Deadline: January 9, 2012
The Open Society Foundations and Echoing Green have established a new fellowship program for individuals dedicated to improving the life outcomes of black men and boys in the U.S. It is the first fellowship program of its kind that targets social entrepreneurs who are starting up new and innovative organizations in the field of black male achievement.
The BMA Fellowship will include start-up capital and technical assistance over 18 months to help new leaders launch and build their organizations; access to technical support and pro bono partnerships; and a community of like-minded social entrepreneurs and public service leaders.
The online application for the Open Society Black Male Achievement Fellowship (BMA Fellowship) will be available on December 5, 2011 and closed on January 9, 2012. It will be awarded to up to eight fellows who are generating new ideas and best practices in the areas of education, family, and work such as initiatives related to fatherhood, mentoring, college preparatory programs, community-building, supportive wage work opportunities, communications, and philanthropic leadership.
The BMA Fellowship will run for 18 months beginning July 1, 2012, and will offer:
• A stipend of $70,000
• A health insurance stipend
• A professional development stipend
• Professional and organizational development conferences
• A community of like-minded social entrepreneurs and public service leaders, including the Open Society and Echoing Green networks of alumni working all over the world
Eligibility
Fellowships are reserved for individuals who are launching organizations dedicated to Black Male Achievement in the United States. Fellowship projects should align with the Campaign for Black Male Achievement priorities focused on improving the life outcomes of black men and boys in the three core areas of: education, family, and work.
Fellowship projects should support the Campaign’s goals, which are:
• To strengthen low income black families through responsible fatherhood initiatives, policy advocacy and supporting efforts that lift barriers facing single mothers raising black boys
• To ensure that black boys have the opportunity to excel academically, to prepare for college, and to learn skills essential to earning a living wage
• To expand and ensure 21st century family supportive wage work opportunities for black males
• To integrate strategic communications and arts & culture into CBMA’s work across its three core areas to promote positive frames and messages about black men and boys
• To serve as a catalyst in the field of philanthropy for leveraging additional private and public funds for the field of black men and boys.
Additionally:
• Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.
• Applicants must have sufficient English fluency to participate in interviews and events.
• Organization must be the original idea of the applicant.
• Organization must be in a start-up phase. To be considered a start-up, the organization may have been in operation for up to two years, and the Fellowship’s financial support should qualify it as significant early funder. Applicants who have only worked on their organization on a part-time basis or have yet to start the organization are generally considered eligible.
• Organization must be independent and autonomous. Organizations cannot be considered independent or autonomous if they are started under the direction of an existing organization. The applicant must be the primary decision maker for the organization’s development and management. Generally, organizations with fiscal sponsors are still considered autonomous.
• Applicants must make a full-time commitment (minimum 35 hours per week) to the organization’s development for the duration of the two-year fellowship. It is expected that all selected fellows resign from their current employment to dedicate themselves full-time to their initiatives. Students will not be eligible for their fellowship stipend if their organization is put on hold due to conflicts with their studies.
• Partnerships (organizations co-founded and led by two individuals) may apply. Both partners must meet all eligibility requirements and make a full-time commitment of no fewer than 35 hours per week to the development of the organization.
• Applicants must be based in the US and have legal status to work in the US. If you are authorized to work in the US, but this status is granted to you through your current employer and you are only authorized to work for that employer, you are not eligible to apply.
Note: Organizations may be for-profit or non-profit.
The following proposals are not eligible for consideration:
• Expansion of an existing organization that is past its start-up phase
• Research projects
• Lobbying activities
• Initiatives that promote adoption of a specific faith or religion. (If your work has a spiritual basis but is not tied to any specific religion or faith, you may be eligible for consideration)
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