Rising Organizers Fellowship

Rising Organizers’ Community Organizing fellowship is a nine session intensive program for individuals based in the Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia area. This engaging, free program helps new and emerging organizers develop core organizing skills, provides these organizers with intensive 1-1 coaching with experienced organizers, and deepens participants’ engagement with organizing and civil society.

Rising Organizers is proud to have held 12 fellowship classes and matriculated 221 fellows who have gone on to organize in the DC metro area and around the country. They have become leaders in labor unions, civic associations, advocacy groups, and more.

Applications to our Spring 2024 fellowship are now closed. Applications for our Fall class will be available in August. We encourage you to sign up to our email list to hear more about free organizing trainings and future fellowship opportunities.

About the Fellowship program

Rising Organizers’ free fellowship program brings together 20-25 rising organizers from the DC/MD/VA area for a 9-session program. The fellowship is designed to help folks new to organizing and activism develop the skills and strategies that will allow them to build their own skills and contribute to organizing campaigns. The program is held approximately every other week for three months on Saturdays from 10:30-1:30.

Rising Organizers is more than just a training school—it's a community of like-minded progressives who have built deep relationships with each other to face the challenges ahead. If you want to expand your advocacy skills, join a welcoming community that shares your values, bolster your career, or become a leader on the issues you care about, our fellowship might be the right opportunity for you. Our 200+ alumni have gone on to become local organizers here in DC, organizers on issue campaigns around the country, and volunteer leaders on a wide range of issues.

This fellowship is open to all and is particularly intended for those who have little to no organizing experience. If you do have organizing experience, please apply and note your experience in your application. It is expected that fellows will prioritize attendance at every session.

Rising Organizers does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, or status with regard to public assistance. People of color, members of the LGBT community, people with disabilities, and members of other underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply.