Last updated January 17, 2024
Whether you are pursuing a degree in Democracy Studies or addressing systems of government in your work or research, one of the fellowships below might be the next step in your career. These opportunities are for students and professionals whose work focuses on issues of democracy and justice.
If one of these fellowships speaks to you, be sure to bookmark it to your ProFellow account!
Charles and Kathleen Manatt Democracy Studies Fellowship Program
The Manatt Fellowship Program brings outstanding graduate students to the Washington, DC area each year to support fellows’ independent research in democracy development, election administration, legal frameworks and civic participation in the political process. Fellows carry out self-directed research under the mentorship of IFES staff during a fellowship term of 6-10 weeks. A stipend of $5K is included and fellows must complete a paper for public or IFES internal presentation. Ideal candidates are law students or Master’s and PhD students in international relations or political science. Open to students at universities in select states in the Midwest U.S.
FairVote’s Democracy Fellowship Program
Each year we seek applicants for full-time, salaried Democracy Fellow positions in Washington, DC for 11 months from September through July of the following year. FairVote’s Democracy Fellowship Program provides an opportunity for those with an interest in election reform to work on substantive projects while building valuable skills and networking with others in the field. Fellows will be assigned projects to manage from beginning to end, and will also assist with supervision of FairVote interns. The positions are paid ($32K annually), with health benefits and a stipend for commuting expenses.
Information Controls Fellowship Program (ICFP)
The Information Controls Fellowship Program (ICFP) supports examination into how governments in countries or areas of Open Technology Fund’s core focus are restricting the free flow of information, cutting access to the open internet, and implementing censorship mechanisms, thereby threatening the ability of global citizens to exercise basic human rights and democracy; work focused on mitigation of such threats is also supported. Fellowships are available in 3, 6, 9 and 12-month durations and are typically awarded to postdoctoral scholars, PhD students and other experienced researchers. Applicants from around the world are invited to apply.
Jean Monnet Fellowship
The Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies in Florence, Italy offers fellowships to scholars who have obtained their doctorate at least 5 years before the start of the fellowship. During their stay at the RSCAS, fellows work on a research topic that fits well in the overall research profile of the RSCAS (Integration, Governance and Democracy; Regulating Markets and Governing Money; and 21st Century World Politics and Europe) and participate in the academic life of the Centre and of the EUI. Jean Monnet Fellowships have a duration of 1 year, renewable once.
Practicing Democracy Project Fellowship
The Practicing Democracy Project Fellowship is for graduate students interested in exploring how American democracy can be strengthened through spiritual practices. Fellows will work with The Center for Spirituality & Practice and the Fetzer Institute, collaborators on the Project. Areas of concentration could be testing spiritual practices; curating relevant resources via the website Practicing Democracy.net; networking to identify needs of various constituencies; creating program plans; and developing a publicity/promotion and social media campaign. Fellows will receive a stipend of $15,000 ($25/hr) for a mutually agreed-upon work schedule.
Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program
The Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program is an international exchange program that offers practitioners, scholars, and journalists from around the world the opportunity to spend five months at the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) in Washington DC. The fellowship is intended primarily for individuals from developing and aspiring democracies. Distinguished scholars from the U.S. and other established democracies are eligible to apply. Practitioners and journalists should have substantial work experience, while scholars are expected to have a Ph.D. or equivalent. Fellowships include a monthly payment, health insurance and airfare.
Reynolds Journalism Institute (RJI) Fellowships
The Reynolds Journalism Institute at the University of Missouri invites proposals from people and institutions to collaborate on innovative ideas and projects that strengthen democracy through better journalism. Residential fellows spend 8 months on campus taking advantage of the intellectual and technological resources of RJI and receive a $10,000/month stipend and $10,000 relocation/housing allowance. Nonresidential fellowships ($20,000 total/8 months) are designed for individuals with an interest in journalism and issues related to digital communications. Institutional fellowships help managers/teams develop ideas ($20,000 total/8 months).
William and Kathy Hybl Democracy Studies Fellowship Program
The Hybl Fellowship Program brings outstanding graduate students to the Washington, DC area each year to support fellows’ independent research in democracy development, election administration, legal frameworks and civic participation in the political process. Fellows carry out self-directed research under the mentorship of IFES staff during a fellowship term of 6-10 weeks. A stipend of $5K is included and fellows must complete a paper for public or IFES internal presentation. Ideal candidates are law students or Master’s and PhD students in international relations or political science. Open to students at universities in select states in the Western U.S.
© Victoria Johnson 2018, all rights reserved.