It’s “social-official” – we’re in love with feedback! And, we’re celebrating this Valentine’s Day by launching the application for the next cohort of our Feedback Fellows.
The Feedback Fellowship aims to identify a diverse set of emerging leaders engaged in listening and/or feedback practices that facilitate responding better to the people at the heart of their work. The 2025 cohort of the Feedback Fellows will consist of seven (7) U.S.-based mid-career (5-15 years) professionals who have demonstrated commitment to listening and acting on feedback in the nonprofit and philanthropic space to become outspoken leaders in the feedback field. We intentionally create a cohort that values “culture add” over “culture fit,” aiming to reshape the feedback field with diverse voices and perspectives. Each cohort of Fellows brings together an opportunity to intensify collaboration, problem-solving, and experimentation in high-quality feedback practices.
This is a ten-month commitment (May 2025 – March 2026).
Feedback and listening are essential for supporting human agency, cultivating power within people, enhancing learning and effectiveness, achieving equitable outcomes, and driving change. The field is growing; however, the pool of recognized experts and field leaders is still small and not very diverse. Many leaders doing great feedback work, especially at the grassroots level, have few platforms to grow in their feedback expertise, share their excellent work, or cultivate the skills necessary for the next generation of organizational leadership.
The Feedback Fellowship aims to identify and support emerging leaders as they identify and work through a specific (or specific set) of listening and feedback challenges within their organization. This program is designed to fill the gaps identified in the 2024 Feedback and Listening Field Assessment by addressing the need for standards of practice, expanding the knowledge base, and ensuring widespread adoption of feedback practices.
Apply to be a Feedback Champion by March 14, 2025!
Program Highlights
- In-depth Feedback Training & Coaching: Receive professional training in feedback practices, public speaking, and writing. Access to the Feedback Crash Course and six virtual cohort learning talks. Engage in one-on-one coaching with experienced professionals.
- Professional Development: Training intensives on writing, public speaking, and one-on-one coaching from experienced professionals to enhance fellows’ skills and confidence.
- Conference Participation: Conference tickets and travel support to attend a Feedback+ Summit. Guaranteed speaking roles and elevated platforms. Obtain information and build relationships that help them mainstream high-quality feedback practices in their organizations.
- Community and Networking: Connections to the broader feedback community through personal coaches, cohort peers, and other Feedback Fellows, fostering a supportive network.
Selection Criteria
Feedback Labs is looking to support leaders who have already demonstrated commitment to feedback and listening by incorporating feedback from the constituents in their work. You should apply if you are:
- Active as a feedback practitioner working in the nonprofit or philanthropic space in the U.S. and have previously incorporated feedback from constituents in your work;
- Committed to identifying and working through a specific (or specific set) of listening and/or feedback challenges in their organization
- Committed to the inclusion of the end-users in the decision-making process;
- Willing to share your knowledge and experiences from five (5) 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.
- Have a specific feedback- or listening-related project that you would like to develop with coaching and support over the course of your Fellowship.
Feedback Fellow Expectations
Individuals selected for this opportunity will be part of a 10-month 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 as part of your in-person Fellowship launch on June 3 to gain fundamental feedback knowledge;
- Serve as a featured presenter in a virtual 2025 Feedback Labs LabStorm;
- Attend at least three virtual LabStorms during the course of your Fellowship;
- Attend the Feedback Summit in Bozeman, MT on June 3rd – 6th (expenses including conference attendance, travel and accommodations will be covered as part of the fellowship).
- Use the “implementation period” (last three months of the Fellowship) to apply learnings from the Fellowship within their respective organization.
Where Are They Now?
Past Fellows have gone on to make significant contributions to the feedback field. They have facilitated workshops, led crash courses, and introduced systematic feedback practices in new organizations. A Fellow from St. Thomas, USVI, spoke about the importance of feedback in their work on stage with Hillary Clinton at the Clinton Global Initiative in 2020. Another Fellow helped transform the spirit of feedback in their organization, making it explicitly central to their mission and communications. Several fellows have applied their new-found and enhanced high-quality feedback practices to shaping federal policy for those at the heart of their work in sectors from veteran affairs to farming and agriculture.
Fellows in the News
- Juan Clavijo, ORS Impact, 2024 Feedback Champion, Assessing the Status of the Feedback Field
- Lindsay Church, Minority Veterans of America, 2022 Feedback Champion, Congressional Testimony: Advocating for the Provision of Quality, Comprehensive Healthcare Services
- John Ferguson, Indiana Philanthropy Alliance, 2024 Feedback Champion, Listening, Power, and Cartoon Heroes (podcast)
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. who 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 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, backgrounds, and experiences could create a diverse cohort of Fellows and reshape the feedback field.
Next Steps
To apply, please complete the application by 11:59:59 ET on March 14, 2025. 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 and listening 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 won't be able to attend the Feedback Summit in Bozeman, MT, from June 3rd to 6th. Would you be willing to consider me for the fellowship?
Unfortunately, no. Attendance at our 2025 Summit (Feedback+Bozeman) 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 March 24th, 2025.
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?
- Prefix/Title
- Prefix/Title (Use)
- 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 social impact sector?
- How do you describe your work to someone who may have no knowledge or experience with what you do?
- How do you define ‘feedback’ in the social impact field?
- 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.)?
- What knowledge or experiences would you hope to contribute to a group of colleagues seeking to improve listening and feedback skills?
- 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?
- What is a feedback challenge that you would like the Fellowship to help you or your organization overcome?
- Is there anything else that you would like to add for us to consider?
- I have the full support of my organization in completing the Fellowship (May 2025 – March 2026)
- 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 Bozeman, Montana from June 3rd – 6th, 2025.
Now, we have a few optional demographic questions.
At Feedback Labs, it is our goal to foster learning spaces that are made up of individuals with diverse identities and experiences. The variety of individual/social identities and experiences may include race(s), ethnicities, gender identities, relationship & sexual identities, abilities/disabilities, neurodivergence, current and/or formative socioeconomic status, and histories of institutionalization, among others. We aim to create a learning environment that affirms participants’ many identities, reduces barriers to learning and participation, and fosters a sense of inclusion and belonging. We’ll use this data to help assess our ability to achieve this goal.
21. What role do you hold at the organization for which you are applying?
22. What is your racial and/or ethnic background?
23. Gender Identity: How do you publicly self-identify?
24. Disability: How do you publicly self-identify?
25. What identities impact the way that you “show up” and/or experience a learning environment, witness representation of identities that are important to you, experience belonging, and/or interact with your peers? (Optional)
26. If you answered the question above, what can we do to affirm those identities during the Fellowship? (Optional)
Still have questions? Feel free to reach out at annie@feedbacklabs.org and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can!
