Even a thriving business can still reach a point where the founder needs more than money. You may need better growth strategies, experienced guidance, stronger connections, or simply a community of women who understand what it takes to build a successful company. That is where the Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program comes in. Designed for women running established, revenue-generating businesses, the fellowship combines coaching, education, advisor access, and a network of fellow entrepreneurs. It is not a traditional grant program, and understanding that distinction is important before you apply. Here’s everything you need to know about the program, and why it’s a worthwhile experience.
What Is the Tory Burch Fellowship Program?
The Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program is a yearlong opportunity for women entrepreneurs who are ready to scale and strengthen their businesses. The Foundation describes it as a program that connects women entrepreneurs with tools, advisors, coaches, and other founders.
For the 2026 cohort, the Foundation selected approximately 120 Fellows. The program includes a peer network of more than 500 women entrepreneurs, collaborative coaching, advisor access, and self-paced education. Fellows also have access to additional founder resources and activities based on their growth stage.
Who Is Eligible for the Tory Burch Fellowship?
The eligibility requirements are specific. Applicants must be women entrepreneurs who are at least 21 years old, legal residents of the 50 states, Washington, D.C., or a U.S. territory, and proficient in English.
The applicant must own the largest or an equally large stake in the qualifying business and play a significant role in managing it. Only one entrepreneur from each business can apply.
The business must also meet these requirements:
- It must be for-profit and can operate in any industry.
- Women must own and control at least 51% of the company.
- It must generate at least $75,000 in annual revenue.
- It must be formed under U.S. law and operate in the United States.
- There is no maximum revenue requirement.
You can apply for Tory Burch Fellowship program online, and there’s no application fee.
What Does the Tory Burch Fellowship Offer?
The fellowship is valuable because it goes beyond a one-time award. Here are the program’s offerings:
- Peer Network. Fellows join a community of more than 500 women entrepreneurs across a wide range of industries. This gives participants an opportunity to learn from other founders, exchange ideas, and build relationships that can continue after the program.
- Collaborative Coaching. Fellows work with experts on challenges specific to their companies. This can be especially useful when a business has moved beyond the startup stage and the founder is dealing with more complex issues around growth, operations, leadership, or strategy.
- Advisor Access. The program provides access to decision-makers and experienced advisors. For a founder who has been making most business decisions alone, an informed outside perspective can be valuable when evaluating growth opportunities.
- Education and Founder Support. Fellows receive self-paced education and additional resources designed to support business and leadership development. The current program also lists high-touch bootcamps, a virtual resource library, and holistic founder support among its offerings.
Does the Tory Burch Fellowship Offer Grants?
The Tory Burch Foundation Fellowship included a $5,000 business education grant through the 2025 cohort, with each Fellow eligible to receive the grant for business education expenses.
The 2026 Fellowship no longer lists the $5,000 grant among its benefits. Instead, the program focuses on coaching, education, advisor access, peer networking, bootcamps, and other resources to help women entrepreneurs grow their businesses.
The Foundation also connects entrepreneurs with financial resources outside the Fellowship, including interest-free capital through partners such as Kiva.
If you’re primarily looking for grant funding, consider the Fellowship alongside other funding opportunities. Our guide on how to find business grants for women can help you find additional options.
Related post: 31 Best Business Grants for Women in 2026
When Does the Tory Burch Fellowship Open?
The Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program typically opens for applications in late September or early October each year. Applications generally remain open until mid November, followed by a review period during the winter. New Fellows are typically selected in May.
Because application dates can change from year to year, check the Tory Burch Foundation Fellows page for the latest application period and program details.
Tips to Make Your Application Stand Out
Meeting the minimum requirements only gets you into the pool of eligible applicants. The program is selective, so your application needs to make a clear case for why the fellowship is useful at this point in your business journey.
Show Traction
Use specific evidence to demonstrate that your business is working. Revenue, customer growth, repeat business, partnerships, distribution relationships, or other meaningful milestones can help show that there is a real business behind the application.
Explain Your Growth Plans
Be specific about where you want to take the company. If you plan to expand into new markets, hire employees, increase production, develop products, or strengthen operations, explain what you want to achieve and why.
Connect Your Needs to the Program
Think about what you actually need as a founder. Maybe you are trying to scale operations, become a stronger leader, enter a new market, or make better strategic decisions. Then explain how coaching, education, advisors, and the Fellows network could help.
Be Honest About Setbacks
You do not need to pretend that everything has gone perfectly. If the application asks about a challenge or failure, explain what happened, what you learned, and what you changed. Our guide on
Related post: How to talk about failure in business grant applications
Is the Tory Burch Fellowship Worth It?
For an eligible woman entrepreneur, the fellowship can be valuable if what you need is more than a check. Its combination of coaching, education, advisors, and peer connections can help a growing business address challenges that are difficult to solve alone.
It may be less suitable if your only goal is to receive immediate cash. In that case, you may be better served by focusing on business grants and other funding programs alongside the fellowship.
Conclusion
The Tory Burch Fellowship program is an opportunity for women entrepreneurs who want to strengthen and grow an established business. While it no longer includes the $5,000 education grant, Fellows gain access to coaching, education, advisors, and a valuable network of women business owners. If you meet the eligibility requirements, the program can provide meaningful support as you take your business to its next stage.
