USA Scholarships
NYCT Graduate Philanthropy Fellowship 2027 - Arts
The New York Community Trust Graduate Student Philanthropy Fellowships give you a paid year inside one of America's largest community foundations. Program Fellow roles pair you with grantmaking staff on initiatives spanning health care, community development, the environment, and the arts, including historic preservation and cultural equity work in New York City neighborhoods. You review grant reports, join site visits, summarize convenings, and draft recommendations while staying enrolled full time in graduate school. Fellows earn $25 an hour, work up to 35 hours a week from June through August and 15 to 20 hours a week during the academic year, and split time between The Trust's New York office and approved remote options. The Trust posts fellowship openings each January on Paylocity; you may apply for only one track (Program, Marketing and Communications, or Lorie A. Slutsky Philanthropy Fellow) per cycle.
What is the NYCT Graduate Philanthropy Program Fellowship?
The New York Community Trust pools donor resources to fund nonprofits across New York City and beyond. Each spring the foundation hires a small cohort of graduate students as paid philanthropy fellows so they can learn grantmaking from the inside. Searchers still look for the older NYCT Paid Graduate Student Philanthropy Fellowships Arts listing; that work now lives inside Program Fellow jobs where you might spend part of your year on arts, culture, and preservation grants.
You stay in school full time while earning $25 an hour. Summer looks like a serious internship at 35 hours a week. Once classes resume, hours drop so you can keep up with seminars and still attend site visits. If you want a nonprofit career after your degree, the fellowship beats reading about foundations from a textbook.
Watch thenytrust.org/fellowships/ every January, pick Program Fellow if grantmaking excites you more than communications or legal research, and submit once on Paylocity before the late-February cutoff. Compare other structured training paths like the Do Good Accelerator Fellowship or the ICJS Short-Term Fellowship if you want a shorter or remote cohort instead of a full New York year.
Eligibility
-
✓Full-time graduate enrollmentYou must remain a full-time graduate student for the entire fellowship year, typically in MA, MS, MPH, MPA, MPP, MSW, MEd, JD, or a closely related professional program. Your field should connect to the fellowship track you choose.
-
✓Authorization to work in the United StatesApplicants need existing authorization to work in the United States without visa sponsorship. The Trust does not sponsor employment visas for fellowship hires.
-
✓Commitment to the full fellowship periodFellowships run from June 2027 through May 2028 for the upcoming cohort pattern. You must commit to the entire period, including summer full-time hours and part-time school-year scheduling.
-
✓One application per cycleYou may apply for only one fellowship type each year: Program Fellow, Marketing and Communications Fellow, or Lorie A. Slutsky Philanthropy Fellow. The hiring team may share your file across tracks if another role is a better fit.
-
✓Graduate study aligned with the roleProgram Fellow placements expect coursework or professional interest in nonprofit management, public policy, arts administration, urban planning, public health, or related fields tied to community foundation grantmaking.
-
✓Learning experience, not a permanent hireFellowships are temporary learning roles designed to complement graduate study. They are not guaranteed entry-level staff positions at The Trust after May 2028.
Benefits
- Hourly wage $25 per hour
- Summer schedule Up to 35 hours/week (Jun–Aug)
- Academic year schedule 15–20 hours/week (Sep–May)
- Grantmaking exposure Arts, health, environment, equity
- Site visits and convenings Included in role
- Remote work options Eligible per Trust policy
- Tuition remission Not provided
- Housing stipend Not provided
Document checklist
-
✓Paylocity online applicationSubmit through The Trust HRIS platform when the January 2027 job posts go live. Each fellowship track has its own listing linked from thenytrust.org/fellowships/.
-
✓Resume or curriculum vitaeUpload a current CV highlighting graduate coursework, nonprofit or arts experience, research, and any prior grantwriting or community work.
-
✓Cover letterExplain why Program Fellow work at a community foundation fits your graduate training, especially if you care about arts, culture, or neighborhood preservation funding.
-
✓Writing sample (500–1,500 words)Provide analytic or narrative writing that shows clarity and attention to detail. Policy memos, research papers, or grant reports work well if they are your own work.
-
✓References if requestedPaylocity may ask for professional or academic references during later interview stages. Line up faculty or nonprofit supervisors who know your writing.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
What is the NYCT Graduate Philanthropy Fellowship for arts students?
CareerOneStop and older Trust materials describe a paid graduate fellowship focused on arts and historic preservation grantmaking. Today The Trust groups that work under Program Fellow roles, where fellows support program officers on arts, culture, environment, health, and equity portfolios while earning $25 an hour.
How much does the New York Community Trust fellowship pay?
Fellows earn $25 per hour. Summer work runs up to 35 hours a week, and the academic year schedule is typically 15 to 20 hours a week so you can stay enrolled full time in graduate school.
Who is eligible for the NYCT graduate philanthropy fellowship?
Full-time graduate students with authorization to work in the United States who can commit from June through May and whose degree field relates to the fellowship track. You may apply for only one fellowship type per cycle.
When is the NYCT fellowship application deadline?
The Trust posts applications in January and sets a February or March deadline on Paylocity. The 2026 Program Fellow deadline was February 25 at 11:59 p.m.; watch thenytrust.org/fellowships/ for the 2027 date.
Do NYCT fellows work on arts grants specifically?
Program Fellows rotate through grantmaking teams that include arts and culture funding, along with health, environment, and community development portfolios. Your assignments depend on division needs and your background.
Is the fellowship based in New York City?
Yes. Positions are based at The Trust New York office, with eligibility for the organization remote work options. Expect in-person site visits and meetings across the metro area.
Can international students apply?
You must already have authorization to work in the United States without visa sponsorship. The fellowship posting states that The Trust will not sponsor visas for these roles.
Does the fellowship lead to a full-time job at The Trust?
No. Fellowships are temporary learning experiences meant to complement graduate study, not guaranteed staff positions, though alumni often move into foundation or nonprofit roles elsewhere.
Scholarship Union
More in-depth scholarship guides curated by experts.
Related guides
Always verify scholarship details on the official source before applying. Information on this page may change.
Visit official website