Feedback Labs is almost ten years old!
In 2013, a group of nonprofit and philanthropic leaders gathered to discuss what it could look like if organizations learned to listen better to those at the heart of their work. Now, almost ten years later, the feedback field has grown and so has the desire from nonprofit and philanthropy leaders and practitioners to receive more guidance and support in their listening practices.
From those early meetings, Feedback Labs learned the value and power of bringing together nonprofit and philanthropy practitioners to share insights, challenges, successes, and strategies for building effective feedback practices in their own organizations as well as championing the use of feedback throughout their respective fields.
Feedback Labs, in partnership with Fund for Shared Insight, is continuing this tradition through the new cohort of Feedback Champions. The Feedback Champions Fellowship aims to identify a diverse set of emerging leaders in the feedback field in the U.S. and provide support as they become feedback champions in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. The 2024 cohort of the Feedback Champions Fellowship will consist of 10 U.S.-based emerging leaders who have demonstrated commitment to listening and acting on feedback in the nonprofit and philanthropic space to become outspoken leaders in the feedback field.
The Feedback Campions Fellowship is a one-year commitment in which fellows–Champions–will receive training to better understand the feedback field, support and funding to speak at relevant conferences and write articles, professional coaching to pursue this work, and a community of feedback practitioners to tap into.
Apply to be a Feedback Champion by November 7, 2023!
Commitment to Diversity
One refrain that we’ve heard since the early days of our effort to build the feedback field is that the same people always seem to be the ones speaking and writing about feedback. Those “out front” in the field often share similar demographics and identities, are more established in their careers, and are part of the same professional circles. We know this inner, visible in-group is not representative of all those who are passionate about listening to those at the heart of their work. While these frequent speakers had the access, the language, and the connections to get speaking and writing slots that made them the “face” of the feedback field, we knew there were many more people around the U.S. that were doing similar work.
We understand that there are many barriers to access and support in professional development, particularly for individuals with minoritized identities or identities that are marginalized in professional spaces such as BIPOC individuals, LGBTIQ+ individuals, persons with a disability, neurodivergent individuals, and individuals with a history of institutionalization (e.g. incarceration, immigration detainment, inpatient treatment, or chronic hospitalization). If you question whether or not you would be a “good fit” for the Feedback Champions Fellowship, please engage in an initial conversation with the Fellowship contact, Annie Grier, at [email protected].Feedback Labs intentionally creates environments that value “culture add” over “culture fit”. We invite you to share how your unique identities, background, and experiences could create a diverse cohort of Fellows and reshape the feedback field.
The Opportunity
Feedback Labs seeks to identify a diverse set of 10 U.S.-based emerging leaders in the feedback field and provide support as they become feedback champions in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. Through the year-long fellowship, individuals will be supported to learn about feedback, its benefits to the sector and how it supports their work. By being part of a broader feedback community, individuals will also have direct connections to experts in the field. All the fellows in the program will have access to the following:
- In-depth feedback training through Feedback Crash Course;
- Six virtual cohort learning talks to dive into topics ranging from good feedback practice to public speaking;
- Training intensives on professional skills, such as writing and public speaking;
- Writing support, publication, and promotion of at least one blog piece focusing on the benefits of listening and feedback to their work;
- Conference ticket and travel support to attend Feedback+Denver and the 2025 annual Feedback+ Summit;
- Professional one-on-one coaching from an experienced professional;
- Connections to the broader feedback community through a personal mentor and other Feedback Champions;
- Guaranteed speaking opportunities at Feedback+Denver;
- Guaranteed feature slot at a 2024 Feedback Labs LabStorm
- Access to Feedback Labs and its membership, including feedback tools, trainings/presentations/webinars, and writing opportunities;
*Champions in the nonprofit sector will also receive a grant of $10,000 to their organization to cover their time to participate in Fellowship and to attend and speak about feedback at related sector events.
Selection Criteria
Feedback Labs is looking to support leaders who have already demonstrated commitment to feedback by incorporating feedback from the constituents in their work. You should apply if you are:
- Active as a feedback practitioner and have previously incorporated feedback from constituents in your work;
- Working in nonprofit or foundation spaces and are committed to the inclusion of the end-users in the decision-making process;
- Willing to share your knowledge and experiences from three (3) to fifteen (15) years of *experience. (Please see our note on Self-Evaluating Experience on our Careers page)
Willing to actively participate in making feedback the norm in the social impact field and promoting feedback among nonprofits and philanthropic organizations.
