Fellowships At Audubon

How we're helping to create the conservation movement of the future

The Audubon fellowship initiative is tangible proof of Audubon’s commitment to the future of the conservation movement and to developing the next generation of leaders. This initiative deploys highly trained early-career people on the front lines of Audubon’s mission to save birds and the places they need today and tomorrow.

Audubon fellows are leaders-in-training in the disciplines of environmental communications, conservation education, field organizing, field biology, public policy, geospatial information systems, and much more. The 2018 class of Audubon fellows is based in New York, New York; Washington, DC; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Chicago, Illinois; Detroit, Michigan; Dallas, Texas; Phoenix, Arizona; Los Angeles, California; Seattle, Washington; Middlebury, Vermont; and Atlanta, Georgia. To apply for an Audubon fellowship, check our careers page.

Dangermond Fellowship
2016 to present

Dangermond fellows are being trained for leadership roles in conservation science, public policy, and digital mapping careers. They build tools that empower scientists and policy experts to advocate for solutions that meet human needs and protect birds and habitat at the same time. The Dangermond fellows improve their technical and storytelling abilities with the support and guidance of mentors, leadership, and resources at both Esri and Audubon.

Fund II Apprenticeship
2018 to present

The Fund II Foundation Apprenticeship Program at Audubon is a year-long, full-time apprenticeship for diverse young leaders entering the conservation field. Apprentices will receive on-the-job training and gain opportunities for professional development. Apprentices will be placed in the following departments across the Audubon Network: Communications, Marketing, Policy, Grassroots Capacity, and Community Engagement. The Fund II Apprenticeship program supports Audubon's vision to create a more diverse and inclusive conservation movement. 

Mackenzie Fellowship
2018 to present

The Mackenzie Fellowship, launched in 2018, is Audubon’s newest fellows program. This program focuses on using nature to build leadership skills to connect kids from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds to conservation. The fellows are based in Audubon nature centers in Arizona and Texas and are being trained in Audubon conservation education methods that provide life-changing outdoor experiences to high school students. At its completion in 2020, Audubon will have launched ten new Mackenzie leaders, each prepared and inspired to pursue a career in conservation and outdoor education.

Schneider Fellowship
2015 to present

The Schneider Fellowship supports students working to advance climate and clean energy policy at the state and national level. Because climate solutions are complex and far-reaching, fellows have the opportunity to work with departments across the organization. Past fellows have worked to advance legislative priorities with the federal and California policy teams, develop communications materials around Audubon’s climate science, and support responsible renewable energy siting with Audubon’s Clean Energy Initiative. The fellowship is run through the Haas Center for Public Service at Stanford University.

Walker Communications Fellowship
2016 to present

The Walker Communication Fellows program is an innovative vehicle for Audubon to learn how to elevate young voices to cultivate a more diverse, urban constituency. The project offers  fellows leadership training and opportunities, while Audubon learns from them how to connect better with them and their peers. Using social media and other digital assets, the fellows engage audiences with diverse perspectives and backgrounds through campaigns and stories. Their stories focus on topics such as how personal action leads to collective action and how environmental justice is everyone’s concern. With the help of these fellows and their insights, we believe Audubon can play a leading role in building a conservation movement that is relevant, inclusive, and user-driven.