Field Fellowship
The Field Fellowship is a premier opportunity in philanthropy for graduate students in Chicago. Fellows have the opportunity to learn about and participate in the foundation’s work: supporting community power building in Chicago by investing in arts and culture, civic infrastructure, journalism and storytelling, local leaders, and organizers.
Photo: Field Fellow Reese Castro (front, second from left) poses with staff at the foundation’s annual Board of Directors Dinner
Working with Field Foundation staff over a nine-month period, Field Fellows gain exposure to a wide range of social and economic issues while discovering trends in the nonprofit sector. Past fellows have worked with their schools to gain credit toward degrees.
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Responsibilities
Field Fellows learn all aspects of the foundation’s grantmaking process. Responsibilities include:
- Reviewing grant proposals and reports, focusing on activities, budget, results, and indicators of success.
- Supporting staff in conducting site visits and meetings with current and prospective grant recipients.
- Engaging with strategic funding partners and other nonprofit partners in meetings, conferences, and other opportunities.
- Writing briefs and supporting staff in recommending grants for the Field Foundation Board of Directors’ review.
- Working across all aspects of the annual Leaders for a New Chicago Award process.
Application
Process
Stay tuned for details on fellowship applications for the 2026-2027 academic year.
Working in philanthropy gave me a different perspective and understanding of the challenges of the field and the different ways of approaching decision-making. I was also fortunate enough to be a fellow during a time of change for the foundation. A lot can be learned in moments of change, and I got a behind-the-scenes view.
