Indigenous Communities Fellowships Summer 2025
A Cardinal Quarter opportunity co-sponsored by the Native American Cultural Center and the Haas Center for Public Service, the Indigenous Communities Fellowship is Stanford’s premier opportunity for students to pursue Indigenous service and community reinvestment within tribal/islander communities. This fellowship enables students to partner with a community-based nonprofit, government, or tribal organization of their choice to gain experience applying their academic pursuits and leadership skills towards the advancement of Indigenous sovereignty and worldviews. Preference is given to applicants whose host organizations are rooted in Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Communities.
Indigenous Communities Fellows spend the summer working full-time under the supervision of a mentor within their host organization. Each undergraduate fellow receives a base stipend of $7000 to support travel and living expenses during the fellowship. Financial aid and supplemental funding are available to undergraduates who qualify. Graduate students are eligible to apply and will automatically receive a stipend of $9000.
How to apply:
Applicants will propose their own placements within organizations that they have previously corresponded with, having confirmed that their intended partner organizations have the need, interest and capacity to provide a robust internship experience. Students will then fill out the application, providing a resume, unofficial transcript, summer budget, and thorough description of their 9-week internship experience. A representative of the host organization will also be required to complete the Community Partner Questionnaire by the application deadline.
The Haas Center and the Native American Cultural Center have many Resources for Fellowship Applicants, including our list of Cardinal Quarter Connections of host organizations seeking to work with Stanford undergraduate students, and our Meet the Undergraduate Fellows page with information on previous fellows' community partners and projects.
Interested students are encouraged to connect with ICF Peer Advisor, Larissa Scott (larissas@stanford.edu), for additional resources and 1-on-1 support. (See here for her drop-in advising hours). Students can also reach out to ICF Program Coordinator, Matthew Yellowtail (matthewy@stanford.edu), for additional 1-on-1 support.
Eligibility:
For complete eligibility requirements, please review our program policies in its entirety.
Undergraduate and graduate students from all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply, and applicants may vary in academic interests, public service involvement, and experience. Priority will be given to students who have completed fewer than two previous Cardinal Quarter opportunities. Graduating seniors may have lower priority. Applicants must be enrolled at Stanford for the winter and spring quarters of this academic year (2024-25) and be in good academic standing and not on suspension.
Students are welcome to propose placements with a variety of public interest organizations, keeping in mind funding will be restricted for certain types of political, research, Stanford-based, for-profit, and faith-based organizations. Please review the “Host Organization Eligibility” section of our program policies for more information.
Are you working on a “project” this summer? Would your “project” benefit from additional funding? A Cardinal Quarter “project” is defined as 1) student designed in consultation with a community partner, 2) student implemented, 3) provides a tangible deliverable to the community, and 4) is sustainable beyond the summer. Students working on projects may be awarded up to an additional $1000 for project-related expenses. Click here for more information about projects and here to see a list of project-related expenses that may be covered. Please check the relevant box on the fellowship application if you will be applying for project-based funding.
Program Requirements:
Selected fellows are expected to begin their fellowship following the completion of spring quarter classes and no later than July 7, 2025. All fellows are required to work with their community partners 35-40 hours/week for nine consecutive weeks. Fellows are expected to work on-site at their host organizations at least on a hybrid schedule. Some fully virtual experiences may be allowed on a case-by-case basis. Fellows must have a designated full-time professional staff member on-site as their supervisor/mentor. Please review the complete program policies for additional requirements. Other commitments include the following:
Spring Quarter
- Participate in a mandatory day-long retreat during week 2.
- Complete an online program orientation
- Complete the Engaging in Ethical and Effective Service in-person workshop or worksheet.
- Identify and meet with an on-campus mentor at least once.
- Design a personal learning plan and share the learning plan with the site supervisor and on-campus mentor.
- Complete all required pre-orientation forms.
Summer Quarter
- Attend a virtual check-in meeting with the ICF Program Coordinator during week 2 or 3 of your fellowship.
- Submit a brief preliminary report
- Submit a final report, complete a program evaluation, and correspond with fellowship donor(s) as requested by fellowships program staff.
Fall Quarter
- Meet with your on-campus mentor at least once.
- Present a summary of your summer experience/project at the Indigenous Communities Fellowship Showcase on Friday of Week 3 at the Native American Cultural Center.
- For project-based fellows, apply to present at the Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Public Service (SURPS).
- Participate in outreach activities to share the experience and help publicize the program.
Selection Process:
Students are strongly encouraged to discuss ideas for placements with program staff well before the application deadline to identify appropriate/relevant opportunities and prepare effective application materials. Developing a suitable fellowship placement takes time, so it is important to start the application process early and consult with professors, advisors, and community partners regularly.
This fellowship is intended for individuals whose application demonstrates:
- An integration of the fellowship experience with the applicant’s academic, personal and/or career goals
- Prior demonstrated interest or involvement with Indigenous communities, including related coursework
- Strong interpersonal and intercultural skills
- A commitment to continue serving Indigenous communities into the future
Complete applications are screened, finalists interviewed, and fellows selected by a committee with the intention to award fellowships within six weeks of the application deadline. Applicants should respond promptly (within 48 hours) via email to a fellowship offer, or the offer will be rescinded. Once an applicant accepts a fellowship offer, the student should promptly notify all other Stanford and non-Stanford programs to which they have applied that they have accepted another offer and to withdraw their candidacy.
The Native American Cultural Center and the Haas Center for Public Service partnered to launch the Indigenous Communities Fellowship as part of the Cardinal Quarter initiative. Funding has been generously provided by Native American Cultural Center and Haas Center donors as part of the Cardinal Quarter program.
For opportunities during the Fall, Winter, or Spring quarters, please see the Jane Stanford Fellowship. For international opportunities, please see the International Public Service Fellowship.
