Overview

The DonorsChoose Fellowship program is one way that we engage early career talent. As an organization, we are committed to hiring, growing, and retaining a racially diverse staff at all levels that reflects the demographics of the students we serve. This year-long program aims to accelerate the careers of new professionals through experiential learning, professional development, and mentorship at a lean, tech-based nonprofit. 

Fellows benefit from a hybrid cohort experience where they will work in our NYC office twice a month. During these times, they will participate in opportunities that are designed to strengthen core skills through professional development, build interpersonal connections, and develop meaningful relationships.

About DonorsChoose

DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need, moving us closer to a nation where students in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education.

Since 2000, more than 5 million people and partners have contributed $1 billion to support 2 million teacher requests for classroom resources and experiences. Projects range from art supplies to build the set for a school musical, to books and puzzles that affirm students’ identities, to bird seed for an at-home science project. We proudly serve all US public schools, public charter schools, and Head Start centers, and we combat systemic inequity by driving a majority of donations to schools that have been historically underfunded due to economic and racial inequity.

DonorsChoose has been recognized as the best place to work by GOOD Magazine and the Nonprofit Times, while Fast Company named DonorsChoose one of the 50 Most Innovative Companies in the World—the first time a charity has made this list. Our dedicated team works from across the United States to bring classroom dreams to life.

Our Vision

The DonorsChoose team works toward a nation where students in every community have the resources needed for an excellent education. We are committed to combating racial and socioeconomic inequity in school funding. 

Eligibility Guidelines

To be eligible for the Fellowship program, candidates must meet all 3 of the following criteria:  

1. Referred by and affiliated with a recruitment partner. OR A first-generation college student or graduate, meaning no parents or guardians graduated from a 4-year college. 
2. A US Citizen, Permanent Resident, or DACA Recipient. As DonorsChoose is not equipped to sponsor a visa, we require independent work authorization through July 2026 for Fellowship applicants. 
3. A college graduate (class of 2024 or 2025) by the start of the Fellowship. Our Fellowship is built for new professionals (graduating seniors or those with less than 1 year of professional work experience). If you have a graduate degree or have been working for more than 1 year already, and are really excited by our team and mission, we encourage you to consider other open roles at DonorsChoose! 
4. Available to work full time and not enrolled in a degree-granting program during the Fellowship.

Timeline

December 16, 2024	Applications Open
January 21, 2025	Virtual Open House Event — register here!
February 14, 2025	Fellowship Application Deadline
April-May 2025	Offers Extended
July 7, 2025	First Day of Fellowship
July 7-July 11, 2025	In-Person Onboarding
June 26, 2026	Last Day of Fellowship

Fellowship Program 

Overview

Fellows grow and learn through a bi-annual rotation that allows them to work deeply with two teams, spending six months on each (July–December; January–June). Placement teams vary year to year; the DonorsChoose team makes thoughtful team placements based on Fellows’ professional interests, skills, and past experiences.  

The 2025-2026 Fellowship begins on Monday, July 8, 2025, and ends on Friday,  June 26, 2026. 

Our Approach

• Experiential Learning: 
  • Team-specific projects: Each Fellow has the opportunity to collaborate on and lead meaningful projects that move the organization forward. Projects and core responsibilities vary from team to team. 
  • Bi-annual rotations: The rotational aspect of our program gives Fellows exposure to a range of business areas and skill-building opportunities. We believe that beyond exploring different business areas, having access to different teams, managers, close collaborators, and colleagues supports growth in communication and collaboration. Fellows find out their first placement once they’ve started the Fellowship in July. We intentionally hold off on deciding the second rotation of placements until Fellows have spent a few months at the DonorsChoose, in order to make the best match.
• Professional development: Fellows participate in monthly professional development sessions. Session topics include public speaking, managing up, prioritization, career planning, and more. Some professional development sessions will occur in our NYC office. 
• Mentorship + support: At DonorsChoose, we understand that professional growth requires support. We commit to supporting Fellows in the following ways: 
• Management from team leaders: Fellows will be directly managed by seasoned managers excited by and skilled at developing new professionals. Managers work closely with the Fellows to identify growth opportunities and provide frequent, actionable feedback.
• Mentorship: Mentorship comes in many forms — from managers, close collaborators, Fellowship alumni at DonorsChoose, and relationships fostered through monthly Colleague Chats with folks across the org. Fellows are also paired with a mentor who will provide one-on-one coaching and support throughout the year.  
• Support: Fellows will meet monthly with the Manager of Equity & Experience, who will provide an additional layer of support. 
• Hybrid experiences: Fellows take part in twice-a-month in-office workdays that are uniquely curated to help them grow core skills and develop interpersonal and relationship-building skills.

