Community Impact Fellowship
The Community Impact Fellowship program places graduating Stanford students into full-time jobs at participating public interest organizations, philanthropic foundations, social impact companies, and government agencies. Through this program, Fellows kickstart their post-Stanford service career equipped with a professional mentor and a professional development cohort.
Overview
Through the Cardinal Careers Community Impact Fellowship, graduating seniors and co-terms are placed in full-time, paid positions predominantly in the San Francisco Bay Area (and occasionally elsewhere in the US and remote). Partner employers range from public interest organizations, philanthropic foundations, social impact companies, and government agencies. Positions are typically 12 months to 2 years in length. Fellows are paid and provided health insurance coverage by the employing organization.
Haas Center staff does not necessarily have direct experience with, nor do we professionally endorse, partner organizations.
Application Deadline
Students: Apply via SOLO by February 5, 2025
Employers: Apply via Qualtrics by December 1, 2024
Student Eligibility
To be eligible for a Community Impact Fellowship, you must currently be a senior or co-term at Stanford. US citizenship to apply for this fellowship; citizenship requirements vary by employer. We encourage applicants from any field of study, issue area interests, and levels of experience.
Student Application Information
Applications must be submitted via SOLO. Applications material include the following:
- One letter of recommendation: Your letter of recommendation should be written by someone who can attest to your fitness for a professional work environment, your ability to think creatively, and your leadership.
- A cover letter or statement of interest (per position): A cover letter or statement of interest is required for each position you apply for. Your letter or statement should demonstrate that you understand the position and employer, possess relevant skills, and would be a good fit for the job.
- A resume
- An unofficial transcript
Program Timeline
- December: Employers submit job descriptions to be included in the Community Impact Fellowship Opportunity Board;
- February: Students apply for opportunities;
- Note: We encourage applicants to apply to multiple opportunities to maximize the likelihood of securing a Community Impact position.
- March: Employers review applications, arrange interviews, and make final hiring decisions;
- May: Attend the Cardinal Careers New Fellows Orientation (late May);
- Summer/Fall: Fellows begin working at host organization.
Fellowship Components
The Cardinal Careers Community Impact Fellowship program aims to:
- Recruit talented students to work in public service
- Assist public interest organizations in finding qualified staff
- Engage alumni working in and committed to public service
Student Fellowship Requirements
By accepting a Community Impact Fellowship, you commit to the following program requirements:
- Attend Cardinal Careers New Fellows Orientation (late May);
- Complete a workshop on the Principles of Ethical and Effective Public Service;
- Participate in regional professional development sessions throughout the fellowship term;
- Participate in quarterly check-in meetings with the Community Impact Fellowship coordinator to discuss your individual fellowship experience, share your work and projects, make program recommendations and provide advice to incoming fellows;
- Provide the program with a year-end report detailing the fellowship experience and activities.
Fellowship History & Background
Since 1984, the Haas Center for Public Service at Stanford University has encouraged students to explore public service through full-time fellowships in the summer and after graduation. The Community Impact Fellowship — founded in 2003 as the Stanford Public Interest Network (SPIN) Fellowship Program and re-launched in 2017 — places recent Stanford graduates in full-time paid positions in nonprofit organizations and government agencies. In the 2023-24 cycle, 17 fellows launched their public service careers through a Community Impact Fellowship.
Information for Prospective Partners & Employers
- Community Impact Fellowship partners provide 10-24 months of meaningful and compensated work. This work should begin in the summer or fall after Fellows’ graduation.
- The Community Impact Fellowship differs from other Fellowships administered by the Haas Center in that this is a partner-funded fellowship.
- Fellows receive a salary of at least $50,000 base pay from the partner organizations, plus benefits during their fellowship. (Please note that to be competitive, many partners offer a salary above this.)
- Each Fellow has a job description from the partner organization that includes specific responsibilities, including at least one project that the Fellow can manage for the duration of their fellowship. If desired, the Cardinal Careers Team will work with partners to develop a meaningful work plan for Fellows.
- Partner organizations provide a mentor for each Fellow to guide the Fellow's professional development for the fellowship term.
- Mentors agree to fill out a year-end evaluation form provided by the Haas Center as well as provide periodic updates about their Fellow to Haas Center staff;
- Community Impact Fellows should be permitted to participate in quarterly check-in meetings with the Program Director and attend professional development events at the Haas Center. Check-in meetings may be scheduled during working hours. Professional development events typically occur after working hours, for which an occasional early release from work would be helpful.
- While our Fellowship partners are welcome to employ former Fellows at the end of their fellowship it is not an expectation or requirement that a Fellow be kept on beyond their fellowship term.
Testimonials
“This fellowship provides both professional learning and growth opportunities for the fellows, and brings energy, enthusiasm, and bandwidth to the work our organization does… Our core backbone staff team is small. Having additional support to move the work forward in big and small ways with the fellows is very important to us being able to reach our goals.”
-2018 Community Impact Mentor
“I don't think that any entry-level job gives you these types of opportunities that I have [had]. This fellowship allowed me to work on a mission that I am truly passionate about and do meaningful work.”
-2016 Community Impact Fellow
Past Partners
- Abode Services
- All Stars Helping Kids ASAP/Common Sense Media Ashoka
- Children’s Rights
- City of San José
- Clean Energy Department
- City Manager's Office
- Department of Public Works
- Innovation Technology
- Mayor's Office of Tech & Innovation
- Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Services
- City Innovate
- Community Housing Partnership
- CommunityConnect Labs/GreatNonprofits
- DonorsChoose.org
- Education Pioneers
- El Concilio of San Mateo County
- Foundation for College Education
- Friends for Youth
- Frontier Group
- Green Ivy Educational Consulting/Luminaria Learning
- Health Leads
- Ikaso Consulting
- John Gardner Center for Youth & Their Communities
- Jumpstart
- King Philanthropies
- Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen Foundation
- LifeMoves
- MetroPlus
- Mission Investors Exchange
- North East Medical Services
- Noora Health
- NYC District Attorney’s Office
- Pacific Autism Center for Education
- Partners in School Innovation
- Partnership for Public Service
- The Primary School
- Ravenswood Family Health Network
- Redwood City Together
- The Representation Project
- San Mateo County Health Coverage Unit
- SIRUM
- Strengthening Communities Corps
- TalkingPoints
- UCSF Medical Center
- Uncommon Schools
- Young Invincibles
- Youth Policy Institute
- Venture Leadership Consulting
- VoteAmerica