Fellowship Overview
The Investing in Leaders of Color (ILOC) Fellowship was a one-year leadership and capacity-building initiative to acknowledge and support the work of twelve leaders of color who serve communities of color throughout the Carolinas.
Co-designed by participating foundations and fellows, this initiative intentionally invested in nonprofit leaders of color to build a broader ecosystem of support for leaders who have experienced systemic disadvantages in their work within the philanthropic and nonprofit fields. Philanthropic partners engaged with the cohort in collective learning, mutual mentorship, and relationship-building throughout the fellowship.
The Fellowship Experience
The leaders participated in a cohort of fellows and philanthropic organizations that promoted trust and connectedness while fostering understanding of the barriers faced by — and opportunities to invest in — leaders of color and the often-underfunded communities and efforts in which they lead. Leaders and funders engaged in experiences grounding them in new ways to relate and align their hopes and expectations for their time together.
Fellows received technical support, capacity building, social capital gains, and network building, as well as the opportunity throughout the year to co-design the initiative alongside funders, tailoring both their experience and future cycles of the fellowship.
Fellows and funders were placed in matched partnerships that lifted and valued the leaders’ expertise, positioning funders as students to their experiences. Within this mentorship, leaders explained barriers encountered in the field; received support from funders to plan organizational goals that are both feasible in the long term and aligned to the organization’s mission; and created new funding relationships for increasing investment in their work. Funders likewise communicated what they were learning and shared how they were considering shifting mindsets and protocols at their foundations.
Fellowship activities included a series of sessions to examine the nuanced realities of leaders of color and the philanthropic community and follow-up gatherings to share insights, breakthroughs, and promising activities.
“It’s awesome to be in the same room with people that are going through familiar struggles I am facing not only in my professional life but at a personal level.” — 2022-2023 ILOC Fellow
Eligibility
Fellows in the first cohort leaders of color and change agents in their communities with demonstrated success. Selected fellows had the following characteristics:
- Led nonprofit organizations in North or South Carolina
- Worked with, serve, and advocate for communities of color
- Connected deeply to the communities they serve
- Expected at least ten years of work ahead of them (they should be midway through their career, and possibly at an inflection point)
- Demonstrated strong values and qualities of servant leadership
- Viewed problems at a systems level
The fellows had the following mindset:
- Strongly interested (and perhaps experienced) in building relationships with peers and the philanthropic community
- Strongly interested in building the capacity of their organization
- Committed to long-term impact through their organization and/or broader networks
Funding Opportunities
Selected fellows received up to $25,000 in general operating support for their organizations, up to $10,000 stipends for their participation, and the opportunity for additional, ongoing funding with partner organizations following the completion of the fellowship.
Application Process
Each application was reviewed by a committee including funders and leaders from North and South Carolina.