McCain Institute American Democracy & Technology Fellowship 2025-2026
- Omran Aburayya
- Sep 26
- 4 min read
If you are a U.S.-based professional who is passionate about protecting democratic norms in the age of AI, disinformation, election security, or technology policy — the McCain Institute’s American Democracy & Technology Fellowship may offer a unique platform. Applications for 2025 are open until October 24, 2025, giving you a chance to propose a one-year project that shapes the future of technology and democracy in America.
Below is a full breakdown to help you navigate this exciting opportunity.
📚 Fellowship Summary
Location: United States (candidates must be U.S.-based)
Sponsor: McCain Institute at Arizona State University; support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Program Type: Fellowship (one-year)
Target Group: Mid-level professionals, practitioners, technologists, policy advocates, researchers, legal/tech experts with interest in democracy & tech
Focus Areas: Democracy, technology (particularly AI and information integrity), public policy, national security, law, digital rights, election infrastructure, disinformation
Grant Value: Between US$10,000 and US$25,000 in support of the fellow’s project
Duration: 12 months (one year)
Application Deadline: October 24, 2025
Start Date: (Implicitly after selection; one-year tenure)
🧭 Fellowship Overview
Over the 12-month term, selected fellows will execute a self-designed project that tackles challenges and opportunities at the nexus of democracy and technology.
🧩 Core Objectives (project should address one or more)
Fellow proposals should aim to achieve some or all of these goals:
Research & policy recommendations — e.g., how AI, algorithmic transparency, or other tech innovations can support democratic resilience
Stakeholder engagement — working with policymakers, civil society, technologists, or national security actors to influence policy
Public awareness / communications — raising awareness of risks/benefits of tech in democracy, countering manipulated information, disinformation
Institutional resilience — strengthening election infrastructure, improving democratic institutions, ensuring systems adapt to technological change
Fellows will have access to the McCain Institute’s American Democracy team, working side by side to integrate the project into broader initiatives.
The significance of this fellowship lies in how it bridges theory and practice — allowing fellows not only to propose high-level ideas but to package them into actionable outputs (policy memos, toolkits, campaigns, advocacy strategies) and influence the democratic-technology discourse in real time.
🎁 Fellowship Benefits
Grant Funding: US$10,000 – US$25,000 to support the fellow’s work.
Networking & Access: Connections with national security leaders, policymakers, technologists, civil society actors.
Mentorship & Institutional Support: Guidance from McCain Institute staff and associates, possibly with co-design and coordination with the American Democracy team.
Platform & Visibility: Opportunities to present findings and influence debates in U.S. policy circles.
Practical Impact: The ability to design policy- or advocacy-oriented outputs that can influence technology and democracy policy in the U.S.
Legacy & Alignment: Works in concert with McCain Institute’s mission to promote character-driven leadership and democratic resilience.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for this fellowship, applicants must satisfy the following:
Residency / Location
Must be based in the United States.
Education + Experience
Either:
a) A bachelor's degree plus at least six years of relevant professional experience, or
b) A graduate degree in a relevant field (e.g. technology, democracy & tech, policy, law, business) plus at least two years of work experience, or
c) An equivalent combination of education and experience that demonstrates comparable skills and achievement.
Demonstrated interest / experience
You should have experience or interest in democracy / governance, technology policy, public policy, election systems, digital rights, or related domains.
You should be capable of designing and executing a project over 12 months that can engage stakeholders and produce measurable impact.
Project Proposal
Submit a project proposal of no more than two pages. It must clearly articulate objectives, methods, stakeholder engagement, potential outputs, and expected impact.
References & Supporting Documents
Typically includes a resume/CV and professional references (often 3).
ℹ️ Applications will be evaluated based on the feasibility, clarity, and potential impact of the proposal, as well as the applicant’s background, experience, and commitment to democratic values.
📝 Application Procedure
Upload resume / CV (PDF, DOC, DOCX)
Upload the project proposal (≤ 2 pages)
Provide contact details for references (usually 3 professional references)
Be sure your proposal clearly addresses one or more of the core objectives, includes a realistic timeline, shows potential for stakeholder uptake, and demonstrates awareness of challenges (e.g. how to counter misinformation, ensure tech transparency, protect rights).
💡 Tips & Additional Insights
Because the focus is U.S. democracy & policy, candidates from outside the U.S. cannot apply — that’s a strict eligibility requirement.
The fellowship is selective and competitive, so proposals should be original, sharply focused, and demonstrate capacity to engage both tech and policy actors.
Even though the grant sums are modest ($10K–$25K), the value lies more in access, platform, and policy leverage than purely financial support.
Because fellows work with the McCain Institute’s American Democracy team, aligning your project with the Institute’s mission (democracy, rights, national security) strengthens your case.
Public communication / dissemination should be integral — e.g., hosting panel discussions, writing policy briefs, developing digital tools, outreach campaigns.
