Field Fellowship
The Field Fellowship is an opportunity for recent graduates, graduate students, and early-career professionals in Chicago to immerse themselves in philanthropy. Fellows learn about and participate in the foundation’s work supporting community power building—through investments in arts and culture, civic infrastructure, journalism and storytelling, local leaders, and organizers.
Applications for the 2026-2027 academic year are open through June 12. Learn more below.
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.
On this Page
Responsibilities
Field Fellows learn all aspects of the Field 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.
- Supporting every dimension of the annual Leaders for a New Chicago Award and Community Power Building portfolio.
Learn more about this opportunity
Meet some of our past Fellows
Application
Process
Please email a cover letter, your resume, and two writing samples to Richard Tran, the Field Foundation’s Director of ART & Leadership Initiatives, at rtran@fieldfoundation.org. Applications are open through June 12.
Note: The “Apply” button in the top right corner of this page is for grant applicants only.
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.
