If you're a recent PhD in the humanities looking to change directions out of academia or take a break and do some useful work, there's good news. Another round of two-year fellowships has opened up that aims to take those with degrees in sociology, literature, political science, geography, history, and similar fields and place them with social justice-oriented nonprofits around the United States.

Since 2019, ACLS has run the program to place those who have recently earned their PhD in a humanities field in a two-year role with a social justice-focused organization to contribute their expertise and offer exposure to the nonprofit world. There's a good mixture of opportunities to do a variety of work. Among them is a a chance to join ILSR as a Food Systems and Grocery Policy Researcher.

Image

More details from the website:

• Stipend: For remote positions, $70,000 in year one, and $72,000 in year two; for in-person positions, $72,000 in year one, and $74,000 in year two. All fellows will have access to health insurance and professional development funding.
• Relocation: Up to $5,000 in relocation funds for fellows who relocate for in-person positions.
• Tenure: 24 months beginning in September 2026.
• Applications will be accepted only through the ACLS Online Fellowship Application system. Please do not contact any of the organizations directly.
• Application deadline: March 11, 2026, 9:00 PM EDT.

Applicants must have a PhD that will have been formally conferred by their university between September 1, 2021, and August 31, 2026. 

The doldrums of winter are upon us, which means that to counter the cold nights and grey skies we get another round of the American Council of Learned Society's Leading Edge Fellowship program.

Since 2019, ACLS has run the program to place those who have recently earned their PhD in a humanities field (sociology, literature, political science, geography, history, and many others, broadly defined) in a two-year role with a social justice-focused organization to contribute their expertise and offer exposure to the nonprofit world. The Institute for Local Self-Reliance has hosted three ACLS fellows (including current Tribal Broadband Policy Analyst Dr. Jessica Auer), and all have been wonderful, mutually beneficial experiences.

Image

12 fellows will be chosen in 2025 and placed among a collection of organizations, including the North Carolina Justice Center, Sojourner House, the Coalition for the Homeless, The Afiya Center, the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights, and many others. Each appointment includes:

In a historic effort to blanket Vermont with fiber-to-the-home networks, the Green Mountain State has been banking on a community broadband-driven approach to connect the unconnected through its ten Communications Union Districts (CUDs).

Now, state leaders are adding another community-rooted program to its toolbox that promises to help fill the ranks of the very workforce building the networks.

Earlier this week, the Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) announced the launch of a new Fiber Optic Apprenticeship Program officials say will put “participants to work right away, allowing them to learn on the job and earn a paycheck from the start.”

The workforce development initiative will be a part of the Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP), a “competency-based apprenticeship” sponsored by the Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA). And in addition to earning a paycheck, apprentices who complete the program will also earn a national credential recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Image

VCBB Executive Director Christine Hallquist characterized the apprenticeship program as “a huge opportunity for Vermonters to get into a new career without any cost to them that will provide a paycheck from day one and many options for career advancement.”

The Community Broadband Networks (CBN) team here at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) is thrilled to announce we will once again welcome a postdoctoral fellow this coming fall to undertake a two-year project that advances policy initiatives in support of expanding broadband access and digital sovereignty for Tribal Nations across the U.S.

It’s the second time the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) has selected ILSR as a host organization for a Leading Edge Fellowship, which embeds humanities and social science PhDs with nonprofits committed “to solve problems, build capacity, and advance justice and equity in society.”

Earlier this month, ACLS announced 18 new ACLS Leading Edge Fellows for 2023. In September, one of those fellows – Jessica E. Auer (PhD, History, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) – will join the CBN team, kicking off her full-time fellowship as a Tribal Broadband Policy Analyst.

Image

Jessica will conduct original research and writing to help develop policy narratives that can be used to support new and existing tribal broadband efforts.

With less than 60 percent of those living on Tribal lands in the lower 48 states having access to basic broadband connections – as Native Nations have regularly been excluded from policy conversations around these issues – Tribal citizens miss out on educational, economic, telehealth, social networking, and a panoply of other activities that foster community resiliency and democratic engagement in the modern world.

The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) is pleased to announce that it has been selected by the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) as a host organization for a Leading Edge Fellowship for the second time. The application window has opened for recent PhDs in the humanities to apply for a two-year, full-time fellowship to be a Tribal Broadband Policy Analyst. The fellow will continue and contribute to foundational work by ILSR on Internet access in Indian Country while gaining experience in the regular portfolio of research and policy activities by the Community Broadband Networks initiative at ILSR. 

Read about the requirements and learn more about the fellowship here. Then, apply here! The deadline is March 15, 2023 at 9:00pm EDT. 

This position is made available through ACLS - please direct questions directly to the program.

Leading Edge Fellows

The Leading Edge Fellowship Program is design to pair recent PhDs with nonprofits to demonstrate "the potential of humanistic knowledge and methods to solve problems, build capacity, and advance justice and equity in society. Leading Edge Fellowships place recent humanities PhDs with nonprofit organizations committed to promoting social justice in their communities."

Fellows receive an annual stipend of $66,000 in year one and $70,000 in year two, as well as health insurance and $3,500 in professional development funding. Fellows lead substantive projects that draw on the skills and capacities honed in the course of earning the humanities PhD, including advanced communication, research, project management, and creative problem solving. This initiative is made possible through the support of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Tribal Broadband Policy Analyst

Billions in federal funding planned for investment over the next half decade means that, more than ever, we need dedicated, smart, capable people to ensure that public funds go to pragmatic, equitable, locally controlled infrastructure and programs. The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) has been a clear and leading voice on policy issues since its formation, and their team is growing. It's an opportunity to join a talented team doing crucial work.

