Birding For Everyone Fellowship

ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP

The mission of the Birding for Everyone Fellowship is to develop and empower the next generation of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) conservation leaders. We strive to develop and elevate conservation leaders of color to better serve their communities and our collective birding community. Secondarily, we aim to cultivate conservation leaders from other underrepresented communities: members of the LGBTQ community, people with disabilities, and people from marginalized socio-economic groups.

This Birding For Everyone Fellowship is intended to nurture diverse leadership within the Golden Gate Bird Alliance (GGBA) community by reducing financial and social barriers to participation in the GGBA’s adult education offerings.

Fellowship recipients receive the following:

  • Free GGBA courses for one calendar year (GGBA OFFERS SEASONAL CLASSES in the Fall, Winter, and Spring, and Summer plus a year-long Master Birder program in partnership with the California Academy of Sciences, if it is offered.)
  • Monthly gatherings and networking opportunities with other Fellows, BFE alumni, GGBA Board and leadership, and the broader birding and conservation community organized by the Fellowship Mentor
  • Free one-year membership to Golden Gate Bird Alliance
  • Priority access to more than 280 free GGBA field trips each year (not counting Birdathon and related fundraiser events)

SUPPORT THE FELLOWSHIP

This fellowship program is made possible by the support of generous donors and members who believe in equitable opportunities within the conservation and environmental field. If you have the means, please considering supporting this wonderful program.

Donate

CRITERIA

Applicants must meet the following criteria: 

– Applicant is over the age of 18 and lives in Alameda, Contra Costa, or San Francisco County.

– Applicant identifies as a member of an under-represented community, including Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), members of the LGBTQ community, people with disabilities, and people from marginalized socio-economic groups. 

– Applicant has circumstances or life experiences that would enhance the diversity of the birding community.

Application will open Monday Sept 16, and will close Friday October 18

View the questions ahead of time HERE, but please submit your application using the Google Form linked below:

FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION

Questions? Please email GGBA Deputy Director Whitney Grover at wgrover@goldengatebirds.org.

We will award up to 10 fellowships. Recipients can attend as many Adult Education courses as they like in 2025.

Applications are due on October 18, 2024. We will notify all applicants of our choice by early November 2024. Fellowship recipients will be able to register for 2025 winter courses after they are selected. In general, Fellows will get priority access for enrollment for a limited time prior to general enrollment.

  • Winter classes that begin in January/February are posted in late November. Spring classes are posted in late January, Fall classes are posted in late July, and Summer classes are posted in late April. Fellowship recipients will get early notification of upcoming courses approximately two weeks before general enrollment opens. Class offerings change every year based on teacher availability. You can get an idea of what courses are available by looking at LAST YEAR’S OFFERINGS.

After you are selected, let us know that you are unsure which course to take. We will offer the services of a Fellowship Mentor and we have experienced staff who are familiar with class offerings who can help you decide.

It is preferable for you to take your GGBA course in 2025. However, if there are specific circumstances that prevent you from doing so, contact us about options for deferral

Yes, if you are also a member of a marginalized/underrepresented community, you are welcome to apply. Please be aware that to fulfill the stated objectives of the fellowship, we will prioritize applicants who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color).

Please contact Deputy Director Whitney Grover at wgrover@goldengatebirds.org if you would like to participate in our education programs but face challenges in doing so.

Most classes include presentations and field trips. Most class presentations are via Zoom. Most field trip locations are not accessible by public transit or bicycle. Class instructors encourage carpooling, and the BFE Fellowship Mentor will assist Fellows with arranging rides for field trips.