Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellowship

The Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellowship is a year-long leadership development program that trains, inspires, and sustains a network of leaders who are committed to ending hunger and poverty in the United States.

For the first half of the fellowship cycle, Emerson Fellows combat hunger and poverty at the local, state, and regional level by working at community-based organizations located across the United States. During the second half of the fellowship cycle, they work with organizations, mostly located in Washington, D.C., that combat hunger and poverty at the national (federal) level.

Each year 14-19 applicants are selected from across the United States to participate in the program. During their time as Emerson Fellows, they explore the root causes of hunger and poverty, and learn how to amplify the voices of those with lived experience as well as to apply a racial equity lens to their work.

Throughout their fellowship journey, fellows develop a strong learning cohort for reflection, resource sharing, and skill building that supports their field and policy work as well as their leadership development.

Applications are encouraged from candidates reflecting diverse educational, racial, cultural, and professional backgrounds. We strongly encourage those with lived expertise with federal food and nutrition programs to apply.

Fellowship Selection Criteria:

• Commitment to ending hunger and poverty and their root causes
• Commitment to racial equity and social justice
• Demonstrated leadership qualities and skills
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• Flexibility and ability to adjust to new situations
• Creativity and initiative in problem solving
• Enthusiasm for learning from experts in the field, and searching for new models in anti-hunger and anti-poverty work
• Experience working in low-income communities
• Excitement about peer learning in a tight-knit community of fellows
• U.S. citizenship or permanent legal residency