The Open Society Foundations in partnership with Echoing Green is seeking applications for the newly launched Black Male Achievement (BMA) Fellowship program that is targeted at individuals dedicated to improving the life outcomes of black men and boys in the U.S. It is the first fellowship program of its kind that targets social entrepreneurs who are starting up new and innovative organizations in the field of black male achievement.
About the Campaign for Black Male Achievement
The Open Society Foundations’ Campaign for Black Male Achievement is a multi-issue, cross-fund strategy to address black men and boys’ exclusion from economic, social, educational, and political life in the United States. The campaign responds to a growing body of research that reveals the intensification of black males’ negative life outcomes. It builds on U.S. Programs’ mission to support individuals and organizations that nurture the development of a more democratic, just society, as well as the Open Society Foundations’ expertise and past work to reduce incarceration, promote racial justice, and support youth engagement and leadership development.
Fellowship Provisions
Recipients of the BMA Fellowship will be provided with the start-up capital and technical assistance over 18 months to help them launch and build their organizations; access to technical support and pro bono partnerships; and a community of like-minded social entrepreneurs and public service leaders.
The BMA fellowship will be awarded to up to eight fellows who are generating new ideas and best practices in the areas of education, family, and work such as initiatives related to fatherhood, mentoring, college preparatory programs, community-building, supportive wage work opportunities, communications, and philanthropic leadership.
The BMA Fellowship will run for 18 months beginning July 1, 2012, and will offer:
- A stipend of $70,000
- A health insurance stipend
- A professional development stipend
- Professional and organizational development conferences
- A community of like-minded social entrepreneurs and public service leaders, including the Open Society and Echoing Green networks of alumni working all over the world
Eligibility
- Fellowships are reserved for individuals who are launching organizations dedicated to Black Male Achievement in the United States. Fellowship projects should align with the Campaign for Black Male Achievement priorities focused on improving the life outcomes of black men and boys in the three core areas of: education, family, and work.
- Fellowship projects should support the Campaign’s goals, which are:
- To strengthen low income black families through responsible fatherhood initiatives, policy advocacy and supporting efforts that lift barriers facing single mothers raising black boys
- To ensure that black boys have the opportunity to excel academically, to prepare for college, and to learn skills essential to earning a living wage
- To expand and ensure 21st century family supportive wage work opportunities for black males
- To integrate strategic communications and arts & culture into CBMA’s work across its three core areas to promote positive frames and messages about black men and boys
- To serve as a catalyst in the field of philanthropy for leveraging additional private and public funds for the field of black men and boys.
Last date for submission of applications in phase 1 is January 9, 2012
For more information, visit this link.
