Processing Foundation Fellowship Program 2027 is officially accepting nominations for creative technologists, educators, artists, and software engineers working at the intersection of open-source technology, public engagement, and community empowerment. Stewarded by the Processing Foundation—a U.S.-based non-profit organization dedicated to making code and digital art accessible to all—this 8-month fellowship offers selected participants a $10,000 stipend, tailored technical mentorship, and dedicated professional development support.
Designed to foster equitable relationships with digital tools, the 2027 fellowship cohort focuses on three specialized tracks: Collective Intelligence (AI education), Gaming the System (accessible game design toolkits), and DIY Computing (open-source hardware and physical computing). The initial nomination phase opens on 7 October 2026 and closes on 1 November 2026 at 11:59 PM PST. Self-nominations are fully permitted.
Processing Foundation Fellowship Program 2027 at a Glance
| Key Points | Program Details |
|---|---|
| Program Name | Processing Foundation Fellowship 2027 |
| Host Institution | Processing Foundation (501(c)(3) Non-Profit) |
| Stipend & Financial Award | $10,000 total fellowship stipend per fellow |
| Program Duration | 8 Months (25 January 2027 – 26 September 2027) |
| Format & Location | Hybrid / Remote (Varies by track: Remote U.S., Los Angeles, NYC) |
| Eligible Roles | Artists, educators, engineers, game makers, creative coders |
| Nomination Window | 7 October 2026 – 1 November 2026 (11:59 PM PST) |
| Invited Proposal Deadline | 23 November 2026 (11:59 PM PST) |
| Final Selection Announcement | Week of 14 December 2026 |
| Official Nomination Portal | Processing Foundation Fellowship Page |
Background, Context & Core Objectives
Since its establishment in 2013, the Processing Foundation Fellowship has served as an incubator for open-source tools that transform how people create, teach, and learn with technology. Critical software platforms used by millions of digital creators worldwide—including p5.js and the p5.js Editor—initially launched and expanded with support from this fellowship initiative.
Modern software tools, artificial intelligence algorithms, and hardware architecture are frequently built without input from the communities most affected by their deployment. Commercial platforms often operate as proprietary “black boxes,” creating barriers to entries for young learners, independent creators, and non-traditional technologists.
The Processing Foundation Fellowship addresses these systemic imbalances by funding creators who build accessible, open-source alternatives. Every project funded under the 2027 cohort must build upon or extend one of the foundation’s primary open-source ecosystems, such as:
- p5.js and the p5.js Editor
- Processing 4.x and the Processing Development Environment (PDE)
- Processing 5.0 Rust Research & Development
- Processing Experimental Python Packages
Primary Objectives of the 2027 Program
- Community-Led Innovation: Shift software design away from top-down commercial production toward participatory, co-designed community toolkits.
- Democratizing Technical Education: Develop open-source teaching materials, visual interfaces, and hardware environments that reduce entry barriers for beginners.
- Promoting Digital Inclusion: Create customized game design engines and hardware prototypes tailored specifically to underserved groups and local youth organizations.
- Sustaining Open-Source Software: Support developers and artists dedicated to maintaining public-good software infrastructure.
Breakdown of the Three Fellowship Tracks
The 2027 fellowship features three targeted tracks. Candidates must select exactly one track when submitting their nomination form.
| Track Name | Location / Format | Primary Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Collective Intelligence | Remote (Anywhere in the U.S.) | Co-designing open-source AI education toolkits with youth communities |
| Gaming the System | Hybrid (Los Angeles, CA) | Accessible game design engines and toolkits for local youth groups |
| DIY Computing | Hybrid (New York City, NY) | Custom open-source hardware, cyberdeck environments, and physical terminals |
Track 1: Collective Intelligence (AI Education)
- Location Format: Fully Remote (Open to residents anywhere within the United States).
