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Lead the Change

THE FAO SCHWARZ FELLOWSHIP IN SOCIAL IMPACT
Applications are now closed. Applications for the next cohort will open November 1, 2021.

Leaders matter more than ever.

We need people willing to ask difficult questions and look beyond the obvious. We need creative problem-solvers to address the persistent problems of injustice and inequality. We need ambitious thinkers and doers committed to making an impact.
The FAO Schwarz Fellowship is an intensive, transformative two-year experience in the world of social impact  The program funds paid positions at high-impact nonprofit organizations for recent college graduates with leadership potential who are interested in careers in social change.

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Learn

Launch your social impact career

FAO Schwarz Fellows are recent college graduates working at leading nonprofit organizations. The Fellowships include direct service, strategic projects and professional development. They’re designed to jumpstart your career as a leader of social change.

Connect

Be part of a passionate cohort

As an FAO Schwarz Fellow, you’ll join a cohort of talented leaders that includes a growing alumni network. Retreats and other events give you a chance to get to know other Fellows and explore a broad range of social issues.

Lead

Develop your leadership skills

The Fellowship builds leadership skills, deepens your knowledge and includes opportunities for networking with social impact leaders. You’ll be challenged to explore difficult problems and reflect on their causes. 

A former FAO Fellow and her colleague pose in a political building after advocating for early childhood education with Jumpstart.
A former fellow with The Food Trust in Philadelphia poses while at an event empowering students.
A former fellow poses with a young student in a classroom, who is holding up a piece of art she created.

The FAO Schwarz Fellowships are designed to develop leaders committed to creating social change.

Fellowships include:

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 cities

The Fellowships are paid two-year positions with benefits at leading nonprofit host organizations in Boston, New York City and Philadelphia.

Professional development and training

The Fellowship includes training with a focus on professional development and leadership skills with regular retreats, mentoring and special community experiences.

A valuable network for life

Fellows become part of a cohort of future leaders and connect to an extensive network of alumni Fellows and other social innovation leaders.

Boston, Massachusetts Skyline at Back Bay district.Red box that says Boston
Aerial view of the New York skyline on a sunny afternoon.Blue box that says New York
Love Statue in Philadelphia, with scenic fountain against a cloudy sky.Teal box that says Philadelphia

Host Organizations for 2021-2023

FAO Schwarz Fellows work at high-impact nonprofit organizations that are known for their results and the quality of their programs. 
Barnes Foundation logo
Jumpstart logo
Mighty Writers logo
Museum of Science logo
Year Up logo

What Fellows Are Saying

  • "The time I spent as a Fellow taught me so much about the amazing organizations that are out there and the 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, FAO Schwarz Fellow 2016 Regional Partnerships Manager, Playworks New England, Boston, MA

  • "The Fellowship has had a huge impact on my personal and professional development. I've gained skills, mentors and an incredible group of friends. I hope to give back a fraction of what it has and continues to give to me."

    - Jen Benson, FAO Schwarz Fellow 2017Outreach Coordinator, Riverkeeper, Ossining, NY

  • "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 Parilla, FAO Schwarz Fellow 2012 Social worker, The Carroll School, Boston, MA

  • "The FAO Schwarz Fellowship helped launch my career. I worked with schools across Philadelphia to learn about 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 2013Community School Coordinator Mayor's Office of Education Philadelphia, PA

MEET THE FELLOWS

Group of fellows posing together in a schoolyard.

Invested in Your Future

At the FAO Schwarz Fellowship,
we have always believed in the power of imagination
and the energy, abilities, and hopes of each new generation
to envision and create a better future and a better world.

60

ALUMNI/AE FELLOWS SINCE 2006

60%

PURSUE GRADUATE DEGREES

98%

CHOOSE WORK IN SOCIAL IMPACT

35%

HIRED BY THEIR HOST ORGANIZATIONS

FELLOWS TELL THEIR STORIES

Becoming A Social Impact Leader

Are you the next FAO Schwarz Fellow?

We host a series of free info sessions to help you learn more about the Fellowship. Sign up to get an email when the new cycle is announced or find us on social media at @faofellows. 

SIGN UP

A group of Fellows posing together in Philadelphia.