2027-2029 Request for Proposals Released: Monday, October 5, 2026
Host Organization Letters of Interest Due: Tuesday, November 24, 2026
Number of Awards: 5–6

Submit Your Application and Letter of Interest

ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP

The Stoneleigh Emerging Leader Fellowship cultivates the next generation of leaders working to help youth thrive. This two-year, hands-on leadership opportunity for early-career professionals is designed to support the growth and development of the Fellow, advance the mission of the host organization, and improve outcomes for young people.

Each Fellowship award provides up to $200,000 over two years, which includes the Fellow’s salary and benefits, indirect costs, direct project expenses, and professional development stipends for both the Fellow and organizational supervisor.

2027–2029 FELLOWSHIP OVERVIEW

The Stoneleigh Foundation is seeking proposals for Philadelphia area-based initiatives that meet the developmental needs of young people and help youth thrive. In particular, the foundation is interested in approaches that engage youth as active participants in solving the challenges they face, or that help create the conditions young people need to flourish. The goal for these Fellowships is to strengthen the broader youth-serving ecosystem and to support Greater Philadelphia in becoming a model region for youth development.

Fellowships can advance work in one or more of Stoneleigh’s key focus areas: youth justice, child welfare, education, and health/behavioral health — though projects related to or outside these areas are also welcome if they meet the criteria outlined below.

Competitive proposals will:

• Address a well-defined, timely, and unmet or under-resourced need — as defined and/or demonstrated by the community served;
• Set realistic goals and outcomes that are achievable within two years;
• Demonstrate a clear approach to tracking, measuring, and achieving impact; and
• Establish a robust supervision plan to support the Fellow throughout the duration of the Fellowship.

2027–2029 FELLOWSHIP TYPE

The Stoneleigh Foundation believes youth-serving organizations and the communities they serve are the true experts in their fields. The 2027-2029 Fellowship cycle is designed to be responsive to the needs and priorities that our partners identify for themselves.

Applicants may choose between two Fellowship models:

2027-2029 HOST SITE CRITERIA

Host organizations should have:

• A dedicated, experienced supervisor. The supervisor should have subject-matter expertise, the ability to offer hands-on support for the full Fellowship duration, and the capacity to participate in individual and group check-ins with Stoneleigh and peer host sites. For this reason, Executive Directors are discouraged from serving as Fellowship supervisors.
• Demonstrated experience in the proposed issue area. If your organization requires additional, external capacity to support the proposed Fellow’s work, a letter of commitment will be requested with your full application.
• Adequate staffing support. If the Fellow’s work is new or expands upon existing efforts, other impacted staff should have the bandwidth to support it.
• Capacity to manage a professional development budget. The Fellowship provides dedicated funding for both the Fellow and supervisor. Host organizations should have experience administering such funds and a commitment to using them as intended.
• Workspace and equipment. The host organization is responsible for providing the Fellow with a dedicated workspace and any required devices (i.e., laptop, tablet, phone).
• A strong Fellowship candidate. Whether selected internally or hired externally, the candidate should have at least two years of relevant and demonstrated progressive leadership experience, and a strong potential for growth through Stoneleigh’s professional development and leadership programming.

PROCESS TIMELINE

LETTER OF INTEREST SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Letters of Interest must not exceed three pages (single-spaced, 12pt font, 1” margins) and include:

1. Organizational overview: Describe the organization’s mission, size, and relevant experience to the issue area.
2. Fellowship type: Indicate the Fellowship type (project-based or protected-time) as well as whether the proposed Fellow will be an internal or external candidate.
3. Statement of need: State the unmet or under-resourced need the proposal addresses, as defined and/or demonstrated by the community served.
4. Proposed focus: Describe the project or portfolio the Fellow will lead or advance, how it connects to Stoneleigh’s focus areas, and how it meets the Fellowship criteria.
5. Description of Fellowship candidate: Describe the characteristics, skills and experience required and/or desired from an internal or external candidate.
6. Anticipated outcomes: Explain what success looks like over the two-year fellowship period.
7. Host site readiness: Explain how your organization meets the host site criteria.

Submission format: PDF

Submission Deadline: Tuesday, November 24, 2026, by 5:00 PM EST. [Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered.]

Scoring Rubric: Letters of Interest are reviewed by an internal committee of Stoneleigh Foundation staff, with particular attention to how well the proposal addresses a current issue impacting young people, how well the organization demonstrates its capacity to implement the proposed project, and the feasibility of project completion over a two-year timeframe. See the full scoring rubric here.

LOI-related questions only: Contact Lee F. Carson at lcarson@stoneleighfoundation.org or attend one of the upcoming, live information sessions:

• October 13 Information Session >>
• October 27 Information Session >>

Submit Your Application and Letter of Interest