Fellowship
Are you passionate about social justice? Do you want to contribute your skills to a local nonprofit while becoming a better ally? Join our Fellowship Program!
About the Fellowship Program
The SNS Fellowship program is a ten month, part-time service program that places young professionals with local nonprofits in the DC metro area for targeted skills-based volunteer work. We foster issue-oriented allies and dynamic leaders of tomorrow through leadership training and race equity development, as Fellows engage in meaningful projects with organizations at the community level. Organizations receive a total of 100 hours of volunteer service to expand and enhance their impact.
Be a Fellow
As a Fellow, you will…
- Serve a local organization that matches your skills, interests, and desired focus area
- Gain deep insight into the vision, work, and culture of your matched non-profit organization
- Attend monthly leadership development sessions featuring local nonprofit leaders and issue-based experts leading sessions on racial equity and social justice issues
- Receive ongoing individualized race equity coaching
- Join a community of like-minded young professionals committed to racial and social justice
- Develop a Capstone Project that adds value/perspective to your host site, justice, and/or Allyship work
You should apply if you…
- Live in the DMV (Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia metro area) and have a strong interest in supporting local organizations in this area. (This Fellowship is REMOTE for the 2023 class.)
- Are interested in enhancing your specific skill set and gaining invaluable experience working with a nonprofit organization
- Are dedicated to deepening your commitment to Allyship and your understanding of race equity
- Are able to commit to 12-15 hours per month from February-December 2023 (10 hours with your host site and 2-4 hours in training and coaching sessions)
- Are between the ages of 21 and 35 at the time of submitting your application
- Are committed to being an active, inclusive, and engaged learner as a member of the cohort
What makes this Fellowship unique from other programs?
Race equity work is for everybody, regardless of your racial identity/ies. As SNS’ flagship program, what sets this Fellowship apart is that SNS leads its race equity work through a pro-Black, Black-led framework.
Throughout the ten month program, Fellows build their race equity lens through skills-based, community-centered volunteer work and racial identity and leadership development curriculum.
The cohort’s intimate and engaged community is focused on building a thoughtful, diverse group of young leaders that centers Black people and the most marginalized in society in our social justice and liberation work. By participating in this Fellowship, the personal and professional are challenged to grow together, to collaborate with others, and to contribute to building a beloved DMV community.
- Create a data visualization tool to help analyze organization data
- Develop a new social media strategy
- Research best practices to improve or expand programs
- Support fundraising through donor data analysis and/or assisting with grant opportunities
- Provide planning and outreach support for a key organization event
- Facilitate client-facing curriculum development and program restructuring
- Organize community engagement events and opportunities for community relationship-building
2023 Fellow Application Process
Overview
The 2023 Fellowship Program will be accepting 8-10 Fellows. Applicants must be between the ages of 21-35 at the time of submitting their application. Members of the BIPOC community are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants with accessibility needs are welcome to apply and your individual needs can be discussed and addressed.
The 2023 Fellowship Program will operate remotely until conditions from the COVID-19 pandemic improve. It is strongly preferred that applicants live in the DC metro area to ensure a robust Fellowship experience when in-person activities resume.
Cost
There is a $2,500 Fellowship fee supporting the full scope of programming and development for each Fellow. Applicants are encouraged to request sponsorship from their employers. Those unable to cover programming fees through employer sponsorship, independent means, or fundraising are still encouraged to apply as there are some dedicated scholarship funds each year.
Application Timeline
- September 6 – Fellow Applications open
- February 11, 2023 – Fellowship Program Begins
Questions? Email us at info@serviceneversleeps.org
Meet Our Current Fellows
Katie Wynne (she/her)
CAIR Coalition
Background: My name is Katie Wynne (she/her) and I am originally from northern California (Berkeley and Davis!), and have been living in/around DC for about 11 years. I joined the Service Never Sleeps Fellowship because I was tired of feeling helpless in the face of a society that is rooted in racism and white supremacy. Growing up Filipina and white, I had a hard time understanding where in the U.S. racial discourse I fit into - including where I can lean into my privilege to work alongside and amplify others. This fellowship is giving me the knowledge and tools for the lifelong work of working towards liberation for all.
