2021 Fellowship Application Process Review
About Voqal • Unapologetically progressive • Focuses on social equity • Promotes democratic values and practices
About the Fellowship • Started in 2013 • Intentional to fund early-stage and progressive ideas • Focus on personal and professional development
Perks • $30,000 for six-months • Two Events: – Kick-off Convening: January, Virtual – Netroots Nation: July/August, TBD • 1:1 coaching and Monthly group calls • Exclusive resources • Unique storytelling curriculum
Important Dates • Applications Open: September 8 • Applications Close: September 25 • First Review: October • 1 st Interviews (invite only): Early November • Second Review: Late November • 2 nd Interviews (invite only): Early December • Final Selection: Mid-December
Be Bold • Does not have to meet all the following criteria • Seek bold ideas more than who has the most check boxes
Criteria: Idea stage • Has not been tried or tested • Have not incorporated or otherwise created an organization • Have outside support, including paid staff and volunteers, but it is minimal and barebones
Criteria: Organizing at the Center • Work with communities to address issue and offer a solution • Gathers folks together to act • Incorporates community feedback and perspectives • Does not solely center on information dissemination or raising awareness
Criteria: Media or Technology Integration • Uses a media or technology platform to organize a community to influence social change • Involves use of television, radio, music, movies, music, magazines, comics, websites, apps, social media, gaming, and/or news • Does not use media or technology to provide a service
Criteria: Unabashedly Progressive • Focuses on equity, not equality • Centers on specific, disadvantaged groups • Embraces social justice in one of the following areas: – Representative Government: every vote counted, every voice heard, representatives reflect the people – Fundamental Rights: equal treatment, basic freedoms – Media Democracy: info systems that focuses on conduct of government (mass media reform, alternative media) – Fair Laws and Courts: fair and transparent in the way laws are written, interpreted, and enforced – Participatory Engagement: citizens participate in the political process
Criteria: Disrupt the Status Quo • Does not reinforce what is, but imagines what could be • Dismantles the inequitable systems, does not offer band-aid solutions • Builds political power for disadvantaged communities
Criteria: Innovative • Creates something new, or use of an existing product/platform in a more innovative manner than its current intention • If similar, market is not saturated or differentiating factor is substantial
Criteria: Representative • Lived experience matters, understand issue from an intimate perspective • Demonstrates how work with and for a community, not around it • Intention to fund LGBTQIA folks, women, indigenous people, and people of color
Fellow Spotlight: Cat • Developed WorkIt to support people in low-wage jobs • Integrates technology (assisted AI, apps), peer networks, legislative information, and company policy • Workers can connect with others to share experiences, access information, and collectively advocate for workplace security
Fellow Spotlight: Andrea • Developed City Bureau to support Chicago’s South and West sides • Allows for residents to identify and compile data for civic investigations • Trains Chicagoans to report on official meetings and news literacy
Fellow Spotlight: Erick • Developed #GameTheSystem to gamify grassroots organizing • Incorporates app technology with texting, email, and social media • Energizes communities to bring fun to laborious, intense work
Fellow Spotlight: Richard • Started Equity & Transformation (EAT) to organize an often tossed aside population, those working in the informal economy • Combines online and on-the-ground organizing techniques to enact policy-level changes and protections • Advances social change at the city and state level to increase equity for the community
Review Process • Voqal staff and Fellowship alum will read all applications and rate them against the outlined criteria • Voqal staff will narrow the field to 20-30 applicants for a first- round interview • The field will then be narrowed down to 12 applicants for a second interview that includes a pitch presentation – Applicants invited to this stage will receive more information about the pitch process at the time of invitation • From those 12, Voqal staff will choose the 8 Fellows for the 2021 cohort
Rejected Applications • Does not mean we don’t see value • All applicants will receive resources for building a social enterprise • Voqal staff can provide general feedback for why groups of applications did not move on
Application Questions • Overview: You will be asked to provide basic information – Your pronouns – Project name – Project description (elevator pitch) – How did you hear about us? – Choose a program area – Verify eligibility – to understand how you will balance current commitments with the fellowship
Application Questions, Cont. • The Pitch: You will be asked to dive into the details – Describe the issue – Describe the intended impact – Provide a plan of action – Provide a timeline – Outline any potential competition – Describe what you want to takeaway – Provide a budget (template provided) – see next slide – Describe other funding opportunities • Will have space to attach documents or provide information not asked in the previous set of questions
Application Questions, Cont. • Looking to see how you are thinking about structure, not evaluating the budget breakdown • The Budget – Allowed Expenses – Living expenses – Legal fees – Potential taxes – Operation expenses – Contractors/Paid staff – Demo or other testing 22
Application Questions, Cont. • About You: We want to learn about you and your background – Describe your lived experience and how it prepared you for this moment – Upload a resume, CV, or other documentation outlining your formal or informal work experience – Provide social media or other online profiles/websites – Describe your motivation for social entrepreneurship – Describe how you reject the status quo – Describe your preparedness to go on an emotional and technical journey • You will also be asked to provide basic demographic information so we may better understand the applicant pool overall
Online System • Access the online portal here: bit.ly/VoqalFellowship • Need to create a basic profile, including a username and password – If you have applied in the past, please use the same credentials • Once logged-in, click “Apply”
Online System, Cont. • Then, complete the form • When ready, save or submit
Things to Know • If you have applied in the past and did not receive a Fellowship, you can apply again – Previous Fellows have submitted in multiple years before being chosen • Can only submit one project each cycle • Can edit your application as much as possible until submission deadline • Only submitted, complete applications, will be considered
Important Dates Review • Applications Open: September 8 • Applications Close: September 25 • First Review: October • 1 st Interviews (invite only): Early November • Second Review: Late November • 2 nd Interviews (invite only): Early December • Final Selection: Mid-December
Remember • Embrace Boldness This is about the Story of Self • Realize New Truths This is about the Story of Venture • Chart the Path Forward This is about the Story of Future
Questions?
Contact Mary Coleman Program Manager, Grants and Fellowship Brenda Williams Sears Director, Grantmaking and Fellowship voqalfellowship@gmail.com
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