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Public Service Postgraduate Programs

  P = Paid    U = Unpaid    S = Stipend    A = Alumni Connection

Below is a select (not comprehensive) list of postgraduate public service programs.  Be sure to search our recommended online resources as well.

DEADLINES!  Deadlines can be as early as September and as late as March!  Check with each individual organization.

General Programs

AmeriCorps - various locations – domestic volunteer program.
AVODAH - Chicago, DC, New Orleans, New York; housing only; no payment or stipend.
City Year - US; South Africa – community service and leadership development.
Koch Associates Program - leadership and management training for think tanks, policy institutes, and other nonprofit organizations.
Princeton in Africa, Asia, and Latin America
Public Allies - a leadership training and non-profit sector service program.
StartingBloc, Institute for Social Innovation Fellowship, Boston; Los Angeles, New York – educates young leaders on corporate social responsibility, social entrepreneurship, and sustainable development.
The Road Less Traveled - domestic and international service learning programs; offers paid positions.
U.S. Golf Association Fellowship in Leadership and Service, Far Hills, NJ – 2-year program offering post-undergraduates the opportunity to learn about foundations and the non-profit sector.
VISTAcampus (AmeriCorps) - great opportunities with living allowance, housing, and education stipend.

Advocacy | Human Rights | Political Reform | Social Justice -- INCLUDES children/girls/women/gender equality

Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellowship - Washington, DC and other locations – leadership training to fight hunger and poverty.  Fellows spend six months working with urban and rural community-based organizations; 2nd six months working with national organizations.
DART Organizers Institute, Miami, FL – training program in community organizing.
Wellstone Fellowship for Social Justice, Washington, DC – affordable health care advocacy for minority communities.
Echoing Green Public Service Fellowship, various locations – opportunity to create a new non-profit organization or implement a community service project within an existing one.
Girls, Inc. - locations nationwide, both internships and post-grad full-time jobs.
Institute for Women’s Policy Research Fellowship, Washington, DC – The Mariam K. Chamberlain Fellow works as a general research assistant on a variety of research projects and reports.
Open Society Institute (OSI) Fellowships Program, New York City, NY – advocacy, organizing, and/or direct service in a wide range of areas such as public health, the arts, workers' rights, civic participation, GLBTQ issues, and economic justice.
Autry Fellowship, Chapel Hill, NC – one-year, full-time program promoting economic and social justice in the Southern United States.
El Pomar Fellowship, Colorado Springs, CO – competitive 2-year, post-undergraduate leadership training program in the public, private, and non-profit sectors.
Health Advocacy Fellowship, New York City, NY; Washington, DC – fellows spend 1 or 2 years translating the Medicare Rights Center’s experience counseling Medicare recipients into the national/state-level policy arenas.
Hearst Minority Fellowship, Indianapolis, IN – offers a tuition-free MA degree in Philanthropic Studies or Non-Profit Management with $15,000 stipend at Indiana University’s Center on Philanthropy; open to post-undergraduate students of color.
Jesuit Volunteer Corps, Northwest, also domestic and global locations, (U) - Wes grads have volunteered for one year at this great program, living in community and working for social and environmental justice and advocacy, in both rural and urban settings.
Life Together, Episcopal Service Corps, Boston, MA (S; housing, health insurance, transportation) - Eleven months of social justice, leadership training, and spiritual growth.  An '11 alumna loved this experience, which helped her decide to attend Harvard Divinity School.
PIRG (Public Interest Research Group) - explore both U.S. and state-affiliated organizations; they tackle a wide range of political and social causes.
The Angie Martin Public Interest Fellowship, Washington, DC – advocacy, social justice, and social change.
UNICEF Global Citizenship Fellows Program - full-time, 13 month program
Union Semester - academic and internship program focused on organized labor.  Stipend off-sets tuition.
Villers Fellowship, Washington, DC - conduct healthcare policy research in year-long, full-time position.
Wellstone Fellowship, Washington, DC - healthcare reform, advocacy and organizing in year-long, full-time position.

