Call for BILL EMERSON NATIONAL HUNGER FELLOWSHIP 2026-27 is open now !!!
The Emerson Fellowship is a program of the Congressional Hunger Center, a bipartisan nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., whose mission is to develop, inspire, and connect leaders in the movement to end hunger, and to advocate for public policies that create a food-secure world.
Since 1993 Emerson Fellows have worked in communities large and small, urban, suburban, and rural, in 48 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia, with the shared goal of ending hunger and poverty in the United States. Nearly 600 Emerson fellows have completed the program, gaining extensive experience in effective solutions to hunger while expanding the capacity of nearly 300 local, regional, and national organizations. We partner with a range of organizations that focus on addressing the root causes of hunger and poverty. At the heart of the fellowship is the cohort experience, with each successive class of fellows forming a powerful, supportive network as they develop leadership and professional skills.
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The Emerson Fellowship develops effective leaders in the movement to end hunger and poverty in the U.S. During their year in the program fellows develop their leadership
skills and gain hands-on experience through placements with host organizations at the local, state, regional, and national levels.
During the 11-month fellowship, Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellows develop a deep understanding of effective solutions to hunger and poverty, and their own roles in achieving Zero Hunger in the United States. Following orientation and field training in Washington, D.C., Emerson Fellows spend five months with community-based organizations throughout the United States. In mid-February fellows return to Washington for a second placement with organizations and government agencies focused on national anti-hunger and anti-poverty policy. Throughout the fellowship, fellows hone essential skills and form a strong professional cohort through in-person trainings, retreats, and professional development sessions.
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Fellows’ placements expose them to a variety of approaches to ending hunger at both the local, state, and federal level. Fellows’ work can include research, evaluation, organizing, advocacy, outreach, and public education. From October to March, Emerson Fellows are placed at community-based organizations around the country who use a variety of approaches to combatting hunger and poverty on the local, state, and regional level. From advocacy and outreach to research and analysis, projects started by fellows continue to have an impact years after the they have completed their fellowship year.
The Emerson Program creates an environment that fosters open dialogue and encourages fellows to learn from the diverse collection of experiences within their class. After the fellowship ends each cohort joins the network of Emerson alums, now nearly 600 strong, by sharing resources and engaging with current and past fellows as trainers, speakers, supervisors, and mentors.
Location:
United StatesBenefits
- The Hunger Center establishes its financial packages for fellows based on their location, taking into consideration the cost of living at both the field and policy placements. One resource they consider when setting financial packages is the MIT Living Wage Calculator. Emerson Fellows typically receive financial packages of no less than $50,000 over the duration of the fellowship.
- Emerson alums pursuing masters’ degrees in public health or public policy at select institutions of higher learning are eligible for significant discounts on tuition. As of 2023 the Hunger Center maintains partnerships with Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College and the University of Virginia’s Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy.
- Membership in a dynamic learning community of fellows;
- Connection to an extensive network of alums, partners, and experts;
- Experience working with community and policy leaders;
- Training, mentoring, and leadership development; and
- Project management experience
- Emerson Fellows serve as independent consultants and not as employees of the Hunger Center or their host organizations. This means that fellows are expected to secure and finance their own health insurance, and to save for and pay their own taxes.
Eligibilities
- U.S. citizenship or permanent legal residency (required)
- Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent experience
- Lived experience with hunger and poverty
- Experience working in low-income communities
- Demonstrated leadership qualities and skill
Application Process
Candidates can apply for the fellowship from the apply now link
Application Deadline: January 30, 2026 (28 Days Remaining)
Apply nowOfficial link
