Patterson Fellows

fellows@pffkc.org

The Patterson Fellows is a cohort-based training and leadership program that will support entrepreneurs in Kansas and western Missouri with the goal of igniting viable, scalable companies for change in rural communities.

Fellows will receive structured programming and leadership development, as well as have consistent engagement with their Patterson Fellows leader, mentors, advisors, investors, and peers throughout the three-year fellowship. The goal would be that each fellow would have a self-sustaining business by the end of the program.

Potential areas of interest:

• Agriculture and the environment
• Housing
• Health
• Connected commerce
• Systems change

Any entrepreneur focused on solving rural challenges to enrich and stabilize rural populations is eligible to submit an application. The foundation will consider all applications focused on building a business whose initiatives support rural prosperity in its catchment area. An applicant's business can be located anywhere, but the work proposed as a fellow must take place within the required service area shown on the program website.

Fellows will receive:

• $100,000 per year for three years ($300,000 total investment)
• Curriculum of quarterly modules, peer roundtables, and focused leadership development
• Guidance from dedicated mentors, industry experts, and seasoned board members to support scaling and growth
• Introductions to investors, ecosystem partners, and corporate leaders
• Grant writing support for company applications
• Storytelling and brand-building support
• Access to Patterson Family Foundation's network of consultants, data team, and ongoing learnings

The program will form annual cohorts of 5 fellows to create an ecosystem of entrepreneurs and mentors helping other rural-focused entrepreneurs.

A link to the online application is available on the program website.

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