Learn everything you need to know about our fellowship.

About the Program

The Nathan Cummings Foundation (NCF) Fellowship awards three individuals with up to $150,000 to turn an inspired idea in the field of social justice into a reality. The program is designed for emergent leaders who have limited access to institutional philanthropy and whose work is traditionally underfunded.

Application Deadline

Applications for the 2021-2022 fellowship cohort are now closed. Please check our website and subscribe to our newsletter for updates regarding the fellowship.

Applicants

NCF welcomes a diverse pool of applicants representing practitioners in a variety of fields. Applicants should demonstrate a deep understanding and clear analysis of the field in which they work. They should also have a history of success in this field but still be positioned to benefit from the foundation’ support.

Project Topics

The topic of a fellow’s project should generally align with the foundation’s focus on climate change and inequality. It should aim to transform the systems and mindsets that hinder progress toward a more sustainable and equitable future for all people, particularly women and people of color. The foundation is also interested in innovative approaches that cut across these areas.

Project Outcomes and Products

Applicants should have a clear idea of the project’s goal(s), audience, and impact on community. They should also demonstrate an understanding of the timeline and resources needed to execute their work.

Proposed projects might include the creation of a product such as a book or report; a public hearing or presentation; a launch of an initiative or nonprofit organization; an art piece; or other creative work products.

Selection Criteria

Each application is considered with respect to the following criteria:

• The project’s alignment with NCF’s mission and focus on climate change and inequality.
• The applicant’s understanding of the complex needs of the community it is working with and/or serving.
• The project’s innovative approach.
• The project’s long-term sustainability, and the applicant’s ability to carry out the proposed work.
• The project benefits from NCF support and has the potential to shift the way the Foundation approaches its work and advances its strategies.

Expectations and Support

Each recipient receives a stipend of up to $150,000, paid out in two installments over 18 months. In addition, the program offers hands-on training, resources, and leadership development to help fellows scale the impact of their work.

Excluded Activities

The fellowship program does NOT fund the following:

• enrollment for degree or non-degree study at academic institutions, including dissertation research;
• debt relief;
• fellows’ health benefits or taxes owed to the IRS for the grant award; and
• lobbying activities.