Stoneleigh Fellowship Grant

Stoneleigh Fellowship Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Stoneleigh Foundation
Amount: US $200,000 - US $450,000
Last Updated: February 22, 2026

Summary

The Stoneleigh Fellowship offers visionary leaders funding to transform systems serving youth, focusing on innovative research and policy changes. It supports individuals from diverse backgrounds, enabling them to pursue impactful projects over two to three years. With awards ranging from $100,000 to $150,000 annually, the fellowship emphasizes collaboration among agencies and aims for sustainable outcomes that enhance the lives of young people in Philadelphia.

Overview

NOTE: Candidates are encouraged to submit ideas at any time and will be considered on a rolling basis. Fellowships are approved by Stoneleigh’s Board of Directors at quarterly meetings that take place in March, June, September, and December. Stoneleigh Fellowship The Stoneleigh Fellowship provides accomplished leaders with multiyear funding to transform systems that serve youth. Addressing the challenges facing our community’s young people requires visionary leadership. It means bringing different systems together and advancing new ways of thinking about what is possible. That’s why we provide exceptional individuals with the time and space to undertake groundbreaking research, improve policies and practices, change the narrative, and fundamentally transform how youth are served. Stoneleigh Fellows come from many disciplines and professional backgrounds and work to advance change in youth-serving systems, such as youth justice, child welfare, education, and health. Our Fellows have included: Philadelphia’s Police Commissioner who expanded the city’s nationally recognized Police School Diversion Program to reduce youth arrest rates and prevent the collateral consequences of justice system involvement An attorney who worked within the School District of Philadelphia to create a comprehensive school safety strategy A researcher leading a five-year study on the health of young, child welfare-involved mothers and their children to identify strategies to break intergenerational cycles of abuse and neglect An emergency room doctor who replicated his hospital-based violence intervention model locally and nationally What distinguishes the Stoneleigh Fellowship? Freedom to Pursue a Transformative Idea: Our founders believed that individuals need dedicated time and space to develop the kinds of ideas that can generate lasting systems change. We provide salary support that allows Fellows to step back from their day-to-day job duties and use the majority of their time to pursue this work.Ability to Design and Execute New Solutions: Because we invest in people with a strong track record of working within or alongside systems, we give our Fellows the latitude to develop the best solution to the problem they’ve identified. Stoneleigh’s staff also work closely with Fellows to ensure their success by providing expert advice and connections to key influencers and funders. We recognize that there are no one-size-fits-all solutions. We support Fellows to explore ideas that haven’t been tried before or to perfect the implementation of evidence-informed solutions. We also meet Fellows where they are professionally through flexible Fellowship terms and levels of support.In It for the Long Haul: We understand that advancing change in large, complex systems doesn’t happen overnight. That’s why we provide Fellows multiple years of support to delve into these entrenched problems. In addition, Fellows become lifelong members of Stoneleigh’s alumni network—a committed group of social change leaders working to improve youth-serving systems. What does an ideal Fellowship project look like? Feerating new knowledge through applied raches: Research: Generating new knowledge through applied research Policy: Changing how systems work to better meet the needs of young people Practice: Developing new approaches to program design and delivery, and expanding promising programs Because we believe that youth are best served when systems work together to holistically address their needs, Stoneleigh prioritizes projects designed to create or strengthen partnerships between or among agencies. Funding The award primarily covers a Fellow’s salary; in some cases, it also supports travel or other expenses related to advancing project work. While the amount depends on the personal circumstances of each Fellow and project, awards typically range from $100,000 to $150,000 annually. In addition to the financial award, Stoneleigh’s staff work closely with Fellows to amplify the impact of their projects and provide ongoing opportunities for networking and professional development. Fellowships are generally awarded for two to three years with the possibility of extension.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Stoneleigh Fellows come from a diverse array of backgrounds—they are attorneys, educators, physicians, public policy experts, program administrators, researchers, social workers, and more. Successful Fellows all have:The demonstrated ability to design, lead, and execute complex, multiyear projects A deep commitment to improving the lives of young people A solid understanding of how public systems work and the ability to bring stakeholders with different perspectives together to develop shared solutionsStoneleigh Fellowship candidates must have:A demonstrated capacity to lead complex, multiyear projects.We seek individuals who have a bold idea for transforming systems and know how to make change happen. Fellows are able to self-direct and course-correct when new opportunities emerge or challenges arise.Strong existing relationships and knowledge about how systems work.We look for people who understand that “change moves at the speed of trust.” Successful Fellows know that advancing change within systems requires working hand-in-hand with partners at multiple levels to further a shared vision. We seek individuals who have already cultivated the relationships they will need to hit the ground running.A proposed solution to a policy or practice challenge that affects youth in Philadelphia.Fellowship projects should advance change using one or more of the following approaches: generating knowledge through applied research, improving public policy, or developing new approaches to program design and delivery. Fellows must be able to clearly articulate how the proposed solution will lead to tangible outcomes that can be sustained beyond the life of the Fellowship. Typically, our Fellows work directly within or alongside systems in Philadelphia that serve young people. However, we also consider projects that seek to effect change at the state level in Pennsylvania, bring a promising national model to our region, or work on a national policy that affects young people in Philadelphia.The ability to devote the majority of their professional activities to their project.We believe that individuals need the time and space away from the demands of a regular job to execute their projects effectively. Although Fellows must be able to devote the majority of their time to their Fellowship work, we also recognize that some individuals have professional obligations that cannot be altered. We will make our best effort to accommodate these circumstances, but it is expected that individuals will be released from their day-to-day work to pursue their projects as much as possible.There is no specific age or experience requirement, but Fellowship candidates should have established track records in their fields of focus and strong professional relationships.We know that changemakers don’t fit a specific profile; some Fellows use the Fellowship to launch the next phase of their careers, while others have decades of experience.At a minimum, host organizations serve as fiscal agents for Fellowship funds. Depending on the design of the project, the host organization may also provide implementation support, office space/equipment, administrative support, or assistance with fundraising and communications. They are typically:Academic institutions (e.g., research centers, academic research hospitals, universities) Nonprofit organizations (e.g., legal services providers, advocacy organizations, child welfare agencies, other service providers) Public sector agencies (e.g., local/state government agencies, school district, police department, district attorney’s office, judiciary)Fellowship projects must have:An impact on policy and practice that affects young people in Philadelphia Buy-in from key systems and project implementation partners A clear theory of change and a work plan articulating goals and outcomes Concrete plans for ensuring sustainability

Ineligibility

Stoneleigh Fellowships do not support individuals to:Provide direct service to individual beneficiaries Engage in lobbying or advocacy aimed at influencing specific legislation Undertake projects that do not impact youth or young adults Carry out the duties of an existing staff position