Site: I am placed with the Capital Area Immigrant Rights (CAIR) Coalition to tell the story of their work in ways that engage their audiences and move them to action. CAIR Coalition is a non-profit that provides legal representation and services to adults and children who are detained and/or facing deportation. As the granddaughter of immigrants who were able to access a pathway to citizenship, using my communications and graphic design skills to help strengthen resources for people facing deportation is especially meaningful.
How it's going: One of our first panel sessions highlighted Black and other women of color who are leading non-profit organizations. They talked candidly about what it is like to manage non-diverse boards of directors, and micro-aggressions (or outright discrimination) from those around them. They also talked about how they have strived to support other marginalized people in similar situations, and how to mentor more junior staff facing similar hurdles. This is what I find most fulfilling. We're unpacking racism and white supremacy; and at the same time, we are finding the cracks of light through which we can support one another and work towards upending harmful systems and structures.
Grant Wood (he/him)
Perfect, Inc
Background: My name is Grant Wood (he/him) and I am a born and raised Washingtonian. I have lived in DC for my entire life, and have deep ties to this city and the area. I joined Service Never Sleeps for this fellowship because I saw an opportunity both to better myself on my allyship journey and help support my community here in the DMV. In the Spring of 2021, I signed up for an allyship workshop with Service Never Sleeps which had an incredible impact on how I wanted to make my way in the world. The ideas and ideals of shared humanity fell in line with my own personal beliefs for how our world needs to function, and the allyship workshop helped me better articulate those beliefs as well as equipped me with tools to apply the vision. I joined the fellowship this year because I felt called to continue my allyship journey while using those tools to help a local organization fighting to provide a more equitable life in present and future for people who have been marginalized.
Site: I ended up being paired with an organization called Perfect Inc., a local non-profit that works with formerly incarcerated women to help them readjust back into society with a job training program, mentorship, and a job placement with benefits. It took one phone call with the founder and leader of the organization, Alyson McNair, before I was entirely energized and inspired to help her and this organization do its work. My role has been wide ranging, mainly dealing with outreach, community building, fundraising, and working on content for the annual program (which starts back up in the Fall).
How it's going: It has been as formative as it has been fulfilling to be an ally in this way, and I have learned a great deal about what amplifying the voices of the marginalized can truly look like. It has been elucidating for me to see how this organization empowers the women we work with so that they can write their own narratives, which has been a fantastic lesson in allyship for me. I am excited to see what the next few months entail as I continue to work more directly with setting up the cohort program this year at Perfect Inc., as well as the lessons and experiences I share with my own cohort of fellows at SNS.
Hannah Lee (she/her)
Neighborhood Legal Services Program
Background: I’m originally from a suburb outside of Boston Mass, but moved to Washington D.C. last fall after starting a job with Avascent, a consulting firm based in D.C. I wanted to join the fellowship after learning about it from a coworker and hearing great things about it from previous fellows at Avascent. I was also looking for a way to get involved in volunteering in my new home and interested in learning more about non-profit organizations. The added components of learning more about allyship and the community of allies that SNS builds really solidified my interest in participating.
Site: This year I’m a fellow with Neighborhood Legal Services Program with their co-op housing group. Knowing little about co-op housing organizations, I am hoping to gain a stronger understanding of how co-ops operate, how they fill a needed gap in the housing system, and what legal challenges come with housing in the D.C. area. I’ve already learned so much about all these things so far and am looking forward to continuing to learn, as well as contributing to various projects the co-op team is working on.
How it's going: The fellowship has already done so much to inform my allyship journey, giving me formal structures to understand race and white supremacy culture in America and the specific steps I can take to do my part in dismantling this culture of white supremacy. Hearing from so many BIPOC individuals in the non-profit space has given me a better understanding of the challenges associated with and for non-profits, and how these challenges are compounded by race. I have also benefited so much from talking to and hearing from the rest of the fellows, and am thankful to be in a space where this dialogue is facilitated. I’m looking forward to the rest of my year of service and the ongoing allyship work being done in our monthly sessions!
