The Kresge Foundation Kresge Environmental Fellowship Program

The Kresge Foundation Kresge Environmental Fellowship Program

The Kresge Foundation Kresge Environmental Fellowship program is a prestigious fellowship opportunity for emerging environmental leaders in the United States. 

Background and Goals of the Program

The Kresge Environmental Fellowship program was established in 2011 by The Kresge Foundation, an American grant-making foundation based in Troy, Michigan, that seeks to promote human progress. Through its Environment Program, the Foundation recognized the need to cultivate a new generation of environmental leaders who could address complex environmental challenges facing communities across the United States in innovative ways.

The overarching goal of the Kresge Environmental Fellowship program is to support emerging professionals who are working to solve environmental problems and create opportunities in economically disadvantaged communities. The Foundation believes that improving environmental conditions and promoting economic inclusion go hand in hand. Through this program, they aim to identify and invest in individuals who can address interconnected environmental and social issues with community-centered solutions.

Visit here: Recruitmentunit

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

Each year, the Kresge Foundation seeks applications from professionals in the early stages of their careers who are committed to tackling important environmental issues through collaborative, community-focused approaches. To be eligible, applicants must:

• Have a minimum of 3 years of professional experience in the environmental field or a related area
• Currently work or volunteer for a nonprofit organization, community group, Tribal nation, or government agency located in the United States
• Demonstrate leadership potential and a commitment to serving economically disadvantaged communities

Some key criteria the selection committee considers when reviewing applications include:

• The quality, significance, and innovativeness of the applicant’s current work
• A track record of collaborating effectively with diverse stakeholders
• Potential to contribute new perspectives and leadership in the applicant’s issue area and community
• Evidence of respect for local communities and cultural competence
• Commitment to remaining in the geographic region served after completing the fellowship

Having a graduate degree is not required, but preference is given to those with at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience. The application process is highly competitive, with typically around 1% of applicants receiving a fellowship each year.

Benefits of Receiving a Fellowship

Kresge Environmental Fellows receive a generous package of benefits designed to support their professional and leadership development over the course of a two-year full-time fellowship. Core benefits include:

• A $130,000 stipend paid over the two years (paid in annual $65,000 installments)
• Health insurance coverage for fellow and eligible family members
• Funding and support for the fellow’s project work and community engagement activities
• Opportunities for professional development, including a week-long retreat, conference attendance, and networking
• Mentorship and guidance from Foundation program officers and alumni fellows
• Access to alumni fellowship activities and networking opportunities even after completing the program

This significant financial support allows fellows to focus entirely on their important projects without the need for additional employment. It also provides an experience that greatly enhances their career trajectories in the environmental field.

Examples of Fellowship Projects

Over the past decade, Kresge Environmental Fellows have undertaken a diverse array of innovative projects to address environmental challenges in partnership with local communities. Here are a few representative examples:

• Working with an Alaska Native tribe to address pollution threats and climate impacts on their subsistence lifestyle through cultural heritage programs, conservation planning, and youth leadership development.
• Launching a food waste reduction initiative in New Orleans to reduce pollution and create green jobs through home composting education, large-scale composting, and connecting local farms to grocery stores.
• Partnering with a Philadelphia community organization and schools to install schoolyard gardens, develop science and nutrition curricula about local food systems, and promote urban agriculture as a strategy for neighborhood revitalization.
• Empowering Native Hawaiian communities in Hawaii to restore coastal fishponds as sustainable food sources, protect cultural sites from sea level rise, and train youth in traditional knowledge and natural resource management.
• Organizing citizen science water quality monitoring and stormwater retrofit projects in Baltimore to educate residents about combined sewer overflows, involve youth, and advocate for environmental justice policies.

As these examples illustrate, fellows take diverse approaches to solve multifaceted environmental challenges through community-driven initiatives at regional, national, and even international scales. Their projects often have far-reaching positive outcomes.

Career Outcomes and Alumni Impact

Receiving a Kresge Environmental Fellowship serves as a launching pad for fellows’ careers in the environmental field. Many fellows take on new leadership roles at their organizations and go on to bigger positions of influence after completing their projects. Some notable career outcomes of past fellows include:

• Founding their own successful nonprofit organizations focused on issues like urban agriculture, clean energy access, and environmental education
• Obtaining prominent leadership roles at established nonprofits like The Nature Conservancy, Environmental Defense Fund, and local land trusts
• Working as high-level advisors and staffers on Capitol Hill and for federal agencies like EPA and DOI to influence national environmental policies
• Becoming program officers and directors at major foundations focused on sustainability, food systems, and just transition initiatives
• Earning advanced degrees like a law or public policy degree and using those qualifications to make broader impacts

Fellows also stay connected through an active alumni network, providing ongoing mentorship, collaboration, and thought leadership on pressing issues. Many serve on the Fellowship selection committee, ensuring the program continues to cultivate outstanding emerging leaders.

Application Process and Timeline

The Kresge Environmental Fellowship is highly selective, so potential applicants should plan ahead and allow ample time to thoroughly prepare a competitive application. Here is a typical annual timeline:

• September – The online application system opens, and guidance materials are published on the Foundation’s website
• November – Informational webinars held to explain the application and selection process
• Late January – Application deadline (firm deadlines are always in January)
• March-April – Semifinalist interviews conducted virtually or in person
• May – Final fellowship recipients notified and announced
• July – A new cohort of fellows begins their two-year funding term

The online application requires submission of the candidate’s resume, statement of purpose detailing their work and fellowship project idea, references, and verification of eligibility requirements. Strong applications clearly communicate how the project will address important environmental issues affecting low-income communities. Carefully following all instructions is crucial.

FAQs about the Program

Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about the Kresge Environmental Fellowship:

Q: I have a background in a related field like urban planning or public health. Am I still eligible?

Yes, the Foundation recognizes that environmental problems require multidisciplinary solutions. Applicants from complementary backgrounds are considered as long as they currently work for an eligible organization.

Q: Do I need to live in Michigan to apply?

No, the fellowship is open to professionals located anywhere in the United States. However, your work must directly serve and engage with a specific low-income community in the U.S.

Q: What types of projects or issue areas are priorities for funding?

The Foundation looks for innovative projects addressing interconnected environmental and social issues like water quality, food systems, pollution prevention, urban greening, indigenous land rights, climate resilience, and more – with a benefit to underserved communities. There are no hard priorities, just impactful ideas.

Q: Would pursuing a graduate degree during the fellowship be possible?

It would be difficult due to the full-time commitment expected to complete your project. The Foundation prefers funding impactful work over formal education, but part-time study could be discussed on a case-by-case basis.

Q: What if my fellowship project takes longer than two years?

Projects must be feasible to substantially complete within the two-year term. However, past fellows often continue their work beyond establishing partnerships and identifying complementary sources of long-term support.

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Conclusion

Through this in-depth exploration of the Kresge Environmental Fellowship program, we have aimed to fully inform readers about this prestigious opportunity for emerging environmental leaders. Over a decade, it has supported over 100 fellows across the U.S., undertaking innovative, solutions-oriented work in partnership with underserved communities. By cultivating diverse perspectives and facilitating cross-sector collaboration, the program addresses complex environmental challenges at local, regional, and national scales. The generous funding and guidance fellows receive accelerate their careers and allow significant real-world impacts. If you match the eligibility requirements, I highly encourage qualified professionals to seriously consider applying – you could be the next leader to receive this prestigious fellowship award and amplify your meaningful contributions.