Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

• the scarcity of substantive jobs for talented professionals at the beginning stages of their careers in the sponsored program areas;
• the need for additional venues through which new perspectives and innovative approaches can be incorporated into nonprofit work;
• the lack of resources and systems within small nonprofit organizations to enable them to take full advantage of the contributions offered by new talent; and
• the need for diversification and regeneration of leadership at all levels of the nonprofit community.

During the next two grant cycles, the program will focus on addressing needs, solving problems, and defending human rights related to the impact on the Gulf Coast of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Our main objectives are:

• To diversify the voices heard in the debate about regional recovery and transformation -- with a strong interest in supporting Fellows who are women, people of color, LGBTQ, disabled, who live in the Gulf Coast Region or are displaced from the region, of low income background and/or who will bring compelling perspectives or life experience to the fellowship (e.g., displaced residents).
• To address longstanding inequities in the region based on race and class, by empowering stakeholders to participate fully in transforming the region.
• To hold government agencies and officials accountable for meeting the needs and respecting the rights of those affected by hurricanes in the Gulf Coast.
• To fund innovative and impactful programs with work grounded in seven sponsored fields -- human rights, migrant and refugee rights, women’s rights, reproductive rights, racial justice, HIV/AIDS policy, and criminal and civil justice..
• To build needed institutional and individual leadership in the Gulf Coast region through leadership training, technical assistance, and membership in a nationwide community of activists.

Click here to read our mission statement.

• Human Rights
• Women's Rights
• Reproductive Rights
• Racial Justice
• Migrant and Refugee Rights
• HIV/AIDS
• Criminal and Civil Justice

Please click here for a list of issues or topics of interest.

Organizations are preferably within a budget range of $75,000 - $2 million. We do not accept applications from organizations with budgets over $5 million or under $75,000. All-volunteer organizations are also not eligible.

University or college-based centers or institutes, may apply under certain conditions reflecting a degree of autonomy from their host organization (distinct marketing materials, separate funding streams, Advisory Board/Advisory Group, at least one full-time dedicated staff, etc.). Please contact us at newvoices@aed.org or kwilliam@aed.org if you are uncertain about eligibility of the organization.

*Coalitions in other regions should apply for the standard fellowship grant.

Please review the application or click here for eligibility requirements and preferences.

How is the application prepared?
The nonprofit organization or coalition* and the proposed Fellow prepare the application together. Then the organization submits it to AED. The original application must be received by AED by January 21, 2008, with all of the required attachments, signatures, and 4 complete copies. Frequent discussions between organization or coalition and Fellow should occur to confirm understanding about roles and responsibilities, to negotiate compensation, and to begin the process of orientation.

How should the organization or coalition go about selecting its Fellow?
Organizations or coalitions may use a formal or informal selection process. This may include organizing a formal search committee, advertising a proposed position, contact with a local college or university, marketing through list-servs, mailings, etc. Or the organization or coalition may rely upon the internal networks of its Board and staff. How formal or informal the process is will not have a bearing upon the grant selection process. However, the organization or coalition should select its Fellow in time to have substantive discussions about roles, responsibilities, and mentorship. New Voices program staff will be advertising the program through multiple venues. It is possible that an eligible organization or coalition will be approached by a prospective Fellow due to these efforts. The fellow should also be relatively new to the field and to paid nonprofit social justice work (less than two years paid social justice work experience).

How might a Fellow candidate find an appropriate nonprofit organization or coalition to apply with?
We recommend reviewing and becoming familiar with the program eligibility requirements and preferences first. Then it can be helpful to ask for recommendations of nonprofit organizations or coalitions from professors who work in our sponsored fields and/or to search the links on our opportunities page.

The candidate is encouraged to identify an organization or coalition with a mission consistent with New Voices' program areas and her/his own long-term career goals and interests.

Can an organization or coalition nominate a previous employee, current staff member, or Board member as a New Voices Fellow?
Generally, no. The purpose of the Fellowship is to provide a pathway for people new to service in the nonprofit sector. In addition, the organization or coalition will benefit from adding a new staff member with different perspectives and experience. Therefore, the Fellow should be new to the organization or coalition . However, organizations or coalitions may nominate a current or former intern if he or she meets all other eligibility requirements and has an interest in making a long-term commitment to the field. The fellow should also be relatively new to the field in question and to paid nonprofit social justice work (less than two years relevant work experience).

Can the organization or coalition recruit an individual who was born in another country?
Individuals who were born in other countries are eligible. However, the Fellow must intend to establish her/his professional career and livelihood and permanent residency in the United States. The Fellow must also be eligible for full-time employment in accordance with U.S. law, as determined by the host organization or coalition.

*Only coalitions in Southern Alabama and Southern Mississippi are eligible for coalition grant awards Coalitions in other regions should apply for the standard fellowship grant.

• Policy Director/Policy Associate
• Program/Project Director
• Assistant Director
• Research Director/Research Associate (policy oriented)
• Communications Director
• Staff Attorney
• Organizer/Coalition Builder

The Fellow may not serve as the organization or lead/home base organization of a coalition's Executive Director, Office Manager, Development Director/Associate, or Program/Administrative Assistant.

