Partner With Us
Join us in building the next generation of social sector leaders
The Public Interest Fellowship Program (PIFP) helps local nonprofits fill gaps in their staff by streamlining the hiring process and supporting Fellows throughout their experience. Partner organizations gain access to committed, and energetic ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï student candidates who are excited to perform work centered around their values. Having studied on the ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï academic block plan, all applicants are able to tackle projects quickly and intensively both individually and in teams to complete assignments and develop solutions on extremely short deadlines.
These applicants benefit from organization partners by learning directly within community impact areas. Fellows enhance workplace skills, nonprofit understanding, and commitment to working in the social sector while also building capacity within their fellowship organization. ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï students thrive at organizations that:
- Address significant social issues
- Focus on innovative, effective, and systemic change within society
- Utilize and build Fellows skills by assigning, supervising, and coaching them through meaningful projects
- Grow Fellows workplace skills, nonprofit understanding, and professional capacity to ensure that their organization is benefiting from the PIFP partnership
Fellowship Timeline & Terms
- Nonprofit partners apply to participate in PIFP in the fall of each year.
- Students apply for specific opportunities in February.
- Organizations select 3 candidates who best meet their needs to interview.
Summer Fellowships are 10-12 weeks for a minimum of 30 hours/week (typically June to August).
Yearlong Fellowships are 10-12 months for a minimum of 30 hours/week (typically beginning July).
Students participate in PIFP guided training and mentorship during the application process and throughout their fellowship experience.
What's the cost?
- Organizations provide competitive hourly wages which meet, and even exceed, the local minimum wage expectations.
- Yearlong Fellowship sites are also expected to offer health insurance.
- We highly encourage partner organizations to provide additional benefits, or supplement wages, to help with the significant cost of living challenge.
- Nonprofit partner organizations should reach out to the PIFP Director to discuss program minimum wage expectations which are above the statewide minimum wage.
- Organizations may apply for capacity grants of up to $7,500 to offset the cost of hosting a yearlong fellow.
Partner With Us
Partner organizations are expected to submit an application and job description for full consideration. To get started, download and save the following:
Priority Deadline: November 15, 2024 (particularly if requesting a capacity grant)
Organizations can apply or make changes to their fellowship descriptions until January 10, 2025.
Partner Organizations should plan ahead for applicant interviews February 24 - April 2, 2025. We hope to have offers made and fellowships accepted by April 16, 2025.
Want to learn more?
Join a virtual information session:
and reach out with any questions!
"The most rewarding part of my fellowship was being pushed to do more than I thought I was capable of doing. In a period of less than five months, our team of three people organized and launched a prevention and awareness campaign, we also wrote a program proposal for a new branch of TESSA in just three days, and I've become much more adept at event planning, networking, and being creative and resourceful in fulfilling the wide needs of a non-profit that has very limited funds and resources; I never dreamed I'd accomplish so many things that contributed to my professional growth in such a short time."
Caroline Olin (TESSA, Yearlong '18-'19)
"The PIFP fellows are bright, talented, and committed to performing high-quality work. They bring a well-rounded educational background and superior writing, analysis, and communications skills to the fellowship. They are dedicated to the work of our organization and excited to be working on public policy issues."
Rich Jones
Director of Policy and Research
The Bell Policy Center
Contact Us
Director, Public Interest Fellowship Program
aculp@ColoradoCollege.edu
719-389-6310