Announcements

BOSTON – September 8, 2025 The FAO Schwarz Fellowship has announced an increase in compensation for the 2026-2028 cohort of Fellows.

Fellows will receive between $96,000-110,000 over the course of the two-year Fellowship, depending on the host organization they join.

In Boston and New York City, Fellows will receive a $52,000 in their first year (includes $2,000 start-of-Fellowship bonus) and $58,000 in their second year (includes $3,000 end-of-Fellowship bonus). 

In Philadelphia, at Audubon Mid-Atlantic, Fellows will receive $47,000 in their first year (includes $2,000 start-of-Fellowship bonus) and $53,000 in their second year (includes end-of-Fellowship bonus). 

At the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Fellows will receive $47,441 in their first year and $48,864 in their second year. 

Compensation for Boston and New York City-based Fellows will be slightly higher than those of Philadelphia Fellows due to the cost of living differences between the cities.

Fellows will also receive the same benefits as entry-level employees at their host organization, which may include health insurance, 401k or 403b matching options, and more. Fellows will also participate in a four-day fall and four-day spring professional development retreats facilitated by the Fellowship which rotate among the three cities.

Compensation is funded by the host organizations and the FAO Schwarz Family Foundation.

“Each year, we conduct a review of benchmarking data in the Fellowship’s three cities. Based on what we learn, we adjust our compensation as needed to ensure that Fellows receive a living wage, good benefits, and impactful leadership training,” said Priscilla Cohen, Executive Director of the FAO Schwarz Family Foundation. “The FAO Schwarz Fellowship program is committed to ensuring that Fellowship compensation is competitive with similar distinguished fellowships.”

BOSTON — APRIL 28, 2025 The FAO Schwarz Family Foundation has announced the names of the five recipients of the 2025 FAO Schwarz Fellowship in social impact.

This selective, domestic Fellowship is one of a few programs of its kind focused on social impact and developing Fellows as leaders. Each year, the Foundation supports a new cohort of accomplished recent college graduates with paid, two-year Fellowship positions at leading nonprofits. Fellows work at organizations across three cities: Boston, New York, and Philadelphia. Fellowship alumni go on to hold leadership roles at nonprofit or public service organizations and programs, attend prestigious graduate programs, and even start their own organizations.

In Boston, Delaney Kenney (Guilford, CT), a Neuroscience major and Museum Studies and Psychology double minor from Haverford College will be a Fellow at Museum of Science. Shoshanna Hemley (Iowa City, IA), a Political Science major with a Global Studies concentration from Williams College will be a Fellow at Boston Collegiate Charter School.

In New York City, Debora Camacho (Bronx, NY), a Psychology and Statistical & Data Science double major from Smith College will be a Fellow at iMentor. Jenevieve Joseph (San Diego, CA), a Sociology and Anthropology major with a focus in Environmental Justice from Spelman College will be a Fellow at Hudson River Park’s River Project.

In Philadelphia, Raeva Bali (Hartsville, SC), an Environmental Studies major and Mass Communications minor from University of South Carolina will be a Fellow at Trust for Public Land.

The Fellowship program attracts recent college graduates looking to develop their leadership skills in the world of social impact. In addition to the direct service and strategic project components of their Fellowship roles, Fellows engage in professional development experiences such as retreats, mentoring, and networking.

“With its focus on direct service, leadership development, and social impact, the FAO Schwarz Fellowship offers recent college graduates with a unique set of opportunities specifically designed to launch their careers in social change,” said Jason Chan, Director of Fellowships and Assessment at Haverford College. “The two-year experience allows Fellows to forge deep connections with their host organizations and communities, providing valuable insight into how to effectively engage in social impact work.”

“This year’s applicant pool reflected a group of college seniors who are not only very accomplished already, but are also motivated to be the change they wish to see in the world,” said Priscilla Cohen, Executive Director of the FAO Schwarz Fellowship. “This year’s Fellows are so passionate and intentional about their pursuits:  from making social change to tackling issues from environmental justice and outdoor education, to advocating for first-generation college students, and beyond. As incoming Fellows join their host organizations this summer, they’ll dive into roles designed to put their ideas and skills to work, and ultimately launch their careers in social impact.”

CONTACT:
contact@faoschwarzfellowship.org
faoschwarzfellowship.org

BOSTON — November 1, 2024.  The FAO Schwarz Family Foundation announces that five new paid two-year Fellowships in social impact hosted by leading nonprofit organizations are now open for applications.  

BOSTON – July 29, 2024 The FAO Schwarz Fellowship has announced a salary increase for the 2025-2027 cohort of Fellows.