- Core Mandate: Artificial intelligence applications are entering classrooms at a rapid pace, yet few tools give students agency over how model decisions are framed. Fellows in this track spend eight months collaborating with youth communities—specifically working alongside the Mark Cuban Foundation’s youth network—to co-design open-source AI education tools.
- Expected Outcomes: Depending on community input, deliverables may include visual interfaces that demonstrate algorithmic decision-making, interactive environments for manual model training, or creative coding libraries for AI experimentation.
- Ideal Candidate Profile: Software developers, machine learning engineers, and educators with experience in AI architecture and a commitment to youth-centered pedagogy.
Track 2: Gaming the System (Accessible Game Design)
- Location Format: Hybrid (Requires local presence in Los Angeles, California).
- Core Mandate: While video games serve as a vital medium for digital storytelling, standard professional game engines often carry steep learning curves and heavy hardware requirements. The selected fellow will build an open-source, beginner-friendly game design toolkit co-designed with underserved youth communities in Los Angeles.
- Expected Outcomes: The fellow will facilitate hands-on student feedback sessions, publish open-access game design templates, host online learning workshops, and lead an in-person summer intensive program in Los Angeles.
- Ideal Candidate Profile: Game developers, creative coders, and educators based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
Track 3: DIY Computing (Open-Source Hardware & Cyberdecks)
- Location Format: Hybrid (Requires local presence in New York City, New York).
- Core Mandate: Exploring the broader movement toward handmade interfaces, custom portable computers (cyberdecks), and modular physical hardware. Fellows will work directly with an established New York City community group to build custom, open-source physical and digital computing environments.
- Expected Outcomes: Developing documented open-source toolkits that others can build, repair, and remix—such as specialized drawing instruments, portable live performance terminals, or experimental audio-visual computers.
- Ideal Candidate Profile: Early-career artists and physical computing engineers with experience in hardware prototyping who are active members of an existing NYC community.
Eligibility Criteria & Candidate Requirements
To ensure compliance with grant guidelines and institutional partnerships, prospective nominees must meet both general eligibility standards and track-specific restrictions.
General Eligibility Standards
- Geographic Residency: Nominees must reside within the United States. International creators are not eligible for the 2027 main fellowship cycle but are encouraged to explore Processing Foundation Microgrants and local Processing Community Day grants.
- Open-Source Integration: Projects must directly incorporate, build upon, or generate open-source code and documentation linked to the Processing software family.
- Participatory Research Approach: Candidates must demonstrate past success collaborating with community groups, incorporating public feedback, and distributing educational materials freely.
- Technical Competency: Applicants should possess sufficient coding, hardware, or pedagogical experience to execute their proposed technical roadmap independently.
Track-Specific Restrictions & Student Exclusions
| Track Name | Location Requirement | Student & Faculty Eligibility Restrictions |
|---|---|---|
| Collective Intelligence | Remote (U.S.-wide) | Students and academic faculty are eligible to apply. |
| Gaming the System | Los Angeles, CA | Students and academic faculty are eligible to apply. |
| DIY Computing | New York City, NY | INELIGIBLE: Full-time, part-time, or low-residency students in degree-granting programs, as well as tenured faculty, cannot participate in this track. |
Fellowship Benefits & Professional Provisions
Selected fellows receive comprehensive financial, technical, and institutional support throughout the 8-month period:
- $10,000 Direct Stipend: Disbursed in structured installments across the 8-month fellowship to support project development and living expenses.
- Dedicated Open-Source Mentorship: Direct technical guidance from the Processing Foundation’s engineering leads, core maintainers, and guest domain experts.
- Cohort Check-ins & Collaboration: Regular peer feedback sessions with fellow cohort members across the U.S.
- Public Engagement & Exhibition Opportunities: Support in presenting project milestones through foundation-sponsored public talks, workshops, community showcases, and online publications.
- Alumni Network Access: Lifelong membership in the Processing Foundation Fellowship Alum Network, connecting fellows with past awardees and open-source leaders worldwide.
