outcomes from your project, strengthen that record before you apply.
What do participants get?
- A ten-month program focused on leadership, shared leadership and the projects participants already run, guided by the Melton Foundation’s Global Citizenship Development Framework.
- A fully funded in-person Co-Lab in Germany, listed for 3 to 10 July 2027 (tentative dates).
- Peer exchange across communities and access to the Melton Senior Fellowship, which the program page describes as a network of 650+ fellows.
- Participation in the GSA Fund, awarded to participant projects near the end of the program and seeded by program fees, as the page describes it.
How to apply
- Read the Application Guide on the Melton Foundation program page. The form is long and takes time.
- Complete the application form by 15 November 2026 and request a scholarship inside the form if you need one.
- If you advance, expect the Foundation to contact your two references in early December 2026. Shortlisted candidates are invited to a 120-minute virtual assessment center on 30 January 2027, and onboarding starts in March 2027.
The program page advises against drafting the whole application with AI tools and says such applications will likely be eliminated.
Advice from the Impact DOTS team
- Write down the decisions you personally make on your project. The page requires that you can influence them.
- Prepare evidence of results before you open the form: reach, outcomes, documents a reviewer could check.
- Choose two referees early, since they are contacted in early December if you advance.
- Decide before you apply whether you can cover the USD 900 fee or will need a scholarship, and make that request in the form.
FAQ
Is there a fee to apply?
The page lists a USD 900 program fee payable only if you are selected. It mentions no fee to submit the application.
Can I request financial help?
Yes. Scholarships of 20%, 50% or 80% of the fee are available for participants with proven need, and you request one in the application form.
Which countries can apply?
The program page sets no country restriction.
Is the accelerator for startups that want to scale?
No. The page says it is not a growth or scaling accelerator. It focuses on leadership and on the real tensions and decisions in participants’ projects.
Sources
Melton Foundation: Global Solvers Accelerator