The Fellow should not be hired to occupy a pre-existing position or role, but should help to bring new capacity, focus, or direction to the organization or coalition.

Proposals for the Fellow to conduct policy research and analysis, with a strong mass communications component; precedent setting or class-action litigation; policy advocacy; broad-based media campaigns; leadership development; popular education; demonstrations projects with a systems change approach and a evaluation component; and/or community organizing are eligible.

Proposals for the Fellow to provide only basic or ongoing direct services to individuals or clients such as individualized medical, financial, legal, counseling, and/or social/human services are not eligible. Legal work must have some precedent setting value or broad-based impact (e.g., class action). In order to be approved for funding, administrative duties may not consume more than 25 percent of the Fellow's time. The organization or coalition may assign a title suited to the Fellow's roles and responsibilities.

The organization or coalition must be strongly committed to leadership development and mentorship. The Fellow's position should not be primarily a "support" or "gap-filling/back-stopping" role. The Fellow should have opportunities to speak in public and to interact with the media and/or policymakers.

*Only coalitions in Southern Alabama and Southern Mississippi are eligible for coalition grant awards Coalitions in other regions should apply for the standard fellowship grant.

The Mentor’s role is to champion the Fellow’s development and progress as a leader. The Mentor is also responsible for designing and implementing a formal mentoring plan which outlines plans for regular communications, learning activities, networking, and reporting of challenges and accomplishments.

Through participation in the New Voices program, the Mentor will gain useful training and experience in advancing the professional growth of new talent. Mentors are required to attend the Orientation held at the beginning of the grant period. In addition to training, AED provides a model mentoring agreement.

*Only coalitions in Southern Alabama and Southern Mississippi are eligible for coalition grant awards Coalitions in other regions should apply for the standard fellowship grant.

The organization or coalition may choose to supplement the grant with its own monies if it should prove necessary to secure a Fellow with the education and skills necessary to meet the organization's needs and strategic goals. The organization or coalition may wish to view the New Voices grant as "startup capital" or "seed money" to establish a new permanent position.

New Voices provides full coverage for salary and fringe in year one of the Fellowship and 75% coverage for salary and fringe in year two of the fellowship.

*Only coalitions in Southern Alabama and Southern Mississippi are eligible for coalition grant awards Coalitions in other regions should apply for the standard fellowship grant.

What should the fringe benefits request include?
If approved for funding, the Fellow should be enrolled in the organization or lead/home base organization of the coalition's* standard fringe benefits package for all of its employees. At a minimum, this must include health insurance. It may also include state unemployment insurance, dental/vision and disability insurance, 401k/403b retirement plan, FICA, etc. The Fellow should also be entered into the company's payroll system to assure proper withholding of taxes. Federal, state, and local income taxes are the fellows responsibility and should be withheld from the Fellow's salary in accordance with applicable law.

*Only coalitions in Southern Alabama and Southern Mississippi are eligible for coalition grant awards Coalitions in other regions should apply for the standard fellowship grant.

• Support for professional development activities, up to $1,500/year, to enable the Fellow to attend conferences, participate in workshops, or take a course; or purchase professional subscriptions..

Fellows who apply for other types of financial assistance or a combination of assistance to repay student loans and to cover other types of expenses are usually eligible for up to $5,000/year. All requests must fall within program guidelines and are subject to approval by AED.

What are the selection criteria for the awards?
New Voices does not publicize the selection criteria so as to encourage an authentic self-presentation by both the Fellow and organization or coalition*. However, the selection criteria directly reflect and are tied to the questions in the application. The panel carefully reviews the mission and work of the organization or coalition, the background and aspirations of the Fellow, the proposed leadership position, and the fit between organization and Fellow.

How does the New Voices program define "diversity"?
New Voices has a strong interest in supporting the development and advancement of individuals from historically underrepresented or disenfranchised groups. Examples of diversity include, but are not limited to: race/ethnicity, gender, class/economic background, orientation, disability, and national origin.

What is the purpose of the selection committee site visits?
In April 2008, each of the top 20 applicants will be visited by a selection panelist to discuss the program and the application. This will help to assure understanding of both the benefits and commitments involved in participating. It is desireable to have the potential Fellow present for the discussions or at least accessible for a phone interview. The proposed mentor should also be available.

*Only coalitions in Southern Alabama and Southern Mississippi are eligible for coalition grant awards Coalitions in other regions should apply for the standard fellowship grant. (Up to three coalition grants will be awarded.)

If the organization or coalition is not satisfied with the performance of a Fellow, the mentor/CEO is asked to notify the New Voices Director immediately so that the situation may be resolved in a mutually acceptable manner. Any overt violation of the organization or coalition's policies concerning professional conduct may result in termination of the Fellowship upon the request of the organization's director.

An important component of the New Voices program is a formal conflict resolution protocol, which includes an on-site visit by a New Voices program staff member as a third party mediator. Fellows and organizations or coalitions are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this service if it is needed or would be helpful.

*Only coalitions in Southern Alabama and Southern Mississippi are eligible for coalition grant awards Coalitions in other regions should apply for the standard fellowship grant.

If you have additional questions, please call or email us. Our phone number is (202) 884-8051. Our email is newvoices@aed.org.

Thank you for your interest in and support of the New Voices program!