APPALACHIAN TRANSITION FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

2015 Community Foundation Informational Presentation

Technology Overview

Meeting chat – ask questions or make comments

Address to host (Rural Support Partners) or to everyone

Webinar is being recorded

AppFellows’ Vision

The Appalachian Transition Fellowship (AppFellows)

seeks to increase the connectivity, collaboration, and capacity of Central

Appalachian institutions and leaders by building a collective analysis and seeding

projects that solve regional systemic problems and foster a just and sustainable

Appalachian economy

Presentation Overview

Resource and Management Team Introductions

AppFellows Background & Overview

Host Definition, Roles, Responsibilities, & Selection Criteria

Application Process

Community Foundation Roles & Benefits

AppFellows Match Funding Ideas

Resource & Management Team Introductions

Management Team

Highlander Research and Education Center

Resource Team

Mary Hunt Benedum FoundationSandra Mikush Babcock FoundationRobin Gabbard Foundation for Appalachian KYMichelle Decker Rural ActionStephanie Tyree WVA HubFarhad Ebrahimi Tusculum CollegeSteve Fisher Emory CollegeJacki Author Three Rivers MarketMarlo Long BB&TMargaret Feieraband Bristol City Council

AppFellows Background & Overview

Background: Appalachian Transition

Background

AppFellowsInterest

in regional collabora

tion Individuals &

organizations

interested in

emerging leaders

committed to

Appalachia

Multiple funders interested in a

regional fellowsh

ip

AppFellows Research Background

Research across Appalachia Over 100 participants

Focus groups: KY, OH, WV, VA, TN, NC 33 survey responses Face-to-face conversations

Best Practices Research Organizations include: The Casey

Foundation Children and Family Fellowship, The Center for Progressive Leadership, The CORO Fellows Program in Public Affairs

Research Findings

According to research participants an ideal regional fellowship would:

Provide cross-sector placements Increase connectivity and capacity

Support multi-generational leadership

Invest in regional partnerships and organizational development

AppFellows Overview

Opportunity for work and learning Targeted to 15 emerging leaders Placement within host communities

for 1 year Fellows and hosts connected

through monthly & quarterly training events

Involves research or implementation of a specific, practical project that helps the host organization and/or the region

Fellowship Projects

Fellows will be engaged in two projects:Cross-Sector Placement Project- Host

Communities will identify a project and define activities to achieve project goals

Individual Projects - Fellows will identify an extension of their cross-sector placement project where they will develop, identify goals & potential impact, and fundraise for this project

Host Community Projects

2014-15 AppFellows projects include: Policy advocacy and research supporting

communities’ reclamation of Abandoned Mine Lands and funds for sustainable new projects

Local and regional food system development to expand access and improve health and sustainability

Initiatives to expand job growth and economic vitality through worker-owned cooperatives

Education, outreach, and implementation of exciting new energy efficiency projects in rural and urban Appalachia

Documentation, story-gathering, and community outreach capturing Appalachian narratives of growth, resilience, and innovation

Fellow Project Ideas

A fellows’ individual project could include, for example:

Policy research that inhibit or strengthen “green job” growth in West Virginia

Filming, directing, & producing visual media that showcases the work within their host community

In-depth interviews for best practices research within a particular sector

Developing a media toolkit that will help launch a crowdsourcing project

Host Community Definition, Benefits, Roles & Responsibilities, Selection Criteria

Host Community

Two or three institutions from a Central Appalachian sub-region or a network of three or more institutions

Institutions represent at least two of the five following sectors: non-profit, business, government, education, and philanthropy.

Can rotate a fellow from one organization to another for a designated time or have a fellow work with multiple organizations consistently throughout the year

Host Community Benefits

An immediate capacity boost

Skill building tools

Staff & organizational development

Strengthened regional collaboration & connectivity

Peer learning opportunities around emerging initiatives happening within the region

Host Community Roles & Responsibilities

Work collaboratively with the management team to create a preliminary work plan, vision for fellows

Draft a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to the fellowship outlining their roles and responsibilities to other hosts, their fellow, and the fellowship

Agree to attend quarterly gatherings

Allow fellows to meet their obligations to the fellowship

Secure at least half of the fellow's salary of $24,000

Host Community Criteria

Partnership between cross-sectoral network or 2-3 institutions

Projects rooted within the Appalachian Economic Transition Framework that support entrepreneurial opportunities within the promising sectors of renewable energy/energy efficiency, local food systems, health, and other sectors that support an economy based on human and natural assets of the region

Enthusiasm for supporting and encouraging the skills of emerging leaders

Commitment to developing sustainable and just economic development programs within Central Appalachia

Host Community Criteria (continued)

Works well with others on collective visions and goals

Maintains equitable and inclusive work environment

Understands their community and the issues they are committed to impacting

Can support at least half of the fellow's salary of $24,000 or ability to secure funding from an outside source

Application Process

Host Community Application & Selection Process

Prospective Host Communities will submit an interest application, via www.AppFellows.org

Prospective hosts will outline their initial concept or project

Interest Application Priority Deadline: February 15, 2015

Management team will work with hosts to develop scope of work during extensive planning process for final application

Final Application Deadline: April 1, 2015

Fellow Application & Selection Process

Prospective Fellows will submit an application, via www.AppFellows.org

Application Deadline: April 10, 2015

Three components application process: 1) application and resume; 2) signed Declaration of Commitment and Responsibility; and 3) 3 letters of recommendation

Interviews between Fellows and Host Communities will occur May 11-13, 2015

Final selection by May 30, 2015

Community Foundation Roles & Benefits

Community Foundation Roles Community Foundations have strong

partnerships in their local communities and can support this fellowship by:

Identifying potential host organizations from their pool of grantees or in their community

Providing grantees match salary support to host a fellow

Connecting host communities and/or fellows to discretionary or technical assistance funds for projects

Hosting a fellow in their own organization

Community Foundation Benefits Participate in peer learning

Ground emerging leaders understanding of community foundations and philanthropic efforts to help build the next generation of community partners and philanthropists

Strengthen relationships with multiple sectors across the region

Community investment that will have regional impact

Ability to connect with public and private grant-makers to shape sustainable economic development in the region

Encourage collaboration among grantee partners

Cross-Sector Funding Ideas & Recommendations

Funding Sources

AppFellows will provide up to $12,000 match, travel, and educational & training support

We encourage community foundations to:Split fellow costsPartner with community, regional, and/or

national foundations Approach larger foundations with

discretionary funds

Moderated Questions & Answers

Thank you for

your time!

Host Interest Applications Due:

February 15, 2015www.AppFellows.org

AppFellows Coming To A Town Near You!!

AppFellows Management Team will host community outreach sessions to discuss

fellowship project ideas, partnerships, and questions. Look for announcements for the

following areas:

Feb. 2, 2015 / 5 pm : Charleston, WV

March 28, 2015 / 5 pm : Johnson City, TN

More TBA Soon!

Questions?

appfellows@highlandercenter.org

Contact Us!

Visit Us: www.appfellows.org

A recording of this webinar will be available on our website

General Information: 865-933-3443 x 229

Rural Support Partners 828-691-1365

Funding, Speaking Engagements and Program: 865-933-3443 x 244

Email: appfellows@highlandercenter.org

Special Thanks

Current Funding Partners: Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation

Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation

Ford Foundation

Rural Support Partners