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The National Community Reinvestment Coalition matches top-level graduate degree students with premiere community development organizations
Join us in the 2026 Cohort: September 14, 2026-May 14, 2027
NCRC is looking for fellowship projects that move the needle on housing, small business development, and workforce development. Projects may directly result in community outcomes in these focus areas, or involve work with community members to create plans or project pipelines that will solve local issues in these areas.
The NCRC Fellowship cultivates the next generation of community development leaders and empowers them to tackle the issues of tomorrow. The community development sector will face significant challenges in the coming decades from climate change, widening wealth gaps, food insecurities, extreme housing shortages and other needs. These challenges will disproportionately impact low-wealth communities and communities of color. Therefore, it is NCRC’s intention and pledge to uphold the values of community empowerment in the fellowship program.
Interested students and host organizations must apply for this fellowship opportunity.
Program Benefits for Student Fellows Include:
- High-quality training and support from regional leaders in the nonprofit, government, planning and community development fields
- A $20,000 stipend for the eight-month, part-time (20-hours per week) fellowship
- The opportunity to meet with leaders in the nonprofit, government, planning and community development fields
- Academic credit, in accordance with the policies of the Fellows’ respective universities
- Complimentary admission to the NCRC annual Just Economy Conference
- View informational webinar here.
Program Benefits for Host Organizations Include:
- Fresh, innovative talent to help advance organizational mission
- The opportunity to help shape the next generation of community development leaders
- Participation in a fellowship program at little to no cost
Contact us for more information about NCRC’s Fellowship for Equitable Development.
2026 Fellowship Host Selections
San Antonio for Growth on the Eastside, Inc.
San Antonio, Texas
The Community Engagement Fellow will build relationships, recruit and support businesses, and track outcomes across SAGE’s programs to expand access to resources and strengthen the vibrancy of the business corridor. [View More]
Southside Institutions Neighborhood Alliance
Hartford, Connecticut
The Fellow will support SINA and the City of Hartford in piloting a home repair and preservation program by helping residents access financing and complete repairs while developing a scalable model to stabilize housing and prevent displacement.[View More]
Housing Oregon
Portland, Oregon
The Fellow will expand research on Latino wealth-building in Oregon, focusing on small business development to better understand barriers and inform investment strategies that support Latino-owned businesses. [View More]
Opportunity Resource Fund
Detroit, Michigan
The Fellow will develop neighborhood-level data on housing and health in Detroit to guide targeted investments in homeownership, repairs, and community supports, improving outcomes for local households. [View More]
Hip Hop Caucus
Dallas-Fortworth, Texas
The Fellow will research the impacts of data center growth on small businesses in Dallas–Fort Worth and support strategies to deploy climate finance and advocate for equitable economic and environmental outcomes. [View More]
City Fields CDC
Cleveland, Tennessee
The Fellow will support the development of a resident-led Mixed-Income Neighborhood Trust in East Cleveland by assisting with research, engagement, and coordination to preserve affordable housing and guide community-driven development. [View More]
Runwei™ | AI & ML for Economic Mobility and Financial Inclusion
Washington, DC
The Fellow will use AI and data journalism to analyze small business funding gaps and translate insights into accessible stories and tools that inform more equitable investment strategies. [View More]
What is the Fellowship?
Read more on how the Fellowship is a catalyst for lasting change and systemic impact here.
What is the application process?
NCRC Members Apply
NCRC Selects Member Projects
Students Apply To Selected Projects
Top Student Candidates Interviewed
NCRC & Member Select Student Fellow
NCRC Onboards Member & Student
Fellowship Commences
Host Partnerships
Fellowship host partners must be NCRC members. If your organization would like to participate in the Fellowship but is not a member, you can join here and then apply.
The Host applications opened February 3, 2026 and closed February 28, 2026.
Anticipated hosts locations are in the following geographies:
- Hartford, CT
- Detroit, MI
- Portland, OR
- Chattanooga Metro Area, TN
- San Antonio, TX
- Dallas- Fort Worth, TX
- Washington, DC
Host Requirements
- Be an active NCRC member (become a member!)
- A compelling project to provide a challenging assignment for fellows with real world application
- Have an in person office location with regular host staff attendance
- Must commit to a schedule with at least one day per week in office for both fellow and host supervisor
- Have the ability to mentor and provide effective training and supervision for fellows. Including but not limited to weekly meetings, and providing diverse professional development opportunities
- Have the ability to cover administrative and payroll expenses associated with fellow (as a 1099 employee or as a part time employee)
Student Fellow Applications
Fellow applications will open for eligible students once host projects have been reviewed and finalists selected. Students will apply to be considered for a specific host project.
Fellow applications open beginning April 8, 2026 and close on May 25, 2026. Top student candidates will be interviewed by NCRC as well as the host organization.
