Switzer Foundation: Switzer Fellowship Grant

Switzer Foundation: Switzer Fellowship Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Robert & Patricia Switzer Foundation
Amount: US $17,000
Last Updated: November 18, 2025

Summary

The Switzer Fellowship, offered by the Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation, provides one-year fellowships to exceptional graduate students in New England and California committed to environmental improvement. Each fellow receives a $17,000 award, leadership training, and access to a robust network of over 700 alumni. This program nurtures future environmental leaders through retreats, professional development resources, and collaborative opportunities, fostering interdisciplinary work and community engagement to advance social and environmental change.

Overview

Become a Fellow The Switzer Fellowship offers one-year fellowships to highly talented graduate students from diverse academic and personal backgrounds in New England and California whose studies and career goals are directed toward environmental improvement and who clearly demonstrate leadership in their field. The fellowship includes a $17,000 cash award, leadership training, access to a vibrant network of Switzer Fellowship alums, and opportunities for professional development and grants beyond the fellowship year. Through the Switzer Fellowship, the Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation supports environmental leaders for the 21st century who have the ability, determination and integrity to effect positive change. Only the most active, committed and focused individuals will compete successfully to join the Switzer Network of more than 700 fellows selected since 1986. Switzer Fellows are on the leading edge of environmental and social change through efforts in environmental science, policy, justice, public health, economics, journalism, urban planning, business, law and more. Switzer Fellows come from diverse social, academic and economic backgrounds. They are committed to interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral work, applied results, and collaborative leadership. Further, they are committed to their own professional development and to continually improving their leadership skills throughout their careers. Fellowship Benefits and Expectations The fellowship includes a $17,000 cash award to be paid in two installments, in June and January. Fellows are expected to participate in two multiday retreats which focus on building connections among fellows and provide fundamental leadership skills development. Applicants for the fellowship must be able to commit to attending the retreats during their fellowship year. The Switzer Fellowship also offers a variety of professional and leadership development resources to fellows throughout their careers, as described below. The Switzer Network A significant and valuable aspect of the fellowship is the Switzer Network. This network is a system of support and exchange for the more than 700 Switzer Fellows located throughout the U.S. and around the world. The network provides a vibrant connection among Switzer Fellows and other leading environmental practitioners. The goals of the fellowship network are to: Develop a community of Switzer Fellows who share in training, leadership, and networking opportunities, and facilitate their support of each other.Foster collaboration among fellows and promote peer-to-peer learning and innovation. Support and reinforce career development for the community of Switzer Fellows. Assist Switzer Fellows in achieving positions of leadership and visibility in order to increase their effectiveness. Provide an interdisciplinary source of expertise from which organizations, government agencies, policymakers and media contacts can draw when expertise on an environmental issue is needed. Ongoing network activities include networking calls and convenings, collegial information exchange, professional skills training, informal social gatherings, and collaborative grant opportunities. See Find An Expert to learn about fellowship alumni and their work. Career support and mentoring Foundation staff and fellowship alumni provide career coaching, mentoring, and leadership guidance to fellows at any time during their fellowship year and beyond. Foundation staff will help identify leadership development opportunities to best prepare fellows for their chosen career path. Other grant programs Once they have fulfilled their fellowship year requirements, Switzer Fellows have access to three other Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation grant programs aimed at supporting and enhancing their leadership skills and professional development. The Leadership Grant program is available to fellows who have completed their studies and wish to partner with a nonprofit or public agency to contribute leadership and expertise on a project or help create a position that applies their professional skills and leadership to a critical environmental issue. Network Innovation Grants are available for collaborative projects involving two or more Switzer Fellows. This program is designed to foster innovation and collaboration among fellows, tapping the Switzer Fellows Network’s collective potential for advancing progress on an issue. Professional Development Grants are available to fellows after their fellowship year to attend trainings or conferences that will advance their professional skills and standing. Applications are specifically reviewed for the following: Environmental Commitment, Clarity of Purpose, and Career Goals Applicant demonstrates a commitment to aggressively pursue and implement effective solutions to improve the quality of our environment through professional and volunteer work experience; shows clarity of career goals and realistic vision.They articulate the role in which they see themselves having an impact. Leadership Capacity Applicant demonstrates experience and/or potential in the ability to influence and align others towards environmental goals, and to effectively bridge the public, private and academic arenas.Applicant demonstrates proficiency and leadership in their selected topic and commitment to ongoing professional development to enhance their leadership. Innovative Problem-Solving Applicant demonstrates innovative or creative approaches and contributes a new or different perspective to their field; applicant works on a cutting edge issue. Applied and Interdisciplinary Focus Applicant is able to translate knowledge within their field of study into problem-solving strategies; scientific, technical, analytical and/or policy study is geared towards applied results. Applicant is able to place their work in a broader context, beyond academic settings and including policy. Collaboration and Engagement Applicant has experience in organizing diverse groups, building inclusive teams or implementing programs on an environmental issue; shows willingness or ability to engage across sectors or social/community boundaries. Social Equity Awareness/Experience Applicant demonstrates an awareness of the equity and social justice dimensions of their environmental work. Communication and Critical Thinking Applicant communicates clearly and is able to translate theoretical concepts into practice; has the ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Applicants for a Switzer Fellowship must: Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient, or a refugee or asylee according to the definition provided by the United States Department of Homeland Security (international students are ineligible.)Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited graduate institution in California or one of the six New England states (ME, NH, VT, MA, CT, RI) and plan to be enrolled as for the entire 2045-2026 academic year.Applicants must have strong academic qualifications, with academic and career goals focused on environmental improvement.Master’s degree candidates (including J.D. students) must have completed at least one semester or quarter of course work to apply, and they must be seeking a Master’s as their terminal degree.Master’s degree students planning to pursue a Ph.D. are advised to wait until they are in their Ph.D. program to apply.  Individuals enrolled in one-year Master’s degree programs may apply prior to enrollment, but must be formally accepted into their program to be eligible for a Switzer Fellowship interview (held in May).Ph.D. candidates must have completed at least three years of doctoral work or plan to have passed their qualifying exams by July 1, 2025. Mid-career students are encouraged to apply and must demonstrate how their academic program will enhance their effectiveness as an environmental leader.