Charlotte Sackett (she/her)
Our Minds Matter
Background: I grew up in Old Town, Alexandria near SNS's headquarters! I wanted to join SNS to grow as an ally in an environment that is challenging yet inclusive. As a nearly life-long Alexandrian, I also hoped to form a more profound and meaningful relationship with a local non-profit organization beyond what would be feasible in a typical volunteer shift.
Site: I've been matched with Our Minds Matter (OMM), whose goal is to provide mental health education, resources, and support to adolescents. During the Fellowship, I hope to enhance their data visualizations to highlight program impact and areas for improvement, facilitating informed management/decisions so that clubs can effectively drive positive change.
How it’s Going: I've most enjoyed learning from SNS staff and growing with the other Fellows. It's been a challenging and rewarding experience so far, and having the support, positivity, and open-mindedness from my cohort has been great.
Margaret Chappell (she/her)
Ally Theatre/Voices Unbarred
Background: I am a New Jersey native who has lived in DC since I moved here for college in 2015. I work in international development, focused on implementing USAID-funded global health projects. In my free time, I enjoy running (I ran my first marathon last fall!), reading, trying new-to-me restaurants in DC, and traveling. I wanted to join the Fellowship for three reasons. First, I have been eager to support the DC community but have struggled to find meaningful ways to engage. The Fellowship was very appealing because I can contribute more meaningfully via skills-based service and get to know nonprofit staff and participants over the 10 months. Second, I was eager to participate in the leadership development sessions and grow in my allyship. Third, I really liked that SNS emphasizes forming connections among fellows and was excited to build relationships with other young professionals.
Site: I am supporting my site, Ally Theatre and Voices Unbarred, in two areas. First, I am producing a monitoring and evaluation plan to effectively measure program impact in a socially just way. Second, I am providing communications support as Ally Theatre and Voices Unbarred merge, so constituents and supporters understand the transition and are excited for upcoming programming.
How it's Going: I am looking forward to attending my first Voices Unbarred performance! I attended a rehearsal for one of the performances and it was great to chat with constituents about how Voices Unbarred has impacted their lives and watch them workshop scenes. I'm hoping I can pick up some improv skills along the way!
Previous SNS Fellow Cohorts
2021 Fellowship Class
- Abbi Bruce, Service Never Sleeps
- Allyson Fernandez Knott, Our Minds Matter
- Kate French, Common Good City Farm
- Swati Gayen, Local Motion Project
- Kerri-Ann Guyah, Offender Aid and Restoration
- Nina Lobo, The MusicianShip
- Karen Loya, Wakefield High School Cohort Program
- Sara Merlo, College Track DC
- Anwesha Nandi, Collective Action for Safe Spaces
- Cameron Nolan, SOUL - Sports For Social Change
- Katherine O'Reilly, La Cocina VA
- Caroline Roddey, Perfect, Inc.
2020 Fellowship Class
- Joshua Aurand, Common Good City Farm
- Carsen Beckwith, Collective Action for Safe Spaces
- Sam Burns, Josh Anderson Foundation
- Anna Garner, Calvary Women’s Services
- Rachel Jolie, Perfect, Inc.
