Encore Fellowships are designed to deliver a new source of talent to organizations solving critical social problems. These paid, time-limited fellowships match skilled, experienced professionals with social-purpose organizations in high-impact assignments.
During the fellowship period (typically six to 12 months, half- to full-time), Fellows take on roles that bring significant, sustained impact to their host organizations. While they are working, Fellows earn a stipend, learn about social-purpose work, and develop a new network of contacts and resources for the future.
The original 2009 Silicon Valley Encore Fellows pilot program was launched by Encore.org, with funding from The David & Lucile Packard Foundation and Hewlett-Packard Company. Ten Encore Fellows were matched with nonprofits in the San Francisco Bay Area in high-impact, one-year roles. Both the fellows and their host organizations rated their experience very highly and plans were made to expand the program across the U.S.
Rather than replicate the Silicon Valley program directly in other cities, Encore.org chose a network scaling model, partnering with successful, mission-aligned nonprofit organizations to host Encore Fellows programs. The Encore Fellowships Network® now includes dozens of local program operators, funders, and partner organization from coast to coast. The purpose of the network is to make it as easy as possible for independent organizations to start, sponsor, or operate effective Encore Fellowships programs in their community or organization.
Since 2009, thousands of Encore Fellows in more than 50 metropolitan areas across the United States have been placed at nonprofits and public agencies, building their capacity to deliver on their missions. They have contributed close to two million hours of service and an estimated $200,000,000 in talent.
The Encore Fellowships Network offers opportunities in programs in Arizona, California, Colorado, Ohio, New York, Oregon, New Mexico, Massachusetts, and Washington (state) – all members of a growing collaborative network. Fellowships have also been offered in many other areas, depending on funding.
The programs have been supported by a wide range of corporate, foundation and individual supporters, and the participating nonprofits. Strategic expansion support has come from the Packard Foundation, the May and Stanley Smith Charitable Trust, the California HealthCare Foundation, the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group, HP, and the Robin Hood Foundation. Program expansion has also been greatly supported by Intel’s Corporation’s sponsorship of its retiring employees to become Encore Fellows and sponsorships by IBM, Keysight Technologies, and Qualcomm, among other companies.
Source: Encore.org
More information:
Anne Kirwan, Managing Director, Encore Fellowships Network
Work: 415-213-8913; Cell: 415-290-6677
Email: AKirwan@Encore.org