Application Process & Selection Roadmap
The Processing Foundation utilizes a multi-stage selection workflow to evaluate candidates efficiently while minimizing barrier-to-entry costs during initial submissions.
| Stage | Milestone / Phase | Timeline | Operational Overview |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Nomination Submission | 7 Oct – 1 Nov 2026 | Candidate or third party submits online nomination statement outlining project vision. Self-nominations accepted. |
| Stage 2 | Invited Proposal Phase | Submissions due 23 Nov 2026 | Shortlisted nominees are invited to submit full technical plans, budget alignment, and community roadmaps. |
| Stage 3 | Finalist Interviews | Week of 7 Dec 2026 | Finalists meet online for a 30-minute interview with foundation directors and external reviewers. |
| Stage 4 | Official Selection & Kickoff | 25 Jan 2027 | Awardees are publicly announced, stipend disbursements begin, and the 8-month fellowship officially launches. |
Detailed Step-by-Step Instructions
- Phase 1 – Nomination Submission (Deadline: 1 November 2026, 11:59 PM PST): Nominator completes the official online form detailing candidate credentials. Self-nominations are accepted. The nomination form evaluates:
- Fit with Processing Foundation’s mission of technological equity.
- Alignment with the open-source software ecosystem.
- Track record of community-based collaboration.
- Phase 2 – Proposal Submission (Deadline: 23 November 2026, 11:59 PM PST): Shortlisted nominees receive an invitation on 2 November 2026 to submit a comprehensive proposal. Invited candidates can attend an informational Q&A session on 7 November 2026 at 10:00 AM PST. Proposals outline the core open-source technical architecture, community engagement plan, and milestone schedule.
- Phase 3 – Finalist Interviews (Week of 7 December 2026): Selected finalists complete a 30-minute virtual video interview with the selection panel, composed of foundation staff and external subject-matter experts.
- Phase 4 – Selection Notification & Program Kickoff: Selected fellows are notified during the week of 14 December 2026. The fellowship formally commences on 25 January 2027 and concludes on 26 September 2027. Final documentation and public showcases take place on 2 October 2027.
Important Dates & Key Milestones
| Milestone Event | Date & Time |
|---|---|
| Nominations Open | 7 October 2026 |
| Nominations Close | 1 November 2026 at 11:59 PM PST |
| Invitations Sent for Full Proposals | 2 November 2026 |
| Invited Nominee Info Session | 7 November 2026 at 10:00 AM PST |
| Full Project Proposals Due | 23 November 2026 at 11:59 PM PST |
| Finalist Video Interviews | Week of 7 December 2026 |
| Final Selection Announcements | Week of 14 December 2026 |
| Fellowship Official Start Date | 25 January 2027 |
| Fellowship Official End Date | 26 September 2027 |
| Final Showcase & Public Documentation | 2 October 2027 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I submit a self-nomination for this fellowship?
Yes. Candidates are welcome to submit a self-nomination through the official online portal prior to the 1 November 2026 deadline.
2. Can one applicant submit proposals for multiple tracks?
No. Candidates may only be nominated for one track, and only one project proposal per applicant will be evaluated by the review committee.
3. Are international applicants living outside the U.S. eligible?
No. The 2027 main fellowship tracks require fellows to be based in the United States. International creators should check the Processing Foundation website for global microgrants and Community Day opportunities.
4. Are degree-seeking students eligible to apply?
For the Collective Intelligence and Gaming the System tracks, enrolled students are eligible. However, full-time, part-time, or low-residency students in degree-granting programs (as well as tenured faculty) are strictly ineligible for the DIY Computing track.
5. What software libraries satisfy the open-source project requirement?
Proposed projects must build upon, extend, or directly integrate with Processing Foundation software tools, including p5.js, p5.js Editor, Processing 4.x, the Processing Development Environment (PDE), Processing 5.0 Rust R&D, or Processing Experimental Python Packages.
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