Community Fellows Program

A fully funded, academic-year fellowship for high-potential, emerging nonprofit and community leaders with emphasis on social justice, community organizing, and building social capital and influence.

Target Audience: High-potential, emerging leaders committed to social justice seeking to expand management acumen. Candidates should be:

• Committed to and actively working within nonprofit, organizing, or public sector careers
• Passionate about social justice, racial and gender equity work, and community change
• Looking to build personal and community leadership skills
• Early-career professionals with approximately five or fewer years of professional experience

Demographic Focus: While encouraging all early-career leaders to apply, CFP emphasizes advancing BIPOC leaders. Typically 80-90% of Community Fellows identify as BIPOC.

Geographic Scope: Boston (MA), New York City (NY), and Western New York

Tuition: Fully funded fellowship—fellows do not pay any tuition

Program Components:

• Overnight Retreat: Opening retreat focused on "Power and Grace – Building a Community for Social Change"
• Management Seminars: Twice per month (3:00-7:00 PM) covering:
  • Equity-centered organizational leadership
  • Strategic financial management
  • Demystifying the leader's journey
  • Storytelling for social change
  • Adaptive and facilitative leadership
  • Community organizing and leading for social change
  • Securing and managing organizational resources
  • Managing yourself and others across difference
  • Self-care, mindfulness, and healing
• Practice Seminars: Once per month (5:00-7:00 PM) facilitated by faculty using case presentation format for organizational and leadership challenges
• Access to Resources: Learning from sector leaders, current students, alumni, faculty members, community partners, and funders

Program Year: Academic year beginning in October with twice-monthly Management Seminars and monthly Practice Seminars

Continuing Education: In Massachusetts, students can earn over 70 Social Work Continuing Education hours for re-licensure (258 CMR)

Certification: Community Fellows Program graduates receive a certificate in Community Leadership and Social Change

Alumni Benefits: Lifelong learning, alumni community, networking

CFP Alumni Outcomes:

• Strengthened skills in organizational leadership
• Increased confidence
• Built networks
• Enhanced self-awareness

Note on RISE Program: Early-career leaders can continue to be served through the RISE Program during the CFP strategic reimagining period.

Application Process

Current Status: Applications are currently closed. Sign up for mailing list to be notified when applications open.

Application Components:

Part 1: Online Application

• Résumé
• Program preferences
• Demographic information
• Short responses to two prompt questions (limit to 2-5 sentences)

Prompt Questions:

1. What specific skills, knowledge, or experiences do you hope to gain from your INP experience?
2. Briefly describe a current management or leadership challenge you're facing and what support you need to address it.

Part 2: Group Interview

• Virtual group interview format
• Duration: up to 2 hours
• Candidates will receive detailed timeline during application process
• Completed applications reviewed with priority for each deadline

Note: Responses to prompts are not evaluated as writing samples; they are purely to understand more about candidates.

Contact for Questions: recruitment@nonprofitpractice.org