LEARN

Encore Fellows bring a wide variety of highly transferable skills that can have a huge impact in the organizations that host them. Typical functional backgrounds for fellows and the project areas they relate to include:

• Marketing/communications, brand management, messaging and public relations
• Information technology, most aspects of hardware, software and network architecture, development and maintenance
• Human resources policies, systems and structures, staff development and coaching
• Legal issues, such as structure, contracts, tax, employment and intellectual property
• Financial management, including accounting, business processes, budgeting, forecasting, and cost modeling
• Sales/business development, policies and strategies, fundraising initiatives and target donor identification
• Strategic planning, scaling initiatives, partnerships, deployment and board recruitment
• Operations and performance management planning, coordination and analysis
• Project/program management for change initiatives, a new venture or expansion
• Technical specialists in specific skill areas such as engineering and statistics

The first step is to find an Encore Fellowships program seeking work hosts. Program administrators can provide information about the particular focus and terms of their program. Please note that many programs limit work host applications to an invitation-only basis. Each program follows an application process which involves describing your organization, fellowship position(s), and why your organization and the position are a good fit for an Encore Fellowship.

Once your organization is accepted into a program, you will be able to describe your need in detail and begin the matching process to identify a fellow to work with you.

Each program may have a range of funding models. Work hosts typically pay some or all of the fellows' stipend and a modest program participation fee. Many - but not all - fellows have a partial sponsorship from a former employer or other organization. The stipend itself is a fraction of the equivalent market value of the work performed, so under any of the funding scenarios, encore fellowships are a very affordable source of experienced talent to your organization.

If a match is made, you and your fellow will work together to define the objectives and scope of the project. You will be responsible for providing space, equipment, a proper orientation and an executive to sponsor the fellow’s work. In addition to what you provide, the program operator may offer opportunities for your fellow to interact with other fellows and ways for them to learn more broadly about the sector and about career opportunities in social-purpose work.

We are currently working with a number of organizations in various locations around the U.S. who want to offer Encore Fellowships in their communities.

Consult our Program Directory for a list of our operating Fellowships programs.

Please contact us so we can let you know about new programs that might be of interest to you and – with your permission – let program sponsors and operators know of your interest.

"Our Encore Fellow, Pat, has already had a huge impact at Second Harvest Food Bbank. By initiating a planning process early on that emphasized the identification of a small number of critical ‘breakthrough initiatives’, he really helped the Leadership Team prioritize and focus their efforts. The ‘change management’ journey has been frustrating at times, but has been critical to managers and employees trying – and increasingly embracing – new, more efficient approaches to distribution. I truly believe that the community will benefit from Pat’s impact and leadership at Second Harvest."

Kathy Jackson, Executive Director, Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties

Meet other Work Hosts
Watch videos from sponsors and nonprofits about the value of Encore Fellowships.