CivicSpark Fellowship 2027: Apply for an 8-Month Fellowship to Build Community Planning Skills and Advance Local Change

Overview

The CivicSpark Fellowship is an award-winning, evidence-based workforce-development and service program lasting 8 months. The program connects emerging professionals and community-minded leaders with local governments and community-based organizations to address pressing community planning priorities and build local workforce capacity. Fellows gain hands-on professional experience while contributing to practical assignments involving research, planning, implementation, community engagement, and organizational support.

Who can apply

The program is designed for emerging leaders, recent graduates, and early-career professionals seeking practical experience in fields such as urban and regional planning, local government, community development, climate resilience, environmental sustainability, water management, active transportation, public policy, civic engagement, community organizing, infrastructure planning, nonprofit and public-sector management, community resilience, and social and environmental initiatives.

What you get

Participants receive an opportunity to combine professional development with hands-on community impact. Fellows undertake practical assignments that help partner organizations overcome limited staff resources, develop systems and resources, and advance projects related to active transportation, water management, sustainability, and local planning.

Key dates

Applications for fellowships beginning in January 2027 are open from October 1 through October 23, 2026, or until the program reaches its qualified applicant capacity, whichever occurs first.