Wells Mountain Initiative (WMI)

Wells Mountain Initiative (WMI) is a United States-based non-profit that fosters social change at the local level by building a global network of grassroots leaders across 55 developing countries. WMI provides university scholarships and lifelong support to students from underserved communities, predominantly in Africa, and is marking its 20th anniversary.

Registered name

Wells Mountain Initiative (WMI)

Type

US non-profit (scholarships for community leaders)

Fields funded

First undergraduate degree or diploma in high-need sectors, studied at home

Website

wellsmountaininitiative.org

Email

info@wellsmountaininitiative.org

Local leaders, local solutions

WMI believes local leaders are best placed to lead change in their own communities, and says that as a US organisation its role is to support them rather than impose top-down solutions. WMI sees poverty as the result of global structural inequity, so its strategy is to equip a generation of leaders with the tools, resources and peer support to tackle root causes. WMI focuses on high-need sectors such as health, education and the environment, with gender empowerment across all of them; many WMI scholars start the first clinics or schools in their villages.

Study at home

Rather than funding study abroad, WMI deliberately supports students to study in their own countries or regions, keeping talented young people rooted in their communities. WMI’s partial scholarships, of about US$300 to US$3 000 a year according to a provider record checked in August 2026, can cover tuition, fees, books, living costs and study-related transport.

After a competitive selection, 104 students recently joined the WMI community as new scholars.

Service and lifelong support

WMI scholars must complete at least 100 hours of community service each year, and WMI values volunteering as much as marks. After graduation, WMI offers professional development, social entrepreneurship training, conferences, webinars and support for scholar-led fellowships. WMI’s Community Development Grants give alumni a seed grant of up to US$1 000 and a growth grant of up to US$5 000 for community projects and businesses, and WMI has awarded 152 grants to alumni from 20 countries since 2015.

The scholarship

WMI’s scholarship supports a first undergraduate degree or diploma for applicants aged 35 or younger on 1 August of the scholarship year, who have finished or are finishing secondary school with above-average grades, have volunteer experience and financial need. No work-back applies, but WMI expects scholars to live and work in their home countries. The 2027 application is expected to open on 1 December 2026 and close on 1 March 2027, and there is no application fee.

How to research WMI

Document your volunteering now, with dates and hours, and read alumni stories on WMI’s website.

South African students should apply to the NSFAS bursary as well, since WMI’s award is partial.