About You

Our Fellowship might be the right fit for you if:

• You care deeply about making education more equitable for students across the country.
• You have a curious and inquisitive mind. For you, the “why” is just as important as the “what,” and you enjoy the process of learning. 
• You’re looking to explore different skill sets and career paths. The thought of a bi-annual rotation (two teams! one year!) excites you. 
• You are willing to try things out and make mistakes along the way. You’re excited to grow and challenge yourself in a supportive team environment.
• You are a doer. You take pride in managing lots of details and moving parts.
• You’re looking to work in a startup-style nonprofit with an entrepreneurial, collaborative culture. 
• You’re a strong writer and value clear and concise communication. 
• The power of data to inform strategy and decisions excites you; even if you’re not quite sure what to do with it at first, you’re excited to figure out how to use the data to your advantage! 
• You’re a team player who always pitches in to help, even if it’s not directly related to your job.
• You share our core values of humanity, ingenuity, learning, gratitude, integrity, and equity.
• You’re passionate about racial justice, and you’re excited about the opportunity to amplify the voices of teachers and students of color, as well as working with individual donors motivated by fighting the role that systemic racism plays in educational inequity.
• You thrive in a hybrid work environment, enjoying the balance of collaborating in person and the flexibility of working from home. 

Compensation and Benefits

• Fellows are paid an annual salary of $49,500.
• Fellowship positions are non-exempt and eligible for overtime under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
• 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision coverage; physical wellness stipend available.
• 10 paid vacation days, plus 10 paid national holidays, 10 paid sick/mental health days, and 3 paid personal days. 
• $1,000 professional development stipend.
• Equipment/supplies for a safe and productive at-home workspace. 
• Receive a monthly Wi-Fi stipend to support your remote work setup.

The Perks

• Be part of a peer cohort and participate in professional development sessions with leaders from across our teams.
• Access to in-person professional development opportunities, fireside chats with team leads, and a fully equipped Midtown Manhattan office with a stocked kitchen, tech resources, and catered "Lunch Wednesdays" to foster connection.
• Work at an organization committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. 
• Be part of our vibrant employee resource groups (ERGs), which are focused on fostering connection, mentorship, and community for colleagues with shared identities, including Latinx, Black, AAPI, LGBTQ+, and staff with disabilities.
• Be a part of our team — and that doesn’t just mean attending team meetings. We’re talking about our in-person annual All Staff Retreat, our speaker series (past speakers include W. Kamau Bell and Minnesota Teacher of the Year), virtual celebrations, and more. 

Hybrid Workplace and Other Details

Fellows are required to work in the NYC office twice a month for scheduled in-person workdays. Outside of these days, they are welcome and encouraged to work from the office more frequently but may also choose to work remotely. These days are a crucial part of the fellowship, designed to foster meaningful connections, strengthen collaboration, and deepen engagement within the cohort and with colleagues. Fellows participate in fireside chats with senior leaders, engage in professional development sessions, and have opportunities for peer networking, mentorship with managers, and collaborative learning.

To ensure a successful start to the program, fellows are required to attend in-person onboarding at the Manhattan office from July 7 to July 11, 2025. These onboarding sessions are essential for building foundational relationships and setting fellows up for success in the program.

DonorsChoose participates in E-Verify. We will provide the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.

How to Apply

Applicants should submit applications online after the application opens in December 2024. 

Questions? Email programrecruitment@donorschoose.org to reach out to our team.

Possible Fellowship Placement Teams 

This is not the list of placements. Placement teams vary year to year based on team needs; past placement teams for our Fellowship program have included: 

• Marketing & Partnerships: 
  • Revenue Operations: Set up, test, launch, and report on partnership gift card orders, project funding, and match offer campaigns to help fulfill our commitments to our managed giving revenue goal. Fellows maintain data integrity on Salesforce and collaborate with teammates to maintain knowledge bases and streamline processes. 
  • Marketing & Community: Build and send marketing emails to over 2 million teachers and donors, reach out to teachers about available funding from corporate and foundation partners, and support teacher and donor initiatives like our teacher community and programs to connect with our most engaged donors.
  • Partnerships Management & Business Development: Provide critical administrative, prospecting, and pitch support that helps our organization win $100,000+ partnerships with corporations and foundations.  
• Equity & Impact: Support equity-focus campaigns, researching equity matters that impact our work such as book bans or divisive concepts, and providing pitch support to campaigns that are reflective of the identity-affirming calendar. 
• Advocacy & Public Partnerships: Administer the National District Partnership Program and conduct research on the education landscape, including in response to COVID-19 through ESSER funds, state and district crowdfunding policies and competitor news.
• People Team: 
• People & Talent: Support the People team’s three core functions: talent, human resources, and employee development. That could mean supporting open searches and communicating with candidates and hiring managers, or helping employees navigate major life events in the benefits space and learning to work with our major vendors.
• Equity & Experience: Support creating and maintaining a sense of belonging and connection at DonorsChoose. The fellow will help build and deliver an equitable workplace experience where staff feel respected, welcomed, supported, valued, and connected to the mission and each other.

• Finance, IT, Procurement: 
• Procurement: Provide critical support to ensure the resources and experiences teachers request are purchased and delivered, including monitoring purchasing reports on a daily basis. Fellows also lead critical projects and initiatives across the Finance and Fulfillment team that: improve our vendor relationships, ensure financial transparency, and improve our fulfillment processes.
• Finance: Support the Accounts Payable function, revenue operations, and the audit lifecycle. Finance fellows get first-hand insight into how DonorsChoose processes payments for over $110M in student resource purchases every year.