Agriculture | Environment | Food | Green Jobs

Databases and Online Resources:
ATTRA National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (P, S, U) - listing of farm internships and apprenticeships across Canada and the US.
CT NOFA (Northeast Organic Farming Association) - job and internship listings.
Green Jobs, U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics - no job listings, but useful information on the growing area of green jobs.
Good Food Jobs - online job postings and more.
Green Carts Initiative, NYC Dept of Health (P) - project to provide fresh fruit and veggies to underserved NYC neighborhoods.  Click here for internship details.
Sustainable Food Jobs (P, S, U) - current job opportunities and resources.
Beginning Farmers (P, S, U) - site that lists job and internship databases, plus specific internships.  Explore this; there's a lot here.
Farm-based Education Association (P, S, U) - lists jobs relating to farm education, e.g., you teach gardening techniques or sustainable farming principles to young people.
Starlight Gardens, Durham, CT (?) - local organic farm, recommended by a '10 alumna.  David Zemelsky, starlightgardens@comcast.net.
Sustainable Food Jobs - great site for job postings, academic programs, and organization list.
WWOOF World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (mostly U) - search for apprentice and volunteer opportunities.

Specific Programs:
Adamah: The Jewish Environmental Fellowship, Falls Village, CT – intensive 3-month leadership training program for Jewish young adults ages 20-29 who want to learn sustainable agricultural practices and animal husbandry and integrate them with their spiritual practice.
American Forests (S or academic credit), Washington, DC – 3-6 month internship with America’s oldest non-profit citizens’ conservation organization, dating back to 1875.
American Rivers (U), Portland, OR; Seattle, WA; Washington, DC – 3-month, part-time internship with national non-profit dedicated to protecting and restoring natural U.S. rivers and wildlife.
Chesapeake Research Consortium (CRC) Fellowship Program, Edgewater, MD – chance to experience the interactions between science, policy, and management in the protection and restoration of Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
Chicago Botanic Garden, Chicago - Variety of conservation, education, and research internships.
Environmental Leadership Program Fellowship, retreats in various locations (eg. Trinity, CT) – 2-year, part-time fellowship providing training, project support, and a peer network for those with 3-10 years of experience in environmental or social change work and/or graduate school.
FoodCorps (a national AmeriCorps program) - Agriculture, food, community organizing, education, health, and public service.  Full-time service over one year.
Food Project (U, possible P) - Summer volunteer positions working with youth; occasional full-time/perm jobs, e.g., Summer Youth Program Associate.
Green Corps - environmental advocacy and organizing; provides great training.
Greenpeace, USA/Greenpeace Organizing Term (U), Washington, DC; San Francisco, CA – summer or fall training program.
Middlebury Fellowship in Environmental Journalism, Middlebury, VT; Monterey, CA – program enables 10 journalists near the start of their careers to prepare reporting projects in print, web-based, or radio journalism for publication/broadcast.
Rockfall Foundation (U; grant), Middletown, CT – foundation provides financial support for environmental education activities, planning projects, and internships with demonstrable impacts in Middlesex County.
Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center (S; free private rooms; computer access) Petersburg, PA – division of Penn State University providing outreach in environmental education through instruction, service, and research.
Sierra Club (U) Alton, IL; San Diego, CA; San Francisco, CA; Sheridan, WY; Washington, DC – various types of internships available (eg. political, media) with non-profit conservation organization.
Southface Energy Institute (S; free housing/utilities/transportation), Atlanta, GA – non-profit organization that promotes livable homes/workplaces/communities through education and research, and advocates water and energy conservation, healthy indoor environments, and clean air transportation.
Student Conservation Association - locations nationwide; expense-paid internships and paid jobs.
Wild Gift Leadership Fellowship, Sun Valley, ID; domestic/foreign locations – gives post-undergraduate leaders between the ages of 21-30 experience in deep wilderness in the US or abroad, and a year's support to launch self-designed projects promoting wild lands stewardship and development of sustainable human communities and lifestyles.
The Wilderness Society (S), Washington, DC; Denver, CO; Mid-Atlantic locations – programs offered in Communications, Public Policy, National Landscape Conservation System, Regional-Eastern Forests Program, Regional-Central Rockies-Denver, CO.