- Emma Robinson, EveryoneOn
- Cara Sierks, SOUL - Sports for Social Change
- Tristan Slusser, Amara Legal Center
2019 Fellowship Class
- Andrew Chang, Free Minds Book Club
- Livi Logan-Wood, Collective Action for Safe Spaces
- Taseen Haque, Learn Serve International
- Louis Nicoletti, Learn Serve International
- Meredyth Hurlbert, Calvary Women’s Services
- Poorna Ramasubramanian, Calvery Women' Services
- Nebu Kolenchery, Everyone Home DC
Charlotte Runzel, Amara Legal Center
2018 Fellowship Class
- Sirisha Bonda, Calvary Women’s Services
- Sam Chase, Aspire Afterschool Learning
- Christina Corbett, Girls, Inc
- Elle Gault, Hack the Narrative
- Maddie Heller, DC Scores
- Nisha Chandiramani, Friends of Guest House
- Karen Chen, Collective Action for Safe Spaces
- Marcy Ewald, Hack the Narrative
- Ryan Halvorsen, Aspire Afterschool Learning
- Abby Maraya, Everyone Home DC
2017 Fellowship Class
- Natalia Oyola-Sepulveda, Collective Action for Safe Spaces
- Ishani Purohit, Empowered Women International
- Daniel Robles-Olson, Liberty's Promise
- Sakib Tauhidul, Everyone Home DC
- Alisha Anderson, Empowered Women International
- Laura Brush, Calvary Women's Services
- Min Kim, Serve Your City
- Erica Malchodi, Girls, Inc
2016 Fellowship Class
- Alexandria Blue, Girls Inc
- Alex Winter, Collective Action for Safe Spaces
- Clara Savage, Serve Your City
- Marissa Personette, Calvary Women's Services
- Lucy Montgomery, Calvary Women's Services
- Kalyn Fetta, Serve Your City
- Shane Dutka, Code of Support Foundation
- Kristen Cummings, Josh Anderson Foundation
- Jenn Brann, Collective Action for Safe Spaces
- Korrin Bishop, Everyone Home DC
- Maisha Huq, Girls Inc
Are you ready to deepen your commitment to allyship, build community with like-minded peers, and be of service to a local organization?
BE A FELLOW!
Host a Fellow
What is that project that is always out of reach that you know will improve your organization’s work, if only you had the time and skills?
As a nonprofit host site for a SNS Fellow, your organization will…
- Receive 100 hours of project-based support across 10 months at no cost to your organization
- Leverage the specialized skills of a young professional to develop new strategies and systems
- Enhance your organization’s capacity to accomplish core goals
- Foster an emerging leader’s commitment to social justice and volunteer service
You should apply to be a Host if your organization…
- Has one staff member that will serve as the Fellow’s site supervisor and who can dedicate 2-4 hours each month providing supervision and fulfilling SNS’ program communication and evaluation requirements.
- Fosters a welcoming and supportive space for the Fellow to explore, create, and contribute, which includes providing adequate training and resources.
- Is willing to work with a Fellow who will provide service hours remotely for the 2023 program year. In-person attendance at organization events and/or other meetings is permitted if site and Fellow are in agreement, though should not be required.
- Is able to collect and report data on the project and the Fellow’s impact during the year.
- Is located in the DMV metro area.
2023 Host Site Applications
Overview
The 2023 Fellowship Program will be accepting 8-10 Fellows. Fellows are young professionals between the ages of 21-35, mostly employed as consultants with local consulting firms. The Fellowship program is designed to help enhance a nonprofit’s capacity by matching a Fellow’s skills with a nonprofit’s defined need over a 10 month project (February to December). Fellows also participate in ongoing training and leadership development centered around race equity led by SNS. There is no financial cost for a host site to participate in the program.
Application Process and Timeline
The process and timeline for an organization submitting an application to be a host site for 2023 is as follows:
- All applications are due no later than November 4, 2022.
- Applicants should receive an auto confirmation that their application form has been received. Applicants will receive a status update in November after the application deadline.
- Applicants will be notified if any Fellow applicants have preliminarily matched with their organization by January 6, 2023.
- Organizations with preliminary matches will be expected to conduct short interviews and provide feedback from these interviews to SNS no later than January 23, 2023.
- Organizations that do not have matches will remain on the SNS outreach list and will be encouraged to apply again the following year.
- Organizations will be notified if they have been successfully matched with a Fellow by early February 2023. The Fellowship program officially starts on February 11.
SNS pre-screens both host site applicants and Fellow applicants before recommending possible matches to the host nonprofit. Host nonprofits then have the opportunity to have a short conversation with the candidate option(s) to help determine best fit before SNS makes an ultimate placement recommendation.
Please note that applying will offer you an opportunity to be part of the matching process and does not guarantee Fellow placement with your organization.
To download a printable flyer with the above information to share with your colleagues, click here.