Criteria for Applicants

Consistent with the Foundation’s mission and history of grantmaking, and mindful that this Fellowship should be accessible to individuals from communities that do not usually have access to this kind of support, the following are criteria for applying:

  • Activists and other individuals working for social change to improve lives and empower under-represented communities

  • Applicants will be considered from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds who may have specialized skills, knowledge, experience along with a commitment to social change

  • Entry-level or seasoned activists who are accountable to their community

  • People with deep roots in the Hudson Valley, including Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess, Ulster, Sullivan, Columbia and Greene counties.

Structure

The Fellowship support spans 5 years.  For the first three years, the Fellowship award is $25,000 per year, then $10,000 for the fourth year and $5,000 for the final fifth year (five years of support totaling $90,000*). Award recipients will be selected in late spring.

Requirements

Elias Fellows will be responsible for the following:

  • Attendance at all Elias Fellows cohort retreats and meetings, in-person or virtual (minimum 2 per year).

  • Participation in the knowledge exchange among Fellows

  • Self-defined self-care (in order to do movement work for the long haul)

  • Reporting

    • Year 1: 6-month in person meeting and cohort presentation

    • Year 1: 12-month annual report

    • Years 2-5: one-on-one in-person check-in

    • Years 2-5: Annual report

*The support paid to individuals as part of the Elias Activist Fellowship Program – not including “qualified scholarship grants” (as defined in Section 117(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code) – generally is included in grantee’s gross income. Recipients should seek the advice of their tax advisors/preparers regarding the taxability of their income.  The fellowship grants are classified as “non-qualified” scholarship or fellowship grants. The IRS recommends notifying grantees that the amounts are taxable income. Elias does not provide any tax forms and does not provide tax or other financial guidance to individuals.