Generously endowed by Youngsuk “YS” Chi and Sung Kim, the Chi Family Fellowship Program invests in cultivating the next generation of nonprofit and social sector leaders. It is The Fellowship is a 3-month, paid summer position during which you will work with the Capacity Building Team to learn deeply about community issues, build organizational management and leadership skills, and gain the tools to become a civic or community leader. This program is geared towards undergraduate students or recent graduates with limited work experience. 

We are now accepting applications for the 2024 Chi Family Fellowship program.

Fellowship Structure (3 Months)

Training & Shadowing: The Chi Fellow is trained by KACF in best practice consulting and organizational development frameworks and learns how to adapt them within a specific cultural context. 

Externship: You will be matched to work with one of KACF’s grantee partner organizations that are on the front lines of making a difference for Korean Americans in the New York metropolitan area. In addition to helping the organization with strategy, you will be spending a portion of their time supporting its day-to-day needs to gain a immersive, hands-on experience of what it’s like to run a nonprofit. Throughout this process, the you will be supported and guided by the KACF Capacity Building Team, as well as an on-site supervisor. 

The externship begins after 1-2 weeks of orientation. At the end of the externship, you will prepare final reports and close out the program. 

Responsibilities

Under the guidance of the KACF Capacity Building Team, you will develop the following skills during the program to be equipped to support the grantee partner organization assigned to them as their externship site: 

• Develop a project workplan and identify outcomes for the engagement with the organization
• Learn best practices in nonprofit consulting
• Deepen your understanding of the nonprofit sector as a whole

How to Apply

Please review the required qualifications, competencies, and compensation information carefully before applying.

Qualifications:

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills that spans across both cultures and across first- and second-generation Korean Americans
• Understanding of the Korean American culture and community and/or an interest in learning
• Knowledge of and point of view on societal and inequities that frame the challenges nonprofits tackle and/ or an interest in learning
• Strong planning and organizational skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including an ability to articulate and present ideas effectively with presence 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint
• Some proficiency in Korean language preferred

Competencies:

• A hunger to learn
• A humility to respect the expertise of the client
• Professionalism, including prompt communication, being on time, attention to detail and pride in providing high quality work

Compensation: $20 per hour

How to Apply: Please email your resume and cover letter explaining your interest in the program to Brian Yi at brian@kacfny.org. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Meet Our Past Fellows

The Chi Family Fellowship is modeled after our successful 12-month Capacity Building Fellowship Program for Korean American young professionals. See what our past Capacity Building Fellows have said about how the program has impacted them:

“It had a profound effect in shaping the next phase of my career. With the skills and experience I gained through the program, I knew I wanted to stay involved with the Korean community. One of KACF’s grantee partners was looking for someone who could expand its health care program, and needed someone who could speak Korean and was well-connected to the community. So I joined the organization as a program manager to help increase access to free, quality health care for low-income Korean Americans in New Jersey.”

Sarah Park
KACF Capacity Building Fellow 2016-18

“I think for many immigrant parents and grandparents, the dream is for us to get out of the community and move on to better things and places. Through KACF, I realized that there was something for me to do in the community that I grew up in, so that it becomes a better place for all of us to live. I went into nonprofit communications because I saw that it was important for our community and our stories to be seen and heard.” 

Monica Lee
KACF Capacity Building Fellow 2019-20

“One of the draws of this fellowship is that you get to see work in the nonprofit sector through the lens of the foundation, grantee partner, and a consultant. This multifaceted experience allows for a deeper understanding and appreciation of the nonprofit ecosystem which is critical for creating a thoughtful and informed nonprofit professional. I loved learning about how people thought about their work, their future at the organization, and how they wanted to grow. Then taking this information and thinking about how to best utilize both their professional skills and their personal goals for the betterment of the organization gave me energy.”

HeeJae An
KACF Capacity Building Fellow 2022-23