Fellows Program
The Accelerator for Young People Already Leading
The Seen & Heard Fellows Program is the youth policy fellowship program for emerging advocates ready to engage at the state and national level, with direct policy access, structured mentorship, and deliverables that reflect the seriousness of what fellows bring.
Policy Memos, Testimony, Campaigns:
What Fellows Deliver
This is not a program that simulates policy work. Fellows contribute to real advocacy deliverables as part of Seen & Heard's state and national policy engagement.
- Policy research and issue memos that inform Seen & Heard's organizational positions.
- Testimony preparation and participation in legislative hearings and public comment processes.
- Campaign development targeting specific state or federal policy priorities within Seen & Heard's three pillars: Health & Safety, Education, and Joy.
- Direct representation of Seen & Heard's positions at policy briefings, advocacy convenings, and partner organization events.
- Contributions to public-facing organizational reports and policy communications.
How Seen & Heard Makes Sure Fellows Succeed
Seen & Heard's foundational model principle applies here without exception: adults build the scaffolding so young people can lead without carrying the work alone. Every fellow has a named mentor from Seen & Heard's staff or partner network and a structured engagement process that defines expectations, provides guidance, and ensures the quality of their contribution without removing the real authority behind it.
Fellows engage in state and national policy work as organizational participants, not observers or interns. The mentorship structure exists to make sure they succeed in that role from the first engagement.
What a Fellow Looks Like in Practice
A Seen & Heard fellow is a young person ages 15–25 who has come through the Ambassador Program or demonstrated comparable sustained civic leadership in another context. They arrive with a working understanding of advocacy, a documented record of civic engagement, and a specific policy area they want to go deeper on.
During the fellowship, they are assigned to a policy pillar, connected with a mentor, and given real advocacy responsibilities within that pillar at the state or national level. By the end of their engagement, a fellow has a record of documented policy participation — a portfolio of actual organizational contributions, not a certificate of attendance.
Where fellows go next reflects what the program produces: Youth Board membership, policy and public service careers, graduate programs in law and public policy, and continued civic leadership in their home states.
How to Apply for the Youth Leadership Fellowship
The Fellows Program recruits on a rolling basis. Here is how the process works, from first expression of interest through your first fellowship engagement.
Step 1: Establish Your Advocacy Record
Most fellows come from the Ambassador Program, where they develop the advocacy foundation the fellowship builds on. Candidates with comparable civic experience gained through school programs, community organizations, or independent advocacy are also eligible to apply directly.
Step 2: Submit Your Application
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis during active recruitment cycles. Use the Get Involved form to indicate interest in the Fellows Program. Include your home state, your advocacy record, the policy area you want to work on, and a brief statement of what you want to contribute during the fellowship.
Step 3: Fellowship Onboarding
Selected fellows complete a structured onboarding covering policy pillar orientation, mentor matching, and a clear articulation of fellowship responsibilities and deliverables. All onboarding is virtual and accessible regardless of location.
The Fellows Program Is Where Board Members Come From
The Fellows Program is the third tier of Seen & Heard's civic fellowship program structure, positioned above the Ambassador Program and below the Youth Board of Directors. It is the primary pathway to board membership and the most direct route from personal advocacy commitment to organizational leadership.
Ambassadors who have demonstrated sustained engagement are the primary candidates. Direct applications from young people with comparable civic experience are also considered during active recruitment cycles.
The Fellowship Is the Accelerator. The Work Is Yours.
Seen & Heard's Fellows Program is built for young people who have already decided to lead. If that is you, the next step is to apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Prospective Fellows Ask Most
What is a youth policy fellowship nonprofit program?
A youth policy fellowship is a structured, high-commitment program that places young advocates in real policy work alongside experienced mentors. At Seen & Heard, fellows produce actual organizational deliverables — policy memos, testimony, campaign development — and engage directly in state and national advocacy processes as participants, not observers.
Who should apply for an advocacy fellowship for young people ages 15 to 25?
The Fellows Program is designed for young people who have already demonstrated sustained civic commitment, typically through the Seen & Heard Ambassador Program or comparable advocacy experience. If you have a specific policy area you want to work on and a record of showing up for the work, this program is built for you.
How do I apply for a youth leadership fellowship at Seen & Heard?
Submit an expression of interest through the Get Involved page. Include your state, advocacy background, and the policy area you want to engage on. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis during active recruitment cycles.
Is the Fellows Program only for Ambassador Program alumni?
No. Ambassador alumni are the primary candidate pool, but direct applications from young people with comparable civic engagement experience are reviewed during every recruitment cycle. The criterion is a demonstrated record of advocacy commitment, not which program you came through.
What do fellows do after the program ends?
Fellows go on to Youth Board membership, public service and policy careers, law and public policy graduate programs, and continued civic leadership in their home states. The fellowship is not the destination. It is the accelerator.