CORE Fellowship Program

Overview

CORE Fellowship Program

The Core Fellowship offers several benefits for fellowship participation, which includes the following:

* leadership development
* in-depth equity and/or organizational development assessment
* guidance from technical assistance consultant on the development of an equity-centered capacity building project
* time to carry out an equity-centered capacity building project
* coaching
* and connection to a network of nonprofit leaders.

Fellow and Host Organization Commitments:

Both the CORE Fellow and their host organizations must commit to being a part of the CORE Fellowship program for two years. In addition to the commitments listed below by year, the Community Foundation and our partners view this work as a learning opportunity, therefore will regularly integrate ways to receive and give feedback throughout the process. The Fellow and their host organization must be willing to participate in this feedback loop.

* Year 1 Commitments:
* The CORE Fellow must commit to: 
* Attendance at an orientation, and during 25-30 hours of cohort work throughout the program cycle. The meetings will be held in a hybrid structure with both in-person and virtual convenings. All in-person convenings will be held with consideration of health and safety regulations. The planned schedule for the cohort will be made available shortly.
* Being available and prepared for coaching sessions with selected coach.
* Available for check-ins with LVCF.
* Participating in learning and evaluation activities (i.e. surveys, conversations, etc.).  
* The host organization must commit to: 
* Undergoing an equity discovery process, which will be guided by a consultant, in order to help inform the project selection for year 2.
* Following the recommendations of the fellows in selecting a capacity building project for the second year.
* In a traditionally white-led institution, if a Black, Latinx/o/a, Indigenous, and/or Person of Color participates, the organization commits to allocating 50% of the general operating award in year 1 to support a program/project/initiative within the organization that the fellow(s) select(s).
* Organizational leadership (including board members) will be available for a workshop on equity in nonprofit organizations.
* Organizational leadership will be available for check-ins on progress of the program. 
* Year 2 Commitments:

* The CORE Fellow must commit to:
* Participating in a quarterly Fellow Cohort Community of Practice, which will be no more than 16 hours of time.

* The host organization must commit to:
* Working on an equity-centered capacity building project
* Organizational leadership (including board members) will be available for a workshop on equity in nonprofit organizations.
* Organizational leadership will be available for check-ins on progress of the program.
* Submission of a progress report

Funding

In addition to these benefits, the CORE Fellowship offers a $25,000 grant to each participating organization. Each organization will receive a $10,000 general operating award during the first year\*, $15,000 to support an equity-centered capacity building project during the second year, and coaching support during the third year, contingent upon meeting program requirements.

\*In a traditionally white-led institution, if a Black, Latinx/o/a, Indigenous, and/or Person of Color leader participates, LVCF requires that half of the general operating award ($5,000) in year 1 supports a program/project/initiative within the organization that the leader chooses.

Eligibility

_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._

* In order to qualify for a grant, the proposed grantee must be a qualified charitable organization.
* Grants may be recommended to any 501(c)(3) public charity or verified charitable entity (e.g., schools, colleges and universities, religious institutions, town and municipal governments, etc.) with services delivered in Lehigh or Northampton County.
* Below are important factors to consider when individuals and organizations are applying for the fellowship. 
* Two people must participate from the organization.
* The purpose for this requirement is to provide an adequate level of support for each fellow, both in the program and also at the fellow’s institution.
* Examples could include an executive director and board chair. It also could include an executive director and an emerging leader.
* If there is a barrier to the 2-person requirement, please reach out to the Grant Coordinator.
* At least one of the individuals applying to participate must be an individual who has the ability to make strategic decision-making at the organization.
* LVCF highly encourages emerging leaders that identify as Black, Latinx/o/a, Indigenous, Asian American Pacific Islanders, or a Person of Color, as well as LGBTQ+, specifically Transgender individuals, and/or People Living with Disabilities to participate as a fellow.
* The host organization must commit to following the recommendations of the fellows in selecting a capacity building project for the second year.
* In a traditionally white-led institution, if a Black, Latinx/o/a, Indigenous and/or Person of Color leader participates, LVCF requires that half of the general operating award ($5,000) in year 1 supports a program/project/initiative within the organization that the leader chooses.