WCF Fellowship Program
WCF is seeking applications for our Summer Fellowship Program. Each Fellow will specialize in one of six categories: Political Programs, Law, Online Communications, Non-Profit Operations, Development & Donor Management, or WCF Foundation Research.
The fellowship program is designed to provide young women and men with practical, firsthand experience within a national political organization.
To compliment specialty roles, all WCF Fellows will have the opportunity to participate in training in areas such as:
- Donor cultivation and event planning
- Candidate research, tracking and support
- New Media efforts within a non-profit atmosphere (blog, Facebook, Twitter and more)
- Political database basics and non-profit infrastructure
Check out what our Summer 2009 Fellows had the opportunity to work on at WCF.
To Apply: Please complete the online form to submit a resume, a list of references and the WCF Fellowship Essay. In your essay, please describe your interest in WCF and women's issues and describe a project that you would like to focus on during your fellowship. Read about some of our past fellowship projects here.
Application Deadline and Interview Process: Application deadline is May 1, 2010. Applications received after this date will not be reviewed. All interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis as we receive applications. Early applications are highly encouraged.
Step 1: Resume, Online Questionnaire and Essay Review
Step 2: Brief Phone or In-Person Interview
Step 3: Reference Check
Step 4: Offer Extended
Duration: Ideally, the 2010 Summer Fellows Program will begin June 1st and conclude August 7th. While we would prefer a commitment for the specified time period listed, the individual start and ends dates can be negotiated at the time of the offer.
Qualifications: Applicants should have excellent research, writing and communications skills as well as the ability to work independently and in a small group setting. Applicants must have excellent computer skills. A strong interest in progressive women’s issues and increased representation of women in political office is critical.
Location and Compensation: Fellows will work at the WCF office in Washington D.C., just blocks from the White House. Fellows will receive $1000 total through the course of the program. Additional funds are available for full-time fellows.
Categories of Specialty Roles: Six categories of fellowship roles are available. Qualified candidates may designate an interest in more than one category if interested. A total of 8-10 fellows will join our Semester 2010 program.
Political Programs Fellows will work with the Political Director and Programs Manager to build on WCF’s She Should Run program and WCF PAC’s current and past endorsements. The fellows will assist with She Should Run marketing and alumnae services operations, track candidate progress, build profiles of newly endorsed candidates and manage the creation of bi-weekly newsletters. To qualify, candidates should have a high level interest in politics, strong research skills and exceptional writing skills.
Law Fellows will work with the Political Director to support WCF PAC's outreach and state strategy. The fellows will research state requirements for registering a PAC for contributions at the state and local level and create a system with steps required for filing in each state where WCF PAC endorses candidates and file state reports. The fellows will also work to create a deadline tracking system for the states where WCF is registered and create a state prioritization report for PAC activities based on research of filing requirements. To qualify, candidates should have exceptional research and writing skills, a high level of computer savvy, experience with using excel and an interest in learning about the inner workings of a PAC.
Online Communications Fellows will work with the New Media Manager to enhance WCF’s online presence. The fellows will assist in managing WCF’s social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, MySpace), website, Women and Politics blog, video projects, email campaigns, and data maintenance. This is an excellent opportunity to learn how nonprofits use new media and technology. To qualify, candidates should have knowledge of new media and web 2.0, a high level of computer and web savvy, excellent writing skills, and the ability to multitask and learn quickly.
Non-Profit Operations Fellows will work directly with the Finance & Operations Director and will provide support for a wide range of current projects. Some of the main responsibilities will include assisting with grants writing, accounting daily procedures, organizational reports filings, vendors management, office relocation planning. This is a great position to gain an understanding on how a non-profit organization functions. To qualify, candidates should have a strong interest in non-profit development and management as well as experience using excel and familiarity with databases.
Development & Donor Management Fellows will work with the Development Manager and Finance Associate to cultivate donors to expand the membership of WCF. Development fellows will be working closely with the development team on event planning, fundraising research and member outreach. To qualify, candidates must have political savvy, work well in a small team environment, have the ability to multitask and learn quickly and have an interest in fundraising and related events.
WCF Foundation Research Fellows will work directly with the Research and Operations Coordinator to support and expand the foundation's research and development activities. Foundation fellows will assist with research on grant deadlines and future grant opportunities. The fellows will also assist in the development of the new WCF Foundation research projects. To qualify, candidates must have a strong interest in research relating to women's issues and experience in grant writing and research is necessary.
