IDEA Fellowship Application

AFP - Greater Philadelphia Chapter (AFP-GPC) IDEA Fellowship Program Application Guidelines and General Information

Program: The Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access Fellowship (IDEA) is a year-long fellowship for two fundraising professionals from historically underrepresented communities. Historically underrepresented communities include, but are not limited to:

BIPOC
LGBTQIA+ and/or gender non-conforming individuals
Early-career or emerging professionals working at smaller, under-resourced nonprofits

The IDEA Fellowship seeks to identify and elevate voices that are not currently engaged in the broader nonprofit fundraising community.

The program is intended to recruit and retain diverse fundraising professionals through education, professional development, and community building in the greater Philadelphia region.

The fellowship provides participants with full access to all the benefits of AFP- Greater Philadelphia Chapter, including:

Complimentary one-year membership to AFP Global and AFP-GPC
Orientation session
Invitations to the chapter’s complimentary programs
Free access to three AFP-GPC programs
Complimentary ticket to Leading Philanthropy, AFP-GPC’s signature one-day conference
Complimentary ticket to National Philanthropy Day
Participation in the AFP-GPC mentorship program with an IDEA-focused mentor
Opportunities to network, meet leaders in the fundraising and philanthropic sector, and participate in leadership opportunities (committees)
Support from a senior chapter member throughout the fellowship
Support from IDEA Fellowship Alumni

In addition to all of the training benefits, fellows have opportunities to network, meet leaders in the fundraising and philanthropic sector, and participate in leadership opportunities, while they build fundraising capacity and increase mission impact. This will be conducted virtually or in person.

Eligibility: Candidates must have the full support of their supervisor or their organization’s leadership to participate in this educational program. Applicants do not need to be a member of AFP, but must fall within our chapter boundaries to be eligible for this opportunity.

Expectations: Candidates must be committed to attending the programs and events comprising the IDEA Fellows curriculum. Candidates are also expected to:

Be active members of the IDEA Committee through committee work and monthly meetings
Attend Leading Philanthropy Conference and National Philanthropy Day
Be members of the National Philanthropy Day Awards Committee
Explore other committees, workshops, coffee conversations, events, etc. that align with their interests
Work closely with their IDEA Co-Fellow
Other projects as they are identified

Application Deadline and Review Process: To apply, candidates should submit the completed application form by November 30, 2026.

Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee, and applicants may be asked to participate in a virtual interview prior to selection. Candidates who are chosen to be IDEA Fellows will be notified by December 19, 2026, and the selected Fellow will need to be available to attend AFP-GPC’s Annual Meeting in January 2027.

Name

First NameLast Name

Resume

Statement of Support

(This must be signed by Supervisor or Organization’s Leadership i.e. Executive Director, President, or Board Chair)

Download the Statement of Support document.

LinkedIn profile (if available)

Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code

Best Phone Number to reach you

Area CodePhone Number

Best time to reach you

E-mail

example@example.com

Current Employer

Current Title

Non-Profit Sector (Ex. Human Services, Arts, Housing)

What community does your organization primarily serve?

Mission of your 501c3 organization

Company Website

Annual Budget

Type of Fundraising in current role: (ex: Events, Donor Relations, Capital Campaign, Annual Fund, Corporate)

Immediate Past Employer & Dates of Employment

Years working in Fundraising

Gender

Race/Ethnicity

Do you consider yourself part of an underrepresented or underserved community?

Please Explain:

What communities (list them all) do you consider yourself a part of?

What are your experiences with exclusion (if any, could not support clients I served because I was not aware of…, inability to access services because of…)?

What have been your biggest challenges that you have experienced in your work in fundraising?

What has been your biggest accomplishment, high point, and/or promising development you have experienced in your work in fundraising?

In 250 to 300 words, share your professional career goals and aspirations and how you would benefit from the IDEA Fellowship.

I agree to attend and participate in 80% of the AFP-GPC events and trainings listed to the best of my ability.

Post Evaluation: In order to assess the success of the IDEA Fellowship program, Fellows will be asked to:

Complete a survey midway through the program
Complete an exit interview at the end of the fellowship program
In addition, IDEA Fellows will be asked to write a written summary of their experience in the IDEA fellowship in December 2026. The results of all of these evaluation tools will be shared with the AFP-GP Chapter Board, and may be shared with sponsors of the fellowship program.

By submitting this application, I agree to represent the AFP-GPC Chapter IDEA Fellowship Program to the best of my abilities. I also agree to adhere to the post-evaluation expectations.

I agree to the above.