Government | Policy | Politics

Brookings Institution ( U ) Washington, DC – Urban Markets Initiative (UMI) Internship summer position open to recent college graduates interested in urban economics/development who have a background in working with socio-economic data.
Campaign Corps, various locations – political campaign training (for Democratic campaigns).
City Hall Fellows, cities nationwide - 12-month, paid, post-college Fellowship integrates hands-on experience working within the highest levels of local government with intensive training in how cities work.  
City of New York Summer Internship Program - Paid and unpaid internships available in  environmental protection, law, IT, social services, transportation, and more.
CT Voices for Children/Policy Fellowship, New Haven and Hartford, CT – state-level research and policy analysis.
Coro Fellows Program ( U ) Los Angeles, CA; New York City, NY; Pittsburgh, PA; San Francisco, CA; St. Louis, MO – 9-month, full-time, graduate-level training program in public affairs.  Tuition is required; check individual locations for scholarships.
CHCI Public Policy Fellowship Program, Washington, DC – 9-month program allowing young Latino leaders to gain hands-on experience in public policy at the national level –
Capitol Fellows Program, Sacramento, CA – 11-month, full-time program allowing students to work in the legislative, executive, or judicial office of California, and to contribute to implementation of public policy –
Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship - Work in Washington, DC with a public-interest organization focusing on international security issues.
Institute for Women’s Policy Research Fellowship, Washington, DC – The Mariam K. Chamberlain Fellow works as a general research assistant on a variety of research projects and reports.
Mathematica Policy Research (for-profit firm) – Provides information collection and analysis on economic and social policy issues to private, public and nonprofit clients.
NYC Service Fellowship – One-year, $40K stipend while gaining practical New York City gov't experience.
NYC Urban Fellows Program– Nine month, $30K stipend in New York City policy and programs.
Smart Growth America -- Provides 6-12 month fellowship/$1500 p/month in DC to work on policy issues.  Check directly with SGA for details and deadlines.  Information is NOT always posted on their site!
Urban Institute - A nonpartisan economic and social policy research organization.  Positions are not within a formal program.
US AID, Population Reference Bureau, International Programs Fellowship (S, $35-40K) - Washington, DC w/foreign travel.  Deals with voluntary family planning and reproductive health programs worldwide.
White House Internship Program (U) - Open to recent college graduates; full-time: spring, summer, fall.

Interfaith
Community of Living Traditions ($75 stipend, housing, meals, med insurance), Stony Point, NY - Full-time positions of 3 months, 1 or 2 years.  Explores nonviolence and peace advocacy.  Summer internships are also available!
Faiths Act Fellowship, Tony Blair Foundation, (?), Africa, UK, US, India -- one year, full-time fellowship uniting people of different faiths to fight malaria.
Back click and go to "Internships" for more summer-length interfaith programs.
Loretto Volunteer Program (S; health insurance, Americorps award), El Paso, TX; New York, NY; St. Louiis, MO; Wash, DC - excellent program for anyone intereested in interfaith work or organizations.

International - see other resources in our International section, especially under Volunteer.

American India Foundation's Clinton Fellowship for Service, India (S; air fare, insurance) - Work with an NGO in India for social and economic change.
Athens College Teaching Fellowship, Athens, Greece – cultural ambassador/role model/assistant teacher in Greek co-educational elementary and secondary schools (Athens College and Psychico College).
Catholic Network of Volunteer Service - Search the RESPONSE Directory for agencies that pay a stipend, provide housing and medical insurance, and participate in Americorps.  Non-sectarian.
Council of Foreign Relations (domestic locations) - Look in Job Board for wide variety of internships.
Foundation for Sustainable Development - Fee-based program in East Africa, India, and Latin America.
Global Health Corps - (P) Fellows work for health equity while partnering with an NPO.
IDEX Fellowship in Social Enterprise - Ten-month, early entry, professional development program for post-grads interested in social enterprise.
Innovations for Poverty Action, New Haven, CT; Wash, DC; international locations, including Asuncion, Paraguay (?) - Anti-poverty program.
International Bridges to Justice (U) - Part-time or full-time, 12 week committment.  Justice through law.
International Foundation for Education and Self-Help, Benin; Ethiopia; Ghana; Guinea; Malawi; South Africa; Namibia; Zimbabwe – International Fellows have the opportunity to work overseas for 9 months with development organizations like Africare, CARE, Save the Children, TechnoServe, Opportunities Industrialization Centers International, Counterpart International, and UNICEF.
InVenture, Latin America; India (S; A) - Use microfinance to help small business owners sustain and grow their enterprises.  Twelve week minimum fellowship.  Stipends, travel grants, academic credit are available.  Founded by Shivani Siroya '04 and Bonnie Oliva '04.
Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program, various locations in Japan – working as an assistant language teacher, coordinator for international relations, or sports exchange advisor in Japanese public junior and senior high schools.
MINDS Foundation, Gujarat, India (U; A) - Spend one month in rural India doing hands-on work to eliminate the stigma attached to mental illness.  Founded by Raghu Appasani '12.
Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellowship, United States and various locations abroad – 2-year program in Asia, Africa, or Latin America in which fellows work with NGOs, private sector entities, and bi- and multi-lateral organizations to fight hunger and poverty in developing countries.
Peace Corp, various locations abroad – International development.
Princeton in Africa, Asia, and Latin America - Year-long fellowships; very popular with Wes grads.  Click each continent for salary, insurance, and other details.
Quaker United Nations Office - Year-long program in NYC; must have interest in international affairs.
Shining Hope for Communities, Middletown, CT; New York, NY; Nairobi, Kenya (S; A) - Amazing opportunity to work at The Kibera School for Girls; includes stipend.  Founded by Kennedy Odede '12 and Jessica Posner '10.
Teach for China, rural Chinese communities (Check with TfC for payment status) - Team teach for two years.
The Road Less Traveled - Expedition programs, service learning, leadership training, working with youth; paid jobs.

Leadership

Acumen Fund Fellowship: offers two fellowships to develop social leadership.  Excellent opportunities, but looking for track record of entrepreneurial and management success not often found in undergraduate experiennce.
Adamah: The Jewish Environmental Fellowship, Falls Village, CT – intensive 3-month leadership training program for Jewish young adults ages 20-29 who want to learn sustainable agricultural practices and animal husbandry and integrate them with their spiritual practice.
Koch Internship Program (P) - Leadership and management skills for the nonprofit sector.
Roosevelt Institution, Roosevelt Summer Academy, Chicago and Washington, DC (S) - full-time internship and training w/$1500 stipend.
Sadie Nash Leadership Project (?) - Worth exploring for opportunities to work with young women.

Microfinance | Social Enterprise

IDEX Fellowship in Social Enterprise, India (P; A) - Ten-month, early entry, professional development program for post-grads interested in social enterprise.  Founded by the parent of a '12 grad.
InVenture, Latin America; India (S; A) - Use microfinance to help small business owners sustain and grow their enterprises.  Twelve week minimum fellowship.  Stipends, travel grants, academic credit are available.  Founded by Shivani Siroya '04 and Bonnie Oliva '04.
KIVA Fellowship, multiple countries (U) - Help KIVA to promote and support global microfinance.
Venture For America (P) - Outstanding two-year program matching entrepreneurial grads with start-up companies in an economically depressed American city, e.g., Detroit, New Orleans, Providence RI.  Fuel local economic development while growing the company.