Indigenous Communities Fellowship
The application deadline for this opportunity has been extended to Friday, February 24, 2023. Please email cardinalquarter@stanford.edu for the link to the application if you would like to apply.
The Indigenous Communities Fellowship is Stanford's premier opportunity for Native undergraduates to pursue Indigenous service and community reinvestment. A Cardinal Quarter opportunity co-sponsored by the Native American Cultural Center and the Haas Center for Public Service, the fellowship enables students to participate in an internship working with a nonprofit, government, or tribal organization on social, political, and/or economic issues impacting American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Indigenous Pacific Islander communities in the U.S. Through this fellowship, students engage with communities by applying their experience, academic pursuits, and leadership skills to address issues of social change, equity, and inclusion centered in the Indigenous experience.
Indigenous Communities Fellows spend a quarter working full-time with a supervisor/mentor in a community organization of their choice. For opportunities during the fall, winter, or spring quarters, please see the Jane Stanford Fellowship.
Applicants propose their own placements with organizations with which they have corresponded before the application deadline and effectively demonstrate that their intended partner organizations have the need, interest and capacity to work with a fellow and to support the proposed project/work plans. The Haas Center has many Resources for Fellowship Applicants, including a list of Cardinal Quarter Connections of host organizations seeking to work with Stanford undergraduate students, and the Meet the Undergraduate Fellows page with information on previous fellows' community partners and projects. Please also view the list of previous Indigenous Communities Fellows from 2018-2022.
Please review the program policies in their entirety before applying.
Each Indigenous Communities Fellow receives a base stipend of $6,500 to cover most of the essential costs associated with an unpaid service experience. Financial aid and supplemental funding are available to students who qualify.
Visit this page for information on previous fellows' community partners and projects.
The Native American Cultural Center and the Haas Center for Public Service partnered to launch the Indigenous Communities Fellowship as part of the Cardinal Quarter initiative. Funding has been generously provided by Native American Cultural Center and Haas Center donors as part of the Cardinal Quarter program.
Interested students can receive application guidance from NACC Director Karen Biestman at biestman@stanford.edu.
Eligibility
For complete eligibility requirements, please review our program policies in their entirety.
Students must be enrolled in undergraduate study for both winter and spring quarters, and must be in good academic standing. Students may not participate in the program or receive or retain fellowship funds if they are on suspension.
Undergraduates from all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply, and applicants may vary in academic interests, public service involvement, and experience. Priority will be given to students who have completed fewer than two previous Cardinal Quarter opportunities. Graduating seniors may have lower priority. Students who have begun their coterm programs are not eligible to apply.
Students are welcome to propose placements with a variety of public interest organizations, keeping in mind funding will be restricted for certain types of political, research, Stanford-based, for-profit, and faith-based organizations. Please review the “Host Organization Eligibility” section of our program policies for more information.
Requirements
Selected fellows are expected to begin service following the completion of spring quarter classes and no later than July 5, 2023. All fellows are required to work with their community partners at least 35 hours/week for nine consecutive weeks. Fellows are expected to work on-site at their host organizations (University policies and health conditions permitting), but some fully virtual experiences may be allowed on a case-by-case basis. Fellows must have a designated full-time professional staff member on-site as their supervisor/mentor. Please review the complete program policies for additional requirements. Other commitments include the following:
Spring Quarter
- Complete an online program orientation.
- Complete the Engaging in Ethical and Effective Service workshop or worksheet.
- Meet with your academic mentor at least once.
- Design a personal learning plan and share the learning plan with the site supervisor and academic mentor.
Summer Quarter
- Submit a brief preliminary report.
- Submit a final report, complete a program evaluation, and correspond with fellowship donor(s) as requested by fellowships program staff.
Fall Quarter
- Meet with your academic mentor at least once.
- Attend a de-briefing meeting for the purpose of reflecting upon and evaluating fellowship experiences.
- Participate in outreach activities to share the experience and help publicize the program.
