Announcing the FAO Schwarz Fellowship Host Organizations for 2025
BOSTON – October 1, 2024. The FAO Schwarz Family Foundation has selected five leading nonprofit organizations to host the 2025-2027 FAO Schwarz Fellowships. The host organizations selected this year are Hudson River Park’s River Project (New York), iMentor (New York), which are both first-time hosts, Museum of Science (Boston), Boston Collegiate Charter School, another first-time host, and Trust for Public Land (Philadelphia). They will each host one new Fellow.
“We know that young people have the passion and potential to create a better world, and the Fellowship is designed to help them get there.”
Museum of Science will be hosting its third Fellow. Trust for Public Land will be hosting its second. The Fellowships are two-year paid positions that develop the leadership skills of recent college graduates pursuing careers in social impact.
“We are thrilled to offer professional experiences in partnership with these leading nonprofits, where talented recent graduates can develop the skills they need to lead the change, and get paid while doing so,” said Priscilla Cohen, Executive Director of the FAO Schwarz Family Foundation. “We know that young people have the passion and potential to create a better world, and the Fellowship is designed to help them get there.”
These roles offer recent college graduates a chance to contribute to the success of their organizations by increasing their capacity and impact while being paid. Host organizations intentionally represent a diverse array of sectors, from the environment to education, and beyond. Fellows will also have the opportunity to collaborate and compare the different approaches their organizations take to creating impact.
Hear from this year’s hosts about the ways their Fellows can contribute to their organization’s work and communities they serve:
Carrie Roble, VP of Estuary & Education at Hudson River Park Trust shared, “Through programs like the FAO Schwarz Fellowship, Hudson River Park hopes to prepare tomorrow’s environmental leaders with the skills and networks needed to foster a more equitable, innovative and resilient future for New York City and our connected waters.”
“I am excited to host an FAO Schwarz Fellow – to continue to do work in alignment with iMentor’s mission to support young people in achieving their highest aspirations – both for the fellow and the students in our program,” said Olufemi Watson, Director of Program at iMentor NYC.
“We can’t wait to have another FAO Schwarz Fellow bring their enthusiasm for STEM education and passion for youth engagement to our team of educators,” said Adrian Melia, Manager, In-Gallery Learning at the Museum of Science. “As we re-envision our youth programs on-site and in the community, the FAO Schwarz Fellow will be a crucial thought partner as we deepen relationships and engage in new, thoughtful ways.”
Sarah Morland, Chief Academic Officer at Boston Collegiate Charter School, said “Boston Collegiate’s Fellow will alternate between direct work with students and supporting our broader collaboration and dissemination work, allowing the Fellow to experience firsthand the immense efforts it takes to support student growth and the immense efforts it takes to reimagine education.”
“Our mission goes beyond simply building parks and schoolyards – it’s about igniting excitement, fostering connections, and increasing collaboration within our communities,” shared Elizabeth Class-Maldonado, Pennsylvania Program Director at the Trust for Public Land. “It is this shared passion and dedication that truly transforms our outdoor spaces into vibrant hubs of community life, health, equity, and resilience where every voice is heard, and every individual is empowered to shape their environment. We are thrilled to have an FAO Schwarz Fellow play an important part in realizing this impact across Philadelphia.”
Since the Fellowship’s founding in 2006, there have been 80 FAO Schwarz Fellows. Nearly 41 percent have been hired by their host organizations, 59 percent have gone on to graduate programs, and 95 percent continue to work in the social impact sector.
Applications for the next cohort open on November 1 and are due February 1, 2025 at 9:00pm ET. Interested students are invited to attend one of the Fellowship’s online info sessions to learn more. Visit faoschwarzfellowship.org for more information.
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Carolyn Navikonis, Senior Director of Impact at 826 Boston said, “We’re thrilled to have an FAO Schwarz Fellow join the 826 Boston team. This Fellowship will boost our ability to offer a wide range of outstanding programs and provide individualized support to students across Boston as they grow as writers and leaders.” 
Damien Ruffner, Program Manager from Audubon-Mid-Atlantic, which is currently hosting a Fellow, said, “The FAO Schwarz Fellow is vital to Audubon’s commitment and outreach into North Philadelphia. Our Fellow provides a consistent presence in the community, solidifying us as an integral community partner, creating a sustained and lasting impact on current and future generations of North Philadelphia residents.”
The Clay Studio is thrilled to again partner with the FAO Schwarz Family Foundation to host a Fellow,” said Josie Bockelman, Deputy Director of The Clay Studio. “As an organization, we strongly believe it is critical to be a part of developing the next generation of non-profit professionals through direct work experience.”
“The Food Trust is thrilled to once again welcome an FAO Schwarz fellow to our team, as we work together toward our mission of delicious, nutritious food for all,” said Mark Edwards, President & CEO of The Food Trust. “As with any organization, our most valuable asset is our talented, passionate staff, and we feel strongly that young leaders inject invaluable energy, enthusiasm, and creativity into the social impact space.”
“I’ve worked with two phenomenal Fellows who have contributed to all aspects of our programs,” said Sydney Stewart, Manager of Student Learning and Experience at the Museum of the City of New York. “Our current Fellow designed one of our most popular STEAM-based field trip experiences. We know that our next fellow is bound to bring passion and insight to the work they do and to create rich and meaningful experiences for our audiences.”
Finally, Primo Lasana, Executive Director of Reading Partners said, “FAO Schwarz Fellows have become an invaluable resource to Reading Partners NYC and even our national organization. Our most recent fellow joined the staff team at RPNYC and currently is a staff member at our national organization.” 