Feedback Grantee Expectations
Individuals selected for this opportunity will be part of a year-long cohort of growing feedback leaders who will learn from and support each other. Candidates selected to be part of this cohort agree to:
- Attend the six virtual meetings with your cohort group and actively participate;
- Complete the Feedback Crash Course to gain fundamental feedback knowledge;
- Create a blog post about the work you’re doing to share with the feedback community;
- Serve as a featured presenter in a 2024 Feedback Labs LabStorm;
- Attend and speak at the Feedback Summit in Denver, Colorado from May 15 – 17, 2024 (expenses including conference attendance, travel and accommodations will be covered as part of the fellowship).
Next Steps
To apply, please complete the application by 11:59:59 ET on November 7, 2023. The application questions are listed below for planning and preparation, but submissions will only be accepted through the formal application. Applicants selected to move forward in the application process will be invited to participate in a short interview.
Feedback Labs is not just looking for a fellow; we are looking for a partner in the journey of making feedback the norm in the social good sector. Feedback Labs values collaboration and invites applicants to partner with us in upholding the value of feedback by promoting the inclusion of constituents.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. My organization is registered in the US, but our projects are primarily outside the US. Can I apply for this fellowship?
Unfortunately, no. Feedback Labs has had previous fellowship opportunities specifically for organizations that work outside of the US. For this fellowship, we are looking for organizations that mainly work in the continental United States.
2. What do you mean when you say you’re seeking ‘emerging leaders’?
We are looking to select professionals who have some track record of working in either the nonprofit or philanthropic sector, but who are not yet established as known leaders in their field. We’re seeking professionals who have demonstrated a commitment to listening and feedback in their work and who are ready to share that with others through written pieces and speaking engagements.
3. I work in corporate social responsibility for a for-profit entity, can I still apply to be a Feedback Champion?
Yes, individuals who work at a for-profit entity in corporate social responsibility are encouraged to apply.
4. Can more than one person from my organization apply for the Fellowship?
Yes, but each application will be considered independently.
5. I cannot attend the Feedback Summit in Denver from May 15 - 17, 2024. Can I be considered for the fellowship?
Unfortunately, no. Attendance at our 2024 Summit (Feedback+Denver) is a requirement for all fellows.
6. How much time should applicants plan to spend completing the application?
We’ve designed the applications to take about 1 hour (or less!) to complete. Our intent is not for you to spend a ton of time crafting your answers. We are seeking to understand what you would like to get out of the support and what experiences you bring to the fellowship. We have provided the questions below for review before starting the application.
7. What is Feedback Labs?
Feedback Labs is a US-based nonprofit working to make feedback the norm in aid, philanthropy, nonprofits, and government. You can find out more at www.feedbacklabs.org.
8. When will I hear back about my application?
Applicants will be notified if they have been selected for an interview by Friday, December 8th, 2023.
9. Where should I direct additional questions?
Still have questions? Feel free to reach out at [email protected] and she or a member of the team will get back to you as soon as we can!
Application Questions
*Your answers to these questions must be submitted through the official application here. They are listed below to help you plan.
- What is your name?
- What are your pronouns?
- What is your email address?
- What is the name of your organization?
- What is the URL/website address of your organization?
- What type of organization are you representing?
- Is your organization registered in the United States or one of its territories?
- How many years of *experience do you have in the nonprofit and/or philanthropic sector?
- How do you describe your work to someone who may have no knowledge or experience with what you do? (2 – 4 sentences)
- How do you define ‘feedback’? (2 – 4 sentences)
- In what ways do you receive and apply feedback from those at the heart of your work (e.g. co-designing programs, facilitating participant advisory boards, surveying participants, etc.)? (3 – 5 sentences)
- What knowledge or experiences would you hope to contribute to a group of colleagues seeking to improve listening and feedback skills? (3 – 5 sentences)
- What knowledge or skills do you hope to learn from a group of colleagues with experience in listening to and applying feedback from those at the heart of their work? (3 – 5 sentences)
- What is a feedback challenge that you would like the Fellowship to help you or your organization overcome? (2 – 4 sentences)
- What would a successful Fellowship experience look like to you? (2 – 4 sentences)
- One of the benefits of becoming a Feedback Champion is being paired with a coach to assist with professional development and sharpening feedback skills. What qualities would you value most in a Feedback Coach? (2 – 4 sentences)
- One of the aims of the Fellowship is to practice being a champion for feedback through writing and public speaking. What support would you need to be successful in writing and speaking about good feedback practices? (2 – 4 sentences)
- Is there anything else that you would like to add for us to consider?
- If selected for this Fellowship, I confirm that I have read the Feedback Grantee Expectations and that I will be able to meet these expectations during the timeframe of the Fellowship.
- If selected for this Fellowship, I confirm that I will be able to attend the Feedback Summit in Denver, Colorado from May 15-17, 2024 (the price of your ticket, travel, and accommodations will be covered as part of your Fellowship).
Still have questions? Feel free to reach out at annie@feedbacklabs.org and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can!