Fellow Requirements
- Graduate-level students who will have completed at least one semester of Full-Time graduate studies (as of September 1, 2026) in the fields of Urban Planning, Urban Policy, Public Administration, Economics or related program are encouraged to apply
- Must provide documentation confirming active enrollment (i.e. Letter of Enrollment from Registrar or transcript)
- Must commit to fellowship for full Period of September 14, 2026-May 14, 20272024-2025 academic school year
- Must commit to a 20 hour/week fellowship
- Must commit to a schedule with at least one day per week in-office of host organization
Must be located within 1 hour of the host organization office; anticipated host locations:
- Buffalo, NY
- Denver, CO
- Detroit, MI
- Hartford, CT
- Los Angeles, CA (especially serving Altadena community, CA)
- North Carolina (especially serving Western NC)
- Nashville, TN
- Tacoma, WA
- Texas
- Tennessee (especially serving Eastern TN)
- Washington DC
Students who have participated in the Fellowship previously are not eligible to apply
Questions about NCRC’s 2026 Fellowship? Reach us at impact@ncrc.org
2025 Awardees
Linda Appeynarh
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Association of Enterprise Opportunity
Washington, DC
Alexander Barnes
University of Pennsylvania
Friends of the Rail Park
Philadelphia, PA
Diego Diaz
Willamette University
Housing Oregon
Portland, OR
Stella Egbelana
Morgan State University
Community-Vision Solutions, Benefit LLC
Washington, DC
Odia Kaba
The George Washington University
The Housing Assistance Council
Washington, DC
Ari Kamau
Howard University
Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC-DC)
Washington, DC
Jaspreet Kandola
Yale School of Public Health
The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven Mission Investment Company
New Haven, CT
Sasha Legagneur
American University
Poverty & Race Research Action Council
Washington, DC
Lauren Taylor
Howard University
Hip Hop Caucus
Washington, DC
Maddison Wells
Howard University
Parity Baltimore Incorporated
Baltimore, MD
Isaac Yeboah
Virginia Commonwealth University
Washington Area Community Investment Fund (Wacif)
Washington, DC
2024 Awardees
Eke Agbai
Howard University
Association for Enterprise Opportunity
Washington, DC
Abigail Amankwah
University of New Mexico
Santa Fe Habitat for Humanity
Santa Fe, NM
Matthew Aranez
University of New Mexico
City of Albuquerque
Albuquerque, NM
Amanda Banegas
Howard University
HomeAid National Capital Region
Washington DC
Maci Battle
Alabama A&M University
Miles College Community Development Corporation
Fairfield, AL
Staphord Bengesi
Bowie State University
Runwei | AI & ML for Financial Inclusion and Economic Mobility
Queens, NY
Chloe Bui
Willamette University
Community Development Corporation of Oregon
Gresham, OR
Mark Dellostritto
University of Pennsylvania
Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
Joseph Enyonu
Southern Connecticut University
The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven Mission Investments Company
New Haven, CT
Kory Fleming
Virginia Union University
STREAM Innovations
Birmingham, AL
Akhia Floyd
Alabama A&M University
IGNITE ALABAMA
Birmingham, AL
Emmanuella Gibson
George Washington University
Latino Economic Development Center
Washington, DC
Quintessa Guengerich
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group
Pittsburgh, PA
Tyiesha Head
Wayne State University
Southwest Economic Solutions dba MiWealth
Detroit, MI
Mouhamadou Hoyeck
Howard University
MOVE Chamber
Falls Church, VA
Joshua Johnson
University of Cincinnati
Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Greater Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH
Iga Andita Lestari
University of California Berkeley
California Capital Financial Development Corporation
Sacramento, CA
Amanda Moore
Drexel University
Friends of the Rail Park
Philadelphia, PA
Kristin Murphy
Wayne State University
Detroit Future City
Detroit, MI
Joshua Odam
Pratt Institute
Runwei | AI & ML for Financial Inclusion and Economic Mobility
Queens, NY
Oluwaseun Omotayo
Alabama A&M University
Hispanic and Immigrant Center of Alabama – ¡HICA!
Birmingham, AL
Ibrahim Onafeko
Howard University
Washington Area Community Investment Fund (Wacif)
Washington, DC
Jaya Parashar
George Washington University
Association for Enterprise Opportunity
Washington, DC
Parth Patel
Morgan State University
Economic Action Maryland
Baltimore, MD
Greg Robinson, II
University of Cincinnati
Working In Neighborhoods
Cincinnati, OH
Justin Sackey
Howard Univesity
Housing Assistance Council
Washington, DC
Stacie Sanders
Morgan State University
Morgan State University
Baltimore, MD
Emily Shay
Southern Connecticut University
Bridgeport Neighborhood Trust
Bridgeport, CT
Maddison Wells
Howard University
Poverty & Race Research Action Council
Washington, DC
Explore some of our recent articles and research about housing, lending, redlining and racial wealth inequality