Urban Conservation and Community Fellowship Program

Each UCC Fellow will be placed with a nonprofit community partner host organization and develop a 12-month work plan in collaboration with the host, The Conservation Fund and the UCC Fellowship Advisory Council. The UCC Fellowship Program will provide full-time experience working at the community scale assisting communities realize park, trail or other greenspace visions and related social, economic and environmental benefits.

The UCC Fellowship Program is designed to adapt to the needs of each community host organization. Our projects often encompass job or skills training, environmental learning programs, community-based stewardship training and linkages with affordable housing, health and mental health promotion. They use outdoor settings, childcare and youth learning, historically and culturally relevant art and other forms of community development and quality of life improvement. Community partners need various types of expertise and capacity, such as public relations and marketing, communications, technology, community engagement, programming and event management, educational programming, grant writing and reporting, landscape design and hands-on volunteer project management. Fellows will have a variety of avenues to contribute to advancing equitable access to parks and nature and equitable community development.

2026 Openings

Micah 6 Community (Pontiac, MI)

• Learn more
• Apply here by April 6

A typical day for a Fellow would consist of an eight hour day, primarily onsite at the Micah 6 Community Gardens or at the Webster Community Market. The Community Gardens are located right behind the Webster Community Center thus convened at a central working location. Work with the Farm Director will include gardening activities in the greenhouses and helping to oversee volunteer groups while work in the Webster Community Market will ensure what is needed by the community is matched by the food stock.

Another important component will be working with the Executive Director and the leadership team as a thought partner to help identify are these systems working, where are the gaps, what efficiencies could be implemented, and what other partners need to be at the table.

Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens (Washington, DC)

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• Apply here by April 6

By the end of the fellowship, the Fellow would have played a meaningful role in strengthening both park operations and community engagement. During the peak season, the Fellow would have supported National Park Service staff in delivering extended-hours programming, enhanced visitor services, and well-attended public offerings such as Come Alive After 5, ranger-led tours, volunteer stewardship activities, and the Lotus & Water Lily Festival, helping ensure high-quality and welcoming experiences for thousands of park visitors.

During the off season, the Fellow would have contributed to the successful planning and launch of a new Conservation Job Corps initiative, helping lay the groundwork for connecting local residents to green job training and workforce pathways. Additionally, the Fellow would have helped document and evaluate FoKAG’s programs, producing compelling impact narratives, data summaries, and materials that strengthen grant reporting and future funding efforts.

Amigos de los Rios (Altadena, CA)

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• Apply here by April 6

The Fellow will gain extensive experience in community organizing and environmental leadership by facilitating over 25 Emerald Necklace Watershed Stewardship Program volunteer events. They will develop a thorough understanding of this process, working throughout its lifecycle on project design, event planning, community outreach, site preparation, and event facilitation.

Fellows will focus on urban forestry and natural infrastructure development that transforms public schools from stark penitentiary-like hardscapes into nature-based watershed-discovery campuses and river trails from concrete flood control channels to revitalized greenways, while helping fire-scarred neighborhoods reclaim and restore their natural character through post-fire tree canopy protection to help families rebuild and heal. By participating in the community-based design and implementation of a diverse portfolio of Emerald Necklace multi-benefit natural infrastructure urban greening projects, they will develop significant community leadership experience by engaging with diverse populations that represent the multicultural and multilingual communities of L.A.

Detroit Hives (Detroit, MI)

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• Apply here by April 6

The Fellow will directly contribute to the planning and implementation of urban conservation projects that convert blighted parcels into pollinator habitats, community gardens, and accessible green infrastructure. Another key accomplishment will be the Fellow’s role in strengthening community-driven engagement. By working alongside residents, schools, community partners, and municipal stakeholders, the Fellow will help ensure that project outcomes reflect local priorities.

The Fellow will also have supported and enhanced Detroit Hives’ Bee The Change and Bee In Motion programs—contributing to youth education, workforce exposure, and leadership development. Internally, the Fellow’s accomplishments will include strengthened organizational capacity through improved project documentation, impact tracking, and systems that support scale and replication.

Who Should Apply?

The Conservation Fund seeks applicants interested in building a career related to environmental conservation, community engagement, park planning and management, water conservation or GIS, or nonprofit organizational management at the community scale. The UCC Fellowship Program is a good fit for high potential, emerging leaders committed to social justice seeking to expand their management acumen.

Qualifications:

• Previous experience with community-based groups, environmental justice, conservation or similar. This can be educational, volunteer or professional experience.
• Interest in supporting community-driven initiatives designed to make neighborhoods safer, greener and more equitable.
• Interest in building a career working within nonprofit, organizing or the public sector.
• Excellent verbal and communication skills.
• Knowledgeable about social and economic justice issues affecting underserved communities.
• Self-starter able to work effectively in both a team-based and independent environment.

Application

Host sites will be in Washington, DC; Detroit, MI; Pontiac, MI; and Altadena, CA. All applications are due April 6 at midnight PST.

Fellowship Details

The 12-month fellowship will provide fellows with ongoing support and opportunities for growth, including:

• A stipend to support their work in the fellowship and to help advance the capacity of local community-led organizations.
• Quarterly convenings throughout the fellowship term for shared learning, group discussions and professional development.
• In-person convenings to build relationships with other fellows, advisors and staff.
• Coaching and mentorship from expert advisors.

Compensation + Work Expectations

Fellows will receive a salary as a full-time paid employee of the hosting organization in which they are placed. Fellows should anticipate working some evenings and weekends to participate in community meetings and programs as needed.