From I Don’t Know to FAO. Why I Chose a Fellowship
As I thought about my “next step” during my senior year at Northwestern University, pursuing a fellowship seemed like a good option. It’s not like I totally underst...
THE FAO SCHWARZ FELLOWSHIP
The FAO Schwarz Fellowship is an intensive, transformative two-year experience in the world of social impact designed to develop your knowledge and leadership abilities.
LEARN
Launch Your Social Impact Career
FAO Schwarz Fellows are recent college graduates working at leading nonprofit organizations. All of our Fellowships include direct service, strategic projects and professional development. They’re designed to jumpstart your career as a leader of change.
CONNECT
Be Part of a Passionate Cohort
As an FAO Schwarz Fellow, you’ll join a cohort of talented young leaders that includes a growing alumni network. Retreats and other events give you a chance to get to know your cohort of Fellows and explore a broad range of social issues.
LEAD
Grow Your Leadership Skills
The Fellowship develops your leadership skills, deepens your knowledge and includes opportunities for networking with social impact leaders of today—and tomorrow. You’ll be challenged to explore difficult problems and reflect on their causes. Mentors offer guidance and help you plan your next steps.
Sign up and we’ll send you email about new host organizations and how to apply for the Fellowship.
WHAT FELLOWS ARE SAYING
“The FAO Schwarz Foundation Fellowship helped launch my career. I worked with schools across Philadelphia to learn the concerns of families and school administration. In my current role I draw upon those experiences every day to make a greater impact.”
Gregory Wright, FAO Schwarz Fellow 2013
Community School Coordinator
Mayor’s Office of Education
Philadelphia, PA
Mayor’s Office of Education
Philadelphia, PA
“I’m grateful for the professional development I received. So many aspects of the program set me up for success. The fellowship was the jumpstart to my career. It helped me find my way to Social Work (which I’m pretty sure is where I am supposed to be!)”
Maley Mullin
Graduate School of Social Work
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
“The Fellowship has had a huge impact on my personal and professional development. I’ve gained skills, mentors and an incredible group of friends in my cohort, and those above and below me. I hope to give back a fraction of what it has and continues to give to me.”
Jen Benson
Outreach Coordinator
Riverkeeper
Ossinging, NY
Riverkeeper
Ossinging, NY
“The time I spent as a Fellow taught me so much about the amazing organizations that are out there and the ways different ways that organizations are run. It changed the way I think about the nonprofit sector and has led me to pursue a career in nonprofit capacity building.”
Dawn Lavallee
MBA Candidate at Questrom School of Business, Boston University, MBA (Public and Nonprofit)
Invested in Your Future
Real social change requires leadership. We need people willing to ask difficult questions and look beyond the obvious. We need new solutions to the stubborn problems that create injustice and inequality. We need ambitious thinkers and doers seeking to make an impact.
As an FAO Schwarz Fellow, you’ll learn to lead by engaging in both direct service and strategic projects. From your first day as a Fellow, you’ll work side-by-side with experts at your host organization to shape and lead a project that will strengthen the organization and develop your managerial skills.
The Fellowship includes professional development along with individualized mentoring. You’ll grow as a Fellow—both individually and alongside the other Fellows in your cohort. Our goal is to jumpstart your career as a successful and effective social impact leader.
51
ALUMNI/AE FELLOWS SINCE 2006
58%
PURSUE GRADUATE DEGREES
35%
HIRED BY THEIR HOST ORGANIZATIONS
96%
CHOOSE WORK IN SOCIAL IMPACT
ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP
DIRECT SERVICE AND SPECIAL PROJECTS
Each Fellowship offers a combination of direct service and strategic projects that deepen the Fellow’s knowledge of social challenges and build their skills and expertise.
PAID POSITIONS IN THREE FOCUS CITIES
The Fellowships are paid two-year positions with benefits at leading nonprofit host organizations in Boston, New York and Philadelphia.
UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The Fellowship focuses on professional development and leadership skills through regular retreats, mentoring and special community experiences.
A VALUABLE NETWORK
Fellows become part of a cohort of future leaders and connect to an extensive network of alumni Fellows and other social innovation leaders.
