DRF is seeking neighborhood and community-based organizations — such as community development organizations (CDOs), faith-based community organizations, neighborhood CDCs, etc. — to host a DRF C&RL Fellow for 12 months beginning in the Fall of 2026.
Participating Host Employers will receive a DRF-sponsored salary subsidy to support the Fellow's salary and full benefits, along with access to capacity-building training, tools and resources that strengthen organizational resilience and succession.
Two hosting pathways are available:
Retain an Existing Community & Resident Leader (Fellow -in- Place) — For organizations that want to elevate a currently employed Community & Resident Leader. This pathway focuses on placing an existing employee who meets Fellowship requirements into the 12-month C&RL Pipeline - providing dedicated leadership development, expanded professional growth opportunities, and a systems-level role that builds organizational capacity from within.
Attract a New Community & Resident Leader (Standard Fellow) — For organizations that want to expand their team by proposing a systems-level role to be filled by a qualified Community & Resident leader hired through the DRF C&RL Pipeline selection process. This pathway connects organizations with Community & Resident Leader talent that will bring increased capacity-building opportunities to their organization and its neighborhood and/or community.
As a DRF C&RL Host Employer, you will have a dedicated Community & Resident Leader Fellow working at the systems level to strengthen your organization's self-sufficiency and capacity for developing organizational strategies that advance your neighborhood/community-based mission. Host Employers will also have access to ecosystem trainings, resources, and opportunities to collaborate with fellow DRF C&RL Host Employer organizations.
