The Social Innovation Fellowship is a three-year, developmental program, led by an award-winning local organization, that provides intensive skills training, hands-on experience in innovation alongside community partners, and a broad network of social innovators offering mentorship.  Fellows are provided with a stipend of $1,000 per semester for each semester of participation (with possibility of a summer extension). They have access to a Swearer Faculty Fellow for advising, training, connections to other faculty, and co-learning. In Spring 2019, the faculty fellow is Lisa DiCarlo from Sociology.

The Fellowship places the community at the center of all engagement through the Swearer Center’s partner, Social Enterprise Greenhouse (SEG). SEG staff provide Fellows with training while partners in the SEG network offer students coaching and hands-on social innovation experience through community organizations that are developing social ventures. Fellows benefit from Inclusion in the Swearer Center ecosystem of faculty, advisors, and students who are engaging with communities.

In year one, Fellows participate in regular workshops led by SEG and they partner with an existing community organization. In year two, Fellows participate in the SEG Community CoGenerator Lab (provisional name). In year three, Fellows have the option to (1) continue participating in the Community CoGenerator, (2) complete a substantial project with an SEG-supported social venture, or (3) develop and launch a venture, writing a sustainability plan, and securing funding as needed. Fellows participate in the Swearer Center Community Corps cohort, attending trainings and community engagement opportunities.

Applications for the Social Innovation Fellowship are available on UFunds and must be submitted by April 1, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. ET.