When they start next summer, Fellows will earn a salary of $50,000 (Boston & New York City) or $45,000 (Philadelphia), with both figures including a $2,000 start-of-Fellowship bonus. In their second year, Fellows will earn $55,000 (Boston & New York City) or $50,000 (Philadelphia), with both figures including a $3,000 end-of-Fellowship bonus. 

Due to the differences in the cost of living, the salaries for Boston and New York City-based Fellows will be slightly higher than those of Philadelphia Fellows.

Fellows will also receive the same benefits as entry-level employees at their host organization, which may include health insurance, any 401k or 403b matching options, and more. Fellows will also participate in two weeks of professional development training facilitated by the Fellowship each year.

BOSTON — APRIL 23, 2024  The FAO Schwarz Family Foundation has announced the names of the seven recipients of the 2024 FAO Schwarz Fellowship in social impact.

The Foundation supports a new cohort of outstanding recent college graduates with paid, two-year Fellowship positions each year. Fellows work at leading nonprofit organizations in three cities: Boston, New York, and Philadelphia. Alumni of the Fellowship program go on to hold leadership roles at nonprofit or public service organizations and programs, attend prestigious graduate programs, and start their own organizations. This selective, domestic Fellowship is one of a few programs of its kind focused on social impact leadership.

In Boston, Anya Henry (Tampa, FL), a History and Literature and African American Studies double major from Harvard College will be a Fellow at 826 Boston. 

In New York City, Alex Gabriel (Bayville, NJ), an Art History major from Susquehanna University will be a Fellow at the Museum of the City of New York. Jacob Jeong (Los Angeles, CA), an Economics major from Washington University in St. Louis, will be a Fellow at Reading Partners. Shraddha Patel (Louisville, KY), a Sociology (Diversity and Inequality track) and Social Biology double major from the University of Louisville, will also be a Fellow at Reading Partners.

In Philadelphia, Julie Kleaver (Dowingtown, PA), a Sociology major from Temple University will join Audubon Mid-Atlantic. Emily Lu (Jersey City, NJ) an Education Studies major from Wellesley College will be a Fellow at The Clay Studio. Michael Varlotta (Pittsburgh, PA) a Comparative American Studies major from Oberlin College will be a Fellow at The Food Trust.

The Fellowship program seeks recent college graduates interested in developing their potential as leaders in the world of equity and social impact. The program provides each Fellow with a two-year paid position at a leading nonprofit host organization where they gain skills, expertise, and knowledge. The Fellowship also includes professional development experiences such as retreats, mentoring, and networking.

“The FAO Schwarz Fellowship is an excellent fit for changemakers interested in non-profit work and social impact, said Danielle Abdon, Director of Fellowships and Awards at Oberlin College. “At Oberlin, I advertise this opportunity as a way for our students to continue the work they are often already doing in our community, but in the context of a larger U.S. city through a program that offers funding, professional development, and a cohort of fellows with similar values and goals. The diverse missions of the partner organizations also ensure that there are opportunities relevant to students with a wide range of interests and skills.”

“We are delighted to see the passion for social impact from our impressive group of applicants,” said Priscilla Cohen, Executive Director of the FAO Schwarz Fellowship. “This year’s candidates are so thoughtful about their pursuits for social change, which came through in every application. As incoming Fellows join their host organizations this summer, they’ll begin their careers in roles designed to put their ideas to work, improve current and gain new skills, and deepen their knowledge of the social impact sector. I look forward to seeing them grow as leaders throughout the two-year Fellowship.”

CONTACT:

contact@faoschwarzfellowship.org

faoschwarzfellowship.org

About the 2024-2026 Host Organizations

826 Boston is a nonprofit writing, tutoring, and publishing organization where students in grades K-12 and beyond can share their stories, amplify their voices, and develop as leaders in school and in life.

Audubon Mid-Atlantic’s mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity in Pennsylvania.

As artists, advocates, and educators, The Clay Studio is committed to ensuring the space, support, and inspiration necessary for expression and mastery in the ceramic arts. We work in partnership with artists and the community to advance the ceramic arts as a force for good to build connections where all can flourish.

The Food Trust’s mission is to ensure delicious, nutritious food for all. 

The Museum of the City of New York fosters understanding of the distinctive nature of urban life in the world’s most influential metropolis. It engages visitors by celebrating, documenting, and interpreting the city’s past, present, and future.

Reading Partners’ mission is to help children become lifelong readers by empowering communities to provide individualized instruction with measurable results.