The Charles Ellwood Graduate Fellowship

The Charles Ellwood Graduate Fellowship program, named for one of Empower Missouri’s founders and earliest Presidents, will offer 1-2 recent graduates a fully immersive, year-long, paid fellowship to gain valuable experience in policy research, community education and organizing, and advocacy communications. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Research & Policy Support

• Conduct research on nonprofit organizations, legislative issues, and public policy topics.
• Research and draft proposals for speaking opportunities in Missouri and nationwide.
• Help prepare staff for speaking engagements, drafting background memos and materials
• Support legislative advocacy by conducting background research on legislators and policy issues.
• Fellows will have the opportunity to assist with one of more coalitions or working groups on topics such as the Missouri Housing Trust Fund, school meals expansion, or DOC oversight.

Advocacy & Event Coordination

• Support logistics for Empower Missouri events, including the Day of Action & Anti-Poverty Summit
• Help plan and promote the college student portion of Day of Action.
• Assist Policy Managers in organizing town halls across Missouri.
• Contribute to tenant organizing efforts in Columbia and/or Southeast Missouri.
• Help organize statewide coalition meetings.

Communications & Analysis

• Assist in developing content for Empower Missouri’s 125th Anniversary Campaign
• Analyze training survey responses, summarizing trends and recommendations for improvement.
• Identify and support updates to Empower Missouri’s website to enhance user experience 
• Support advocacy communications (e.g., calls-to-action) initiatives
• Maintain and update EveryAction coalition lists, including engagement tiers.

CALIFICACIONES

• Recent (within the last 12 months) graduate of an undergraduate or masters’ program in public policy, communications, social work, nonprofit management, or a related field.
• Strong writing, research, and organizational skills.
• Interest in social justice, poverty reduction, and community advocacy.
• Comfortable managing multiple priorities and working independently in a remote environment.
• Experience with data analysis, community engagement, or digital advocacy tools (e.g., EveryAction, Canva, or social media platforms) is a plus.
• Missouri resident

WHAT YOU’LL GAIN

• Mentorship and training from experienced policy and advocacy professionals.
• Real-world experience in legislative advocacy, communications strategy, and coalition organizing.
• Networking opportunities with nonprofit leaders, advocates, and community partners statewide.
• A deeper understanding of Missouri’s policy landscape and how advocacy drives systemic change.
• This is a salaried position, paying $45,000/year. Fellows will also receive comprehensive health insurance, including vision and dental, plus 12 days of paid vacation, 12 sick days, and 12 paid holidays.

APPLICATION PROCESS

• By March 14, 2026, submit a resume, cover letter, and a list of three references to [email protected]. AI generated materials will be screened out and candidates submitting these materials will be disqualified. 
• Candidates will be interviewed on a rolling basis from March-April, with a target date for offers on April 11, 2026.
• Fellowship will run from June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027.