The Democracy Cohort is a leadership development initiative designed to strengthen social impact leaders who are empowering the next generation of civic changemakers. At its core, the initiative recognizes that sustainable democratic progress requires investing in both individuals and their organizations or projects.

The initiative is built around two complementary pillars:

• Cohort-based fellowship for young leaders – providing tailored capacity-building support and opportunities to strengthen their initiatives.
• Broader Rising Global Leaders engagement — offering emerging leaders access to workshops, peer-to-peer learning, and immersive civic experiences that expand their knowledge, networks, and skills.

Through these combined efforts, the Democracy Cohort seeks to amplify youth voices, encourage inclusive participation, and foster a culture of active citizenship. By equipping emerging leaders with resources and connections, the program aims to create lasting, youth-driven impact in the democracy space — cultivating a generation prepared to defend and advance democratic values in their communities and beyond.