Department of Community Service

Please take into consideration all of the pre-application requirements and suggested events.

We strongly encourage applicants to:

• Attend an information session about the Fellowship.

• Attend an application support and budget workshop to work on and learn how to enhance your application.

• Meet with a representative from the Hiatt Career Center to have your resume reviewed.

• Consult with the Department of Community Service staff member to review community needs and current outreach initiatives and partnerships, with guidance on approaches to community partner.

• Meet with community partner to assess points of impact and need as well as to discuss program design.

To apply please submit your completed application by Sunday, October 24 at 11:59 p.m. EST. 

The following documents must be completed and turned in by October 24 at 11:59 p.m. EST for an applicant to be fully considered by the selection committee.

1. A completed Rich/Collins CLIF Application.

2. Budget proposal (PDF) outlining your proposed expense and allocation of project funds. Please refer to this proposal template (PDF) as a guide and sample budget.

3. You must submit a Letter of Support (PDF) from your community partner. This letter should illustrate an investment in the project and commitment to support your sustainable endeavor.

4. An official copy of your updated resume and an unofficial copy of your transcript to confirm GPA reported on the resume.

All forms can be emailed to rcclif@brandeis.edu or to Community Service Specialist Samantha de Melim. Students may also bring a hard copy form to Samantha de Melim in the Department of Community Service, located in suite 203 on the second floor of the Shapiro Campus Center.

All proposed R/C CLIF projects must be within a 30 mile radius* of Waltham, with priority given to projects in Waltham. It is our expectation that all projects are mutually beneficial to our community partners and community members as well as the Brandeis R/C fellows. We anticipate the majority of funded projects will result from students currently being engaged in our community, but we are also actively seeking suggestions for semester long projects that can be shared with applicants who meet with us to explore and discuss current unmet community needs. We appreciate our community partners and are pleased to be able to offer this new resources to support the mission and goals of your organizations.

We only recruit for this program during the fall semester and all projects will be implemented in each spring semester. Be sure to read the project requirements.

If you have an idea for a project, we encourage you to complete the project suggestion form, and we’ll share your ideas as we meet with students. Unfortunately, we cannot commit to guarantee any funding for proposed projects.

*Due to the unique circumstances surrounding COVID-19, this year we have expanded the project radius beyond 30 miles, allowing students who did not return to campus to engage in the fellowship virtually in their home communities.

The following forms are all optional forms and tools that will aid you in completing your project application. You are not required to do these or turn them in.

1. Utilize this Brainstorm Project Action Form (PDF) to outline your timeline and steps to bring your project to life.

2. View a comprehensive checklist (PDF) of application and project tasks that most Fellows complete.

A fellowship selection committee comprised of faculty, staff, students and community partners will review all applications. The 2019-2020 Search Committee can be found below:

• Lucas Malo, Director of Community Service, Department of Community Service

• Samantha de Melim, Community Service Specialist, Department of Community Service

• Madeleine Lopez, Director of the Intercultural Center

• Elizabeth Rotolo, Assistant Director of Academic Fellowships

• Emily McGovern, Brandeis Student-Athlete Representative

• Sarah Ernst ‘20, Waltham Group and Rich/Collins Fellowship alum

• Mellisa Nichols '21, Rich/Collins Fellowship alum

• Laura Goldin, Faculty, Professor of the Practice Emerita of Environmental Studies,

• Kaytie Dowcett, Executive Director, Waltham Partnership for Youth

• Mariah Collins, Brandeis alum (2010) and founder

• James Collins, Brandeis alum (2009) and founder

• Sharon Rich, representing the Rich family and mother to Mariah

A member of the selection committee can serve as your project advisor, but an exhaustive list of alternatives should also be considered.

This fellowship is designed to mutually benefit the student grantee/fellow and the community. You will gain important career skills and deepen you understanding of the skills and knowledge leaders in the nonprofit sector need, while the community will enjoy the benefits of better prepared emerging leaders who may then be more successful and perhaps become more committed to community service. In addition to 1-on-1 staff support, we will offer all students in R/C CLIF a bi-weekly training program led by Brandeis faculty, staff, and community partners on a variety of topics. Some examples include:

1. Understanding social constructs

2. Event planning and management

3. Community partnerships and outreach

4. Community Asset Mapping

5. Service evaluation and assessment

6. Preparation (and event) for a poster/multi-media presentation

7. Creation and management of a project budget

8. Career development, including how to market and brand your Rich/Collins CLIF experience on your resume and in interviews

9. How to successfully write a community impact grant proposal and final report

All students engaged in R/C CLIF with have the opportunity to be part of a cohort and support network of fellows who are engaging in similar work to seek input, brainstorm ideas, and learn best practices together.  This network will expand as the program ages to include alumni and past community partner sites. We are committed to giving fellows the resources they need to be impact a measurable impactful and sustainable project.