The Ginsberg Center for Community Service and Learning offers a year-long fellowship for undergraduate juniors and seniors at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.
The Community Leadership Fellows program seeks to provide students an opportunity to apply their existing leadership experience, community-based work, and classroom learning to a real-world internship experience that directly addresses community needs and priorities.
Projects will be determined by the interests and previous experiences of each fellow, and the availability of local partner organizations who serve as internship sites . Fellows participate in ongoing leadership development training and mentorship, connect as a cohort, and engage in critically reflective practice throughout the program. Each Ginsberg Fellow will be awarded a $5,000 stipend distributed over the course of the academic year (~September - April).
Who: Rising junior and senior students at UM-Ann Arbor who are interested in addressing community-identified needs and furthering their leadership learning.
Time Commitment: Each fellow commits to 8-10 hours a week for the entire academic year (both the Fall and Winter semesters), consisting of the following:
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~8 hours of work each week with a local nonprofit organization, school, or government agency
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~2 hours spent in monthly workshops, events, or small group meetings
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~1 hours spent in monthly check-ins (for individual coaching and mentorship)
Application: Applications for the 2026-2027 program are now open and will close on March 8th, 2026.
The application can be accessed through the LSA Scholarships Portal.
Please note, the CLF program is open to ALL rising juniors and seniors, regardless of which school or college you are enrolled in! Non-LSA students (e.g. those enrolled in the CoE, Ford, Ross, SPH, SSW, or UMSI) please fill out this form to request access to the Scholarships portal.
Information Sessions: Virtual information sessions will take place on February 16th, 17th, and 18th, from 4:30pm-5:30pm. Choose a session to attend and register here.
Please contact the Fellows advisor, Dr. Jesse Carr at [email protected] with any questions.
Community organizations: Are you interested in hosting a Community Leadership Fellow for the 2026-2027 academic year? Email [email protected] to set up a consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the typical week look like for a Community Leadership Fellow?
Each fellow is expected to commit 10 hours a week for the program. The bulk of that time (~8 hours per week) is spent working with your intern placement site. The balance of time is spent in fellowship cohort meetings and individual check-ins with their fellowship advisor. At the beginning of the term, each fellow will work with their fellowship site and the fellows advisor to determine a schedule that meets the organization's needs while also accommodating the students' coursework and other responsibilities.
At what sites will Fellows be placed?
The Ginsberg Center is proud to work with campus and community organizations that align with our mission to create social change for the common good. Each year, we work with community organizations to identify who would benefit from a fellowship placement. Past fellows' sites have included:
- The Washtenaw Housing Alliance
- Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice
- Postive Impact for Life
- Survivors Speak
- Food Gatherers
- Hope Village
- 826 Michigan
- Washtenaw County Public Health Department
- Avalon Housing
- SafeHouse Center
- Corner Health
- Habitat for Humanity
- The Office of Community and Economic Development
- The ChildCare Network
- Willow Run Acres
- Resource Generation
- The My Future Fund
- MHAction
- The Center for Success
- Math Corps
- Accelerate for Kids
- Garret's Place
Fellows will be placed with an organization based on the needs and availability of community partner organizations, and guided by fellows' expressed interests, skills, experience, and personal development goals as reflected in the application materials.
What are past projects that have been completed?
In the past, fellows have completed a wide variety of projects. Examples include:
- Maintain organizational social media accounts and create online content
- Coordinate program assessment initiatives to inform organizational effectiveness and impact
- Create and facilitate trainings for community members and clients
- Organize advocacy campaigns around local and state policymaking
- Coordinate communication strategies for policy advocacy, including press releases, newsletters, and community meetings
- Oversee grassroots fundraising campaigns and events
- Design curriculum for and facilitate programs
- Tutor, mentor, and teach local K-12 students
- Conduct research, and publish findings, on elected bodies across Washtenaw County
- Write grants for community-based organizations and initiatives
What is it like to be in the cohort?
In line with the principles of the Ginsberg Center, learning is best done in community with others. The fellows program uses a cohort model in which the learning and growth that fellows receive is mutual and connected. Fellows are responsible for their own development and are expected to contribute to the learning, growth, and support of their cohort-mates. In the bi-weekly meetings, different aspects of community engagement and leadership will be explored through activities, presentations, and critical reflection.
What is on the application?
You can access an application preview here. The application is also discussed in more detail in CLF information sessions, which potential applicants are strongly encouraged to attend. Choose a session to attend and register here.
Is there a minimum GPA requirement?
Fellows must remain in good academic standing to remain eligible for participation, but there is no minimum GPA required to apply. Students may choose to include their GPA on their resume, but GPA is not a primary consideration in fellowship selection.
How are fellows selected?
The most weight is given to the following application components:
- The 1-pg resume, specifically the applicant's prior work and volunteer experience (including experience with student or community organizations)
- The responses to the short-essay questions regarding how the applicant can contribute to a local nonprofit organization, and how participating in the CLF program connects to the applicant's future goals or aspirations
- The applicant's capacity to make the time commitment required for success in the fellowship
For more information please contact Dr. Jesse Carr, [email protected]