THE MOVEMENT LEADER FELLOWSHIP
Overview
At Leadership for Democracy and Social Justice (LDSJ), we believe that investing in individual leaders is a direct investment in the collective power of our movements. Our fellowships are grounded in a core principle: developing sharper strategists is essential to building stronger, more effective movements capable of winning transformative change.
The Movement Leader Fellowship (MLF) is a transformative leadership program designed for mid-career organizers who are rooted in power-building organizations. The fellowship is tailored for leaders with 10–15 years of experience who are already shaping strategy within their organizations and are ready to deepen their impact.
Moreover, organizations that send staff to MLF consistently report a ripple effect impacting the entire organization. Learnings from MLF reshape how leaders show up internally, teams think about strategy, how, and in some cases, how the organization itself is designed. Read LDSJ’s Organizational Impact Report here.
Who is this Fellowship for?
You may be a strong fit if you:
Have 10–15 years of organizing experience.
Work full-time in a power-building organization.
Lead teams, campaigns, budgets, or significant organizational initiatives.
Are ready to deepen your strategic leadership.
Can commit to all components of the fellowship.
MLF addresses a critical gap in leadership development for mid-career organizers—those who already hold responsibility but need deeper strategic tools, broader frameworks, and sustained support. In a rapidly shifting and complex landscape, movements require leaders who can think strategically, act boldly, and build durable power.
Without this kind of investment, movements risk becoming reactive rather than proactive. With it, leaders are better equipped to articulate clear strategies, go on offense, and mobilize communities with clarity and confidence toward a more just and democratic future.
Program Details
Fellows deepen their strategic leadership through four integrated experiences designed to strengthen how they lead, organize, and sustain movement work.
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Complete two virtual graduate-level courses through the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies, taught by experienced movement practitioners. Fellows study power-building traditions, movement strategy, leadership, and organizational management while connecting theory to the challenges they face in their own organizations.
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Participate in two week-long retreats that create space to step away from the urgency of day-to-day organizing and focus on strategic thinking, leadership development, sustainability, and collaborative learning with peers from across the country.
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Receive individualized coaching to clarify leadership goals, strengthen strategic decision-making, and navigate complex organizational challenges. Throughout the fellowship, fellows learn alongside a national cohort of experienced organizers, building relationships that often last well beyond the program.
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Join a nationwide network of more than 380 alumni representing over 200 organizations. Alumni continue learning through ongoing programming, peer connections, and opportunities to collaborate across movements and regions.
Curious about the next cohort?
Visit the 2027 Fellowship Information page for application dates, retreat schedules, course calendars, eligibility requirements, and application details.
We strongly encourage applicants from historically marginalized backgrounds such as Black Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), women and nonbinary people, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, and people from low-income, working class, and immigrant backgrounds. We seek to recruit a cohort with a multitude of perspectives and experience levels, and strive to foster an environment that is inclusive and intergenerational.