Currently, the organization is hiring for three positions.

Policy Manager

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) is seeking an enthusiastic and qualified Policy Manager (or Associate) to help lead NDIA’s expanding portfolio of state support projects and federal policy initiatives. A strong candidate will possess the right combination of digital inclusion expertise, creativity, a collaborative spirit, and self-motivation; and will have a passion for advancing digital equity policy at the federal, state and local level and supporting state governments as they implement the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. 

Program Manager

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) is seeking an enthusiastic and qualified Program Manager to help lead NDIA’s work supporting local organizations and affiliates, including digital inclusion coalitions, local and regional governments, and community-based organizations. A strong candidate will possess the right combination of practical expertise, creativity, a collaborative spirit, and self-motivation; and will have a passion for the unique role that local organizations and collaborations play in advancing digital inclusion efforts, with a particular focus on promoting racial and social equity.

Research and Data Manager

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) is seeking an enthusiastic and qualified Research & Data Manager to help lead NDIA’s expanding portfolio of research and data work. A strong candidate will possess the right combination of technical expertise, creativity, a collaborative spirit, and self-motivation; and will have a passion for using data to understand and support digital inclusion efforts, with a particular focus on promoting racial and social equity.

The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) is a national nonprofit working to reverse today’s extreme levels of corporate concentration and advance policies to rebuild the economic capacity of local communities. We use in-depth research, reporting, and data analysis to produce influential reports and articles. Our work illuminates the public policy decisions that have fueled concentration and shows how we can change the rules to create a more equitable and democratic future. Our analysis is frequently featured in national news media and sought out by policymakers. We work closely with a broad range of allies to move these ideas and policies. 

ILSR is hiring a Digital Communications Manager, who will work closely with the Communications Director to develop and implement communication strategies that support the mission of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

In this role, you will work across several different initiatives to write, edit, and design creative public messaging to promote ILSR’s work through the organization’s newsletters, website, social media, events, and more. Download the full description here, or see this job posting at ilsr.org.

Responsibilities:

Social Media (35%)

• Design captivating visuals that grab attention, enhance engagement, and broaden interest in ILSR reports, blogs, podcasts, and other releases
• Craft copy that strikes the right chords of urgency, hope, and assurance to keep followers actively engaged
• Monitor social media for opportunities to engage with trending, highly relevant, and staff-generated content
• Log publicity hits and translate key passages into compelling social media content

Website (20%)

• Maintain the ILSR website including drafting original content, copy editing, selecting images and infographics, and ensuring site-wide consistency and visual appeal of posted content

Multimedia Production (15%)

The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) is a national research and advocacy organization working to reverse corporate concentration and advance policies to rebuild the economic power and capacity of local communities. Our work illuminates the public policy decisions that have fueled concentration at the expense of local businesses, working people, and communities. It also shows how we can change the rules to create a more equitable, sustainable, and democratic future. We use in-depth research, reporting, and data analysis to produce influential reports and articles. Our analysis is frequently featured in national news media and sought out by policymakers. We partner closely with a broad range of allies to move these ideas and policies.

ILSR is looking for an experienced communications professional to join our team as Communications Director. We’re looking for someone near one of our three home offices in Washington, D.C.; Minneapolis, Minn.; or Portland, Maine but are open to candidates located remotely.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and drive bold media strategies that garner earned media, advance ILSR’s policy goals, and highlight its expertise and thought-leadership, including pitching ILSR’s research and subject-matter experts to journalists and producers (30% of time)
• Develop and execute the communications and media components of an organizational strategic plan, including identifying the best frame to communicate our mission, vision, and values (10%)
• Harmonize ILSR’s written output (including reports, articles, podcasts, and newsletters) across its different initiatives, including by reviewing major written products and leveraging these products to advance ILSR’s broader message and brand (10%)
• Manage a small communications team (10%)
• Oversee ILSR’s web presence to maximize engagement with ILSR’s content (10%)
• Develop and oversee execution of social media campaigns across all platforms, telling the story of ILSR’s work through engaging graphics, video, and other mediums (15%)
• Collaborate with ILSR’s Development team on the Annual Report and occasional fundraising campaigns (5%)
• Occasionally represent ILSR at meetings and events. (5%)
• Administrative tasks (5%)
• Some travel may be required

A SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE IS:

The Schools, Health, & Libraries Bradband Coalition is hiring for a new position that will work with state and federal policymakers to advance its mission to “to close the digital divide by promoting high-quality broadband for anchor institutions and their communities.” 

From the call for applicants, SHLB is looking for someone who “has a graduate degree in public policy or a law degree, 3-7 years of broadband or technology policy experience and strong writing skills. This person will work with federal and state policy-makers, including on Capitol Hill, regarding broadband policy issues and funding programs. Knowledge of broadband and technology policy issues preferred. Physical location in the Washington DC area is preferred but not required.”

Duties for the Policy Advocate/Director include:

• Working with the Executive Director to develop and implement policy positions to promote our mission.
• Leading calls with SHLB members to formulate advocacy strategies.
• Initiating meetings and developing relationships with policymakers.
• Organizing speakers for our events, including our Annual Conference in October.
• Analyzing and suggesting changes to federal and state legislation.
• Drafting and filing comments with the FCC, NTIA and other government agencies.
• Representing the SHLB Coalition in other coalitions and interacting with our allies on a regular basis.
• Speaking at broadband conferences around the U.S.

SHLB is seeking candidates for the position who have: