Environmental Leadership Fellowship
About Our Environmental Leadership Fellowship
The Virginia Conservation Network (VCN) is an environmental non-profit organization working statewide to advance climate action, restore the health of our rivers and streams, increase access to parks and trails, ensure environmental justice for all, and more.
Starting in the summer of 2022, the Environmental Leadership Fellowship was established to develop a pipeline for a more racially diverse group of environmentalists to join our conservation movement. It also serves as an opportunity for individuals aspiring to launch their careers in the environmental sector, particularly those who may not have had the means to pursue an unpaid internship.
Program Experience
- Volunteering in grassroots advocacy with non-profit organizations who are a Partner of the Virginia Conservation Network
- Engaging in policy research in VCN’s major issue areas: climate & energy, land use & transportation, clean water, and land & wildlife conservation
- Developing virtual events for interns working with our Network to build long-term relationships and form connections with the future leaders of tomorrow!
Partner Testimonials
“Having a fellow this summer from the Virginia Conservation Network (VCN) has been a tremendous benefit to our coalition. Their support has strengthened our capacity to invest in the outdoors and expanded the impact of our work. We’re grateful to VCN for their commitment to investing in the next generation of leaders to fight for Virginia’s natural resources.”
“As a smaller non-profit, having a Fellow throughout 10 weeks provided an awesome resource for hands-on tasks and developing ideas we hadn’t had time for. Our Fellow helped with social media content, created web pages and helped with our in-person programming, amongst other activities!”
“The Virginia Beach office of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation was thrilled to host a VCN Environmental Leadership Fellow for the first time. The fellow’s passion, supported by the VCN staff, enabled staff to do more, and the fellow gained valuable insights from both research and hands-on activities. In a time where it is crucial for nonprofits to share resources and step up where they have expertise, this program not only shines a light on this need but also underscores the importance of our collective efforts.”
“Working with our VCN fellow was such a great experience for our team. They provided invaluable support on a communications project and also helped strengthen our social media presence. Having our Fellow on board gave us the extra capacity we needed while also bringing new ideas to the table. We would absolutely recommend the program to any organization looking for support.”
Apply for the Fellowship
Timeline
VCN’s 2026 Environmental Leadership Fellowship Application has closed. Applications are open from early December to early February.
Qualifications & Expectations
This fellowship is open to all undergraduate students with at least 2 years of study completed (rising juniors and above), master’s students, and recent graduates within the past two years.
We encourage you to apply if you:
- show commitment to advancing climate and environmental justice policy
- express interest in outreach within the environmental and conservation sphere
- seek professional and networking support from Virginia’s environmental leaders
- aim to launch a career in the environmental movement with a passion for inclusivity and justice
Additionally, we acknowledge that those in the environmental community all bring a variety of knowledge and backgrounds to their work. As a result, we also encourage those who have a background not directly related to the environment, to apply for the fellowship. As long as you have a desire to work in the environmental field, we would love to receive your application!
Fellows must commit 10 weeks during the months of June-August. The fellowship is 30 hours per week, hours are standard office hours (9am – 5pm) with some limited flexibility to match schedules. Fellows must be based in Virginia during the summer and have access to high speed wireless internet and a quiet place to work. Fellows based in or near Richmond are welcome to work from VCN’s office in person. Fellows not based in Richmond must have the flexibility to travel to VCN’s main office in Richmond at least once during the summer (with travel costs covered).
Compensation and Benefits
VCN offers a comprehensive list of compensation & benefits for our Fellows, such as:
- Short-term, hourly position paid at $20 an hour
- Paid time off and sick days
- Use of a VCN-provided work laptop, if needed
- Opportunity to work from VCN’s office in downtown Richmond or remotely from other parts of the state
- Travel reimbursements for work-related events throughout the state based on VCN’s standard travel reimbursement policy
How to Apply
For any questions about the fellowship or application process, please email fellowship@vcnva.org.
The Environmental Leadership Fellowship aims to build up the next generation of environmental leaders with focus on increasing the racial diversity of experienced candidates looking to break into the non-profit environmental field. We highly encourage current students and recent graduates of color to apply.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of Virginia Conservation Network to consider all candidates equally without regard to age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or other non-merit factors.
Fellowship Alumni Testimonials
“Being a summer fellow for the Virginia Conservation Network has opened so many doors for me as an environmental leader to pursue my passions while developing professionally and building a networking portfolio. Through this fellowship, I was able to grow as an outdoor leader and climate advocate through education and hands-on projects that have given me knowledge that I will use for the rest of my career. I am so grateful to have worked with VCN and their partners this summer and experienced the work being done to create a cleaner and greener Virginia.”
“The Virginia Conservation Network’s Environmental Leadership Fellowship taught me the skills, knowledge, and confidence to succeed in my future career. Through this experience, I gained a clear understanding of my professional goals and the direction I want to pursue after completing my undergraduate studies. The fellowship opened doors to opportunities and connections in the environmental and urban planning fields that I would not have been able to access on my own.”
“Not often does one find an experience that is as educational, uplifting, and energizing as I have found my fellowship with VCN to be. As my first position out of college, seeing the work everyone in the network is doing and getting to be a part of it has made me excited and hopeful for the future of the environment in Virginia and beyond.”
“Virginia Conservation Network gave me an insightful opportunity to focus on local environmental issues, and to understand the issues, solutions, and policies ongoing within my home state. Not only do I feel that I have a better understanding between the relationships of science, policy, and social justice, but I feel more connected to my home state’s priorities and beliefs towards conserving the beautiful nature that surrounds. I am so grateful to have worked with this great team!”
“Working for the Virginia Conservation Network has been transformative for me. Developing a portfolio of work that I take pride in has not only been incredibly rewarding but has boosted my confidence in my ability to advance my career in this field. The resources and opportunities VCN has provided have given me a platform to produce the work I have always been passionate about. The professional connections I’ve established and the skills I’ve honed have undeniably shaped my career journey for the better, and I’m privileged to have played a part in such an influential organization.”
“During my time at the Virginia Conservation Network, I was fortunate to create incredible memories, seize valuable opportunities, and engage in profound learning moments. I cannot express how invaluable this experience has been for me, particularly as a first-generation college student and an individual of color. Seeing firsthand the impressive efforts being made for Virginia’s environment left a deep impression, and I’m genuinely grateful I could contribute. The doors that VCN has opened for me through its dedicated team and extensive partner network are too numerous to count. I couldn’t have asked for a better organization to be a part of.”
“The Virginia Conservation Network gave me a rare opportunity. I was able to get my foot in the door and gain valuable experience in a field I desperately wanted to enter but didn’t know how to. I learned more on the job than I did over the course of many semesters of schooling and made many extremely valuable connections along the way. The abundance of professional development opportunities, wonderfully kind mentors, vast partner network, and absolutely favorable working conditions make the Virginia Conservation Network an extremely ideal organization to work with.”
Meet Past Fellows
Summer 2025
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Summer 2024
Summer 2024
Summer 2024
Fall 2023
Fall 2023
Fall 2023
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Summer 2022
Summer 2022
Summer 2022