Our Fellowship is at its best when a range of different voices, talents and lived experiences are represented.

We believe that someone’s financial circumstances shouldn’t prevent them from joining our ever-growing global community.

Pay Fellowship Forward allows anyone to apply for an RSA Fellowship, regardless of their financial circumstances. This scheme is generously funded by donations from current Fellows.

If the cost of Fellowship is preventing you from applying, you can apply for a fully funded bursary for one year of Fellowship through our Pay Fellowship Forward scheme.

Are you ready to use your skills and expertise to support our mission enabling people, places and the planet to flourish?

Do you want to network and collaborate with our diverse, inclusive community of social innovators?

Find out if you’re eligible to apply to the RSA Pay Fellowship Forward scheme below.

Eligibility criteria:

• You are not currently or have never been a Fellow of the RSA
• You make under £25,000 per annum either through employment or self-employment.*
• You have less than £5,000 in savings.*
• You are based in the UK.
• You are committed to the values and principles in the Fellowship Charter.
• As with all Fellowship applications, you’ll need to explain what you feel you can offer, and how you expect to benefit.

*Financial circumstances can be self-certified within your application.

Applications to the Pay Fellowship Forward scheme will be assessed and awarded in cohorts. You can apply to the first cohort up until 23:59 on 31 December 2024.

As part of the application, you will be required to write a personal statement explaining how you meet the financial eligibility criteria. Once submitted, your application will be assessed by the Pay Fellowship Forward Panel, based on the quality of your statement, and you will hear back 12 weeks after the submission deadline.

Why become a Fellow?

By joining the Fellowship, you can...

• CONNECT: Make supportive connections and access the Fellowship community through our global online community platform, Circle, at RSA House with access to its dedicated spaces for Fellows and through interest-based and regional micro-communities.
• LEARN: Learn new things through our award-winning events series, quarterly RSA Journal sent to your door and weekly RSA newsletter sharing the latest thinking, research and activities.
• CONTRIBUTE: Use your expertise to host a Fellow-led event, mentor another Fellow, or get closely involved in our Design for Life mission and its interventions.

Pay Fellowship Forward is a scheme overseen by Fellows – The Pay Fellowship Forward Application Committee will assess your application, made up of Fellowship Councillors. You should hear back from us no later than three months after you submit your application. Please note that applications are currently only open to those who reside in the UK.

For any queries about Pay Fellowship Forward and/or your application, please get in touch by emailing fellowship@rsa.org.uk.