Summer Fellowship Program
The Summer Fellowship Program engages young leaders in the sector through career-related work with selected nonprofit host sites for a 10-week period. Fellows receive valuable experience through their work and immersion with the host sites, and the nonprofits benefit from the increased capacity Fellows provide through the completion of, or progress made towards, a specific program or objective. Inspire the next generation of nonprofit leaders by hosting a Summer Fellow at your nonprofit!
Watch past Summer Fellows describe their experience or read about it first-hand on the Fellows’ blog.
PROGRAM DETAILS
- The 10-week fellowship for 2024 starts June 3 and ends August 9.
- Nonprofits must have a specific project or program to assign to the Fellow with specific objectives that will be completed during the 10-week period.
- Organizations selected will receive a grant to cover a stipend for the Fellow.
- All Fellows are required to work full-time as designated by their host organization.
- Fellows are matched with nonprofits based on interests, skills, and the nonprofit’s specific needs or objectives.
ELIGIBILITY
- Applications must outline a specific project with clear scope and description that can be completed by the Fellow during the 10-week program.
- Organizations must designate a specific supervisor, desk/office space, and supplies (e.g. computer) for the Fellow.
- Organizations must attend opening and closing sessions, and allow the Fellow to attend occasional learning sessions highlighting topics regarding nonprofits.
- Applications from hospitals, colleges, universities, and government entities are not eligible to apply.
DEADLINE
STAFF CONTACT
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
To qualify for the Fellowship program, organizations must have a current Directory Listing in The Giving Store; present a specific project with clear scope and description; and have a specific supervisor, desk/office space, and supplies (e.g., computer) for the Fellow.
Any project that is meaningful and would engage a Fellow with the mission of your organization would be a good fit. The strongest applications will outline a specific idea with clear direction and outcomes. Additionally, a strong application will describe a project that most likely can be completed by the Fellow within the 10-week program. Projects may be in person or virtual, pending CDC recommendation.
Applicant organizations go through a review process that is similar to other grant opportunities. Once the group of finalists is approved by the Foundation’s Governing Committee, they will be notified accordingly. Applicant organizations will hear from the Foundation in November. At that time, more specific details pertaining to the logistics of the program will be communicated with the selected organizations.
- Students meeting the minimum qualifications will send in complete applications by the deadline.
- Each application will be reviewed by members of the selection committee. The selection committee will give each applicant a numerical score based on a set of criteria.
- Based on those scores, Foundation staff and the selection committee will move the top applicants into an interview phase. Each selected host organization will be sent information about two applicants.
- Selected organizations will interview both applicants and choose the one who they believe will be the best fit. Please note that if neither applicant is acceptable, organizations must contact the Foundation immediately to receive information for an additional applicant.
- Once the organization has chosen the best-fitting applicant, they will notify the Foundation.
- Foundation staff will contact each potential Fellow to complete a background check.
- Once the applicant’s background check is completed, the Foundation will notify the Fellow that he or she has been selected— and which organization they will be serving.