Voices Activated Fellowship

A Members-Only Fellowship for Advocacy Practitioners

The Coalition’s Voices Activated Fellowship brings together a diverse cohort of practitioners, including nonprofit leaders, small business owners, housing developers, and community development professionals, for a 10-month, cohort-based experience. Built from insights gathered through our Community Voices Academy, the program equips participants with the knowledge, tools, and support needed to design, implement, and sustain advocacy strategies that advance their organization’s mission.

For practitioners who are:

Working to strengthen or formalize advocacy within their organization
Looking to deepen their understanding of housing, economic development, and workforce policy
Seeking practical tools to influence policy and measure impact

Fellows engage in a rigorous, experiential curriculum while building real-world strategies they can apply directly to their work in Washington, DC’s policy landscape.

Cohort I Applications: OPEN

We are now accepting applications for the inaugural cohort of the fellowship through May 13th at 5pm. Fellowships are only open to practitioners working at a Coalition member organization. Residents looking to improve their advocacy skills should look into our Resident Engagement Network.

Apply Now Become a Coalition Member

What Fellows Gain

Advanced Advocacy Skills

Craft compelling, audience-specific messaging for policymakers, funders, and communities.

Internal Capacity Building

Learn how to embed advocacy into your organization’s structure and strategy.

Impact Measurement Tools

Build frameworks to track and evaluate advocacy outcomes.

Mission Protection Strategies

Understand how to scale advocacy while maintaining legal and organizational integrity.

Personalized Coaching and Support

Receive one-on-one guidance from Coalition staff and partnering experts.

Lasting Relationships

Join a peer network of like-minded allies, experts, and partners.

Program Structure

Duration
June 2026 through March 2027 (10 months)

Monthly Commitment
One in-person session
One virtual session

Time Commitment
Approximately 2 to 3 hours per week

Capstone Project
Each Fellow will develop and present a project addressing a real policy or advocacy challenge within their organization. Fellows will also participate in small advisory groups for peer feedback and support throughout the program.