FAO Schwarz Fellowship

What FAO Schwarz Fellowship does

The FAO Schwarz Fellowship is a two-year paid fellowship program for recent college graduates interested in social impact leadership careers, founded in 2006 and operated by the FAO Schwarz Family Foundation. Fellows are placed at leading nonprofit host organizations across three Northeast US cities — Boston, New York City, and Philadelphia — where they perform direct service work, contribute to strategic projects, and participate in mentoring, retreats, and structured professional development. The program is not a technology product; its core offering is structured human-capital development supported by basic operational tooling including Jotform for application intake, MailerLite for email, HubSpot as CRM, Google Analytics, and Automattic for website hosting.

The Fellowship is fully funded by the FAO Schwarz Family Foundation, with compensation for the 2027-2029 cohort set at $105,000-$115,000 over the two-year term plus health insurance and benefits matching entry-level employees at host organizations. The go-to-market model relies on direct annual applications from college seniors at accredited four-year institutions, with an application window running November 1 to February 1; outreach channels include online info sessions, college adviser networks, an Instagram channel (@faofellows), a blog, email newsletter, and a downloadable white paper. As of 2025, the program has produced 84+ alumni Fellows drawn from 40+ colleges and universities, with 80% of recent cohorts retained by their host organizations, 92% of all alumni remaining in social-impact careers, and 65% pursuing or having completed graduate degrees.

Leadership comprises Molly Ladd as Chair of the Foundation and Priscilla Cohen as Executive Director of the Fellowship, supported by a small operating team of approximately 8 staff. The 2026-2028 cohort placed 7 Fellows across 5 host organizations, including first-time hosts Brooklyn Public Library and The Trustees, indicating incremental geographic-functional expansion within the existing three-city footprint.

Name

FAO Schwarz Fellowship

Legal name

FAO Schwarz Family Foundation

Website

https://faoschwarzfellowship.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The FAO Schwarz Fellowship is a two-year paid fellowship placing recent college graduates at nonprofit host organizations in Boston, New York City, and Philadelphia to develop the next generation of social impact leaders, funded by the FAO Schwarz Family Foundation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fellowship Programs / Nonprofit Leadership Development

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Employment Placement Agencies (561311)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Scholarship, Financial Aid & FAFSA Support (EDAMAKAF)

Keywords

• Fellowship program
• Nonprofit leadership
• Social impact careers
• Paid fellowships
• Nonprofit talent development

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Fellowship funding from FAO Schwarz Family Foundation: The Fellowship is funded by the FAO Schwarz Family Foundation, a philanthropic organization that supports high-impact nonprofits committed to social change and educational equity. The Foundation provides compensation to Fellows and support to host organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The FAO Schwarz Fellowship is an intensive two-year paid fellowship program for recent college graduates interested in social impact leadership careers. Fellows are placed at leading nonprofit organizations in Boston, New York City, and Philadelphia, where they engage in direct service work, strategic projects, and structured professional development including mentoring and retreats. Compensation for the 2027-2029 cohort is $105,000-$115,000 over two years plus benefits matching host organization entry-level employees.

