Fellowship for Equitable Development

The NCRC Fellowship cultivates the next generation of community development leaders and empowers them to tackle the issues of tomorrow. The community development sector will face significant challenges in the coming decades from climate change, widening wealth gaps, food insecurities, extreme housing shortages and other needs. These challenges will disproportionately impact low-wealth communities and communities of color. Therefore, it is NCRC’s intention and pledge to uphold the values of community empowerment in the fellowship program.

Interested students and host organizations must apply for this fellowship opportunity.

Program Benefits for Student Fellows Include:

• High-quality training and support from regional leaders in the nonprofit, government, planning and community development fields
• A $20,000 stipend for the eight-month, part-time (20-hours per week) fellowship
• The opportunity to meet with leaders in the nonprofit, government, planning and community development fields
• Academic credit, in accordance with the policies of the Fellows’ respective universities
• Complimentary admission to the NCRC annual Just Economy Conference
• View informational webinar here.

Program Benefits for Host Organizations Include:

•  Fresh, innovative talent to help advance organizational mission
• The opportunity to help shape the next generation of community development leaders
• Participation in a fellowship program at little to no cost

Contact us for more information about NCRC’s Fellowship for Equitable Development.

2026 Fellowship Host Selections

San Antonio for Growth on the Eastside, Inc.

San Antonio, Texas

The Community Engagement Fellow will build relationships, recruit and support businesses, and track outcomes across SAGE’s programs to expand access to resources and strengthen the vibrancy of the business corridor. [View More]

Southside Institutions Neighborhood Alliance

Hartford, Connecticut

The Fellow will support SINA and the City of Hartford in piloting a home repair and preservation program by helping residents access financing and complete repairs while developing a scalable model to stabilize housing and prevent displacement.[View More]

Housing Oregon

Portland, Oregon

The Fellow will expand research on Latino wealth-building in Oregon, focusing on small business development to better understand barriers and inform investment strategies that support Latino-owned businesses. [View More]

Opportunity Resource Fund

Detroit, Michigan

The Fellow will develop neighborhood-level data on housing and health in Detroit to guide targeted investments in homeownership, repairs, and community supports, improving outcomes for local households. [View More]

Hip Hop Caucus

Dallas-Fortworth, Texas

The Fellow will research the impacts of data center growth on small businesses in Dallas–Fort Worth and support strategies to deploy climate finance and advocate for equitable economic and environmental outcomes. [View More]

City Fields CDC

Cleveland, Tennessee

The Fellow will support the development of a resident-led Mixed-Income Neighborhood Trust in East Cleveland by assisting with research, engagement, and coordination to preserve affordable housing and guide community-driven development. [View More]

Runwei™ | AI & ML for Economic Mobility and Financial Inclusion

Washington, DC

The Fellow will use AI and data journalism to analyze small business funding gaps and translate insights into accessible stories and tools that inform more equitable investment strategies. [View More]

The Coalition

Washington, DC

The Fellow will assess and map the District’s workforce development ecosystem to identify gaps and develop strategies that improve access to quality jobs and strengthen support for under-resourced community organizations [View More]

What is the Fellowship?

Read more on how the Fellowship is a catalyst for lasting change and systemic impact here.