Tomorrow’s Social Impact Leaders
MEET THE FELLOWS
FAO Schwarz Fellows are problem-solvers drawn to critical social challenges. Social innovators seeking to put bold community solutions into action. And future world-changers who cannot wait to get started.
Nicholas Mitch, 2020
“Thriving ecosystems and thriving communities go hand-in-hand. You can’t have one without the other. I wanted the chance to live out this understanding, supporting both urban and rural communities as they connect with and protect the Hudson River watershed.“
Annie Want, 2020
“I’ve always known that young people are capable of creating movements. My work allows me to identify, equip, support, and celebrate youth leaders in Philadelphia schools as they strive to lead safer and healthier lives—and I am grateful to learn from them.“
Joseph Rosales, 2016
“My academic interests led me to seek a career that would combine my passions for cultural identity and serving others. Through the FAO Schwarz Fellowship, I have developed a deep passion for educational equity and have grown in a field that I now hold dear.“
Julia Fillman, 2017
“I became interested in working with nonprofits after participating in a service learning program in college. My time working with various organizations during those undergraduate years opened my eyes to the kind of work that I really feel passionate about and led me to pursue the FAO Schwarz Fellowship.”
Deshaun Parris, 2015
“The Fellowship has allowed me to combine two of my passions—community outreach and health education. I have been given a unique experience to have a direct impact on youth and their perception of healthy living.“
Molly Blake, 2019
“Recess was always one of my favorite parts of the day when I was growing up. Now I’m interested in creating healthy communities where recess welcomes all students and supports their social-emotional and physical development.“
Ciara Williams, 2018
“I was first exposed to environmental justice through community organizing in my hometown. That experience helped me to develop as an activist and action researcher while also laying a foundation that has supported my development in other fields.”
Samantha Perlman, 2019
“My motivation for civic engagement stems from my experience in public service and time in South Africa. I believe that civic education is crucial to the fabric of the United States and we must advocate for it in all schools.”
Khari Graves, 2017
“For as long as I can remember I wanted to help others through food. As graduation got closer, I began to think seriously about how to transform my personal passion into a career fighting for food access, nutritional equity, and empowering communities.“
Ellie Sanchez, 2017
“During college, I got involved with education-based nonprofits providing resources to youth in under-resourced communities. Although, I was very proud of my work and could see the impact I was making, I knew that I wanted to learn, do more and reach more students.“
Claudia von Nostitz, 2018
“I have always believed in the power of public education. I know that hands-on learning and direct service can have an incredible impact on New York City’s most valuable resource: the future generation of diverse leaders.“
Allie Negron, 2018
“A college education should be attainable. Many students may not have a parent, legal guardian, older sibling, or friend to serve as their guide towards reaching postsecondary education. I want to help students with dreams of going to college reach their goals.“
2018-2019 Fellowship Host Organizations
FAO Schwarz Fellows work at high-impact nonprofit organizations that are known for their results and the quality of their programs.
FELLOWS TELL THEIR STORIES
BECOMING A SOCIAL IMPACT LEADER
July 26, 2018
April 17, 2018How My Direct Service Work Influences My Special Project Work
My name is Pamela Martinez and I am the FAO Schwarz Fellow at Playworks in Philadelphia. I had experience at Playworks, first as a volunteer then as a direct service......
March 12, 2018Passing the Torch: From One Education Fellow to Another
My name is Jaiwantie Manni and I am the current FAO Schwarz Fellow at the Museum of the City of New York. My direct service work involves working with students......
February 18, 2018“My experience had a tremendous impact on my career….”
My experiencence as an FAO Schwarz Fellow at the Museum of the City of New York had a tremendous impact on my career. For two years I educated school students......
January 22, 2018Trash Academy: Understanding Trash Through Action and Research
My name is Ciara Williams and I am the FAO Schwarz Fellow with Mural Arts’ Restored Spaces Initiative in Philadelphia, PA. Restored Spaces uses socially engaged public ...
December 18, 2017Recess Matters! Why I Chose Playworks for My Fellowship Experience
Growing up in a small town, recess was the best part of the day. I was able to run around outside with all of my classmates and play my favorite......