Product overview

The FAO Schwarz Fellowship Program is a single, unified fellowship offering consisting of a two-year paid position for recent college graduates. The program places Fellows at host nonprofit organizations across three cities (Boston, New York City, Philadelphia) where they engage in direct service work, strategic projects, and professional development. Compensation for 2027-2029 is $105,000-115,000 over two years plus benefits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• FAO Schwarz Fellowship Program An intensive, transformative two-year paid fellowship experience for recent college graduates interested in social impact leadership careers. Fellows are placed at leading nonprofit organizations in Boston, New York City, and Philadelphia, combining direct service work, strategic projects, and professional development including mentoring, retreats, and access to a growing alumni network. Compensation for the 2027-2029 cohort is $105,000-$115,000 over two years plus benefits matching host organization entry-level employees.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% of Fellows offered roles with host organizations over the last 3 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Audubon Mid-AtlanticcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit organization hosting FAO Schwarz Fellows for environmental education and conservation work. Audubon Mid-Atlantic has hosted Fellows since at least 2024. The Fellow works on public programs and community science initiatives at the Discovery Center.
• 826 BostoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWriting and tutoring nonprofit hosting Fellows to support youth writing and leadership development. Hosting second and third Fellows for 2026-2028 cohort.
• Reading PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiteracy nonprofit hosting Fellows in New York City. Will host its sixth and seventh Fellows in 2026-2028 cohort.
• Brooklyn Public LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew host organization for 2026-2028 cohort. The Fellow will work on the Satellite Services team to reach individuals who most need library resources.
• The TrusteescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation and access organization hosting a Fellow for the first time in 2026-2028. The Fellow will expand waterfront and outdoor education programs with focus on environmental justice.
• Museum of Science (Boston)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience museum hosting Fellows for youth engagement and education programming. Fellows work on youth events and large-scale programming.
• Museum of the City of New YorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUrban history museum hosting Fellows for education and youth engagement programs, including field trips and family programs.
• The Food TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood justice nonprofit hosting Fellows for farm to school initiatives and nutrition education work in Philadelphia schools and communities.
• Hudson River Park TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization hosting Fellows at the River Project for urban environmental education and community engagement around the Hudson River ecosystem.
• Breakthrough Greater BostoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollege success nonprofit hosting Fellows for academic intervention and college preparation programming for middle and high school students.
• JumpstartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly childhood education nonprofit that has hosted Fellows for working with preschool children and supporting early literacy.
• uAspirecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollege access nonprofit hosting Fellows for college affordability advising and awareness work.
• PlayworkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth development nonprofit focused on safe and healthy play hosting Fellows for recess and social-emotional learning programs.
• Generation CitizencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCivic education nonprofit hosting Fellows for action civics programming in schools.
• Mural Arts PhiladelphiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic art nonprofit hosting Fellows for community engagement through the Restored Spaces Initiative with environmental education components.
• Year UpcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development nonprofit hosting Fellows for economic mobility programs serving youth in urban communities.
• RiverkeepercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental advocacy organization protecting the Hudson River watershed, hosting Fellows for water quality monitoring and community education.
• The Clay StudiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts nonprofit hosting Fellows as teaching artists working with students through ceramics and creative programming in schools.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• City Year: City Year is an AmeriCorps program that places young adults in year-long service roles at schools and nonprofits. Comparable to FAO Schwarz in cohort-based, paid service fellowship model targeting young leaders committed to social impact careers.
• AmeriCorps: AmeriCorps is the federal national service program that funds thousands of Fellows annually in paid service positions at nonprofits. Comparable to FAO Schwarz as a fellowship-to-nonprofit pipeline, though at vastly larger scale and broader geographic scope.

Emerging players

• Year Up: Year Up is a workforce development program that provides training and corporate placements for young adults from underserved communities. Also a partner of FAO Schwarz. Comparable in targeting young talent for career-launch experiences in paid roles.
• Net Impact: Net Impact is a membership organization for professionals and students pursuing careers with social and environmental impact. Comparable to FAO Schwarz as a talent pipeline into the social impact sector, though focused on networking and career resources rather than paid placements.
• Breakthrough Collaborative: Breakthrough Collaborative runs summer and academic-year programs supporting students on the path to college. Comparable to FAO Schwarz in fostering early-career professional development for college graduates pursuing social impact careers, though focused on education access.

Direct peers

• Public Allies: Public Allies runs a national AmeriCorps fellowship program that places young leaders in paid nonprofit roles for social impact careers. Closely comparable to FAO Schwarz in mission (developing nonprofit leaders), structure (paid cohort-based fellowship), and applicant profile (recent college graduates).
• Coro Foundation: Coro operates fellowship programs in leadership development and public affairs for emerging leaders. Comparable to FAO Schwarz in cohort-based leadership development and placing Fellows in mission-driven organizations.
• Echoing Green: Echoing Green provides fellowships and leadership development for emerging social impact leaders, including recent graduates. Direct comparable to FAO Schwarz in targeting young talent committed to social change careers and offering paid fellowship engagements with development support.
• New Sector Alliance: New Sector Alliance places Fellows in paid year-long roles at high-impact nonprofits to address the nonprofit talent gap. Direct comparable to FAO Schwarz in bridging recent graduates to nonprofit careers through structured paid fellowships.
• National Urban Fellows: National Urban Fellows operates a paid fellowship program placing emerging leaders in nonprofit and public sector roles, with explicit focus on developing leaders from underrepresented backgrounds. Comparable to FAO Schwarz in mission and structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/faofellows
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fao-schwarz-fellowship

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FAO Schwarz Fellowship