Morgan Stanley Community Development Graduate Fellowship

Each year, the Morgan Stanley Community Development Graduate Fellowship (Fellowship) pairs students from graduate-level university programs (Fellows) with high-performing community development organizations (Host Organizations). Both Fellows and Host Organizations apply to be part of this Fellowship opportunity, which runs from September to June and supports projects in the fields of affordable housing, economic development, or community planning.

PROGRAM BENEFITS FOR FELLOWS INCLUDE:

• High-quality training and mentorship at some of Utah’s best community development organizations
• A $20,000 stipend for the ten-month, part-time (20 hours per week) Fellowship
• The opportunity to meet with leaders in Utah government, private sector, philanthropic sector, and community development fields
• Access to Fellow & Alumni Programming and other trainings and workshops including mixers, career-building information sessions, and other opportunities to connect with this growing community of community development professionals
• Possibility to receive academic credit, in accordance with the policies of the Fellows’ respective academic programs

Graduate level students with a strong interest in community development-based work and students with experience or backgrounds serving low-to-moderate income (LMI) communities are strongly encouraged to apply. All applicants must be enrolled in their academic program through the full academic year of the Fellowship. Applications are due Friday, April 25, 2025 at 11:59pm MT . 

How to Apply: Click the following link and fill out the form - https://forms.gle/Pnb3YzHwkLctMrPL8

2025/26 Host Organizations and job descriptions include:

Fourth Street Clinic - The Fellow will work directly with the Executive Leadership team to implement a Staff Engagement Plan that has been created based on feedback from staff through a satisfaction survey and qualitative interviews regarding employee engagement across multiple service delivery sites in Salt Lake County. Project rollout will begin in late 2025 and continue through mid-2026. The Fellow will take the lead on project implementation, working closely with the Chief Operating Officer on key project milestones.

Housing Connect - The Fellow would be charged with working with Housing Connect’s Real Estate Development Director and the development consultant in shepherding a real estate deal through the development process to closing on the financing and ready for construction. The Fellow will manage the day-to-day coordination of project timelines and tasks. This will include maintaining thorough documentation of all project phases, tracking milestones, and ensuring that all deadlines are met.

International Rescue Committee SLC - The Fellow will secure and coordinate affordable housing through relationship building with landlords, community partnerships, builders and developers to reserve apartments for refugees under the new Housing Affordability Network Project. This initiative aims to build a stronger support system by connecting people with resources and fostering community partnerships to improve access to affordable housing. 

Utah Community Action - The Fellow will support the strategy and impact of the agency under the Chief Impact & Strategy Officer (CISO) as a member of the Development Team. They will support community development functions, including strategic planning, volunteer engagement, community outreach, event planning, marketing and communications, grant writing and organizational development.

Utah Housing Coalition - The Fellow will play a crucial role in enhancing the Utah Housing Coalition’s (UHC) capacity to organize, track, and optimize engagement with community partners, donors, and members. This new data tool initiative will strengthen UHC’s affordable housing advocacy, financial literacy programs, and renter education efforts by implementing a comprehensive database system that streamlines key community engagement data.

Valley Behavioral Health - The Fellow will support two critical projects that address Salt Lake County’s housing crisis and Valley’s strategic goal of increasing access to deeply affordable housing. These projects are designed to provide a total of 120 new or rehabilitated units to serve individuals facing mental health challenges, housing instability, and financial hardship. 

Detailed job descriptions for the 2025/26 Host Organizations can be found here. Fellows and Hosts will be matched based on experience, interest, and availability.