Back to Find a Program

Climate Justice Fellowship Plus Program

NYSERDA, with support from U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, of New York's 14th congressional district, is pleased to announce the Climate Justice Fellowship Plus Program is now available and is fully funded by the U.S. Department of Labor. The Climate Justice Fellowship Plus Program is a $3 million pilot program to advance climate justice in the Bronx and Queens.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is seeking applications to partially fund a two-year, full-time climate justice fellowships, for individuals from priority populations. Climate Justice Fellows will work within non-profit organizations in the Bronx and Queens to advance climate justice and clean energy priorities. NYSERDA has partnered with BronxWorks , a community-based organization, that will provide case management for fellows to support their success in the fellowship.

Is My Non-Profit Eligible?

To qualify as an eligible Non-profit Employer, the organization must:

Be a nonprofit organization (Internal Revenue Service status of a 501(c)(3)) at the time of application.
Have at least one physical business address in New York State, serving or located in the Bronx or Queens, with the legal authority to hire employees and conduct business in New York State and where the fellowship will be hosted with the space and equipment needed to support the work of the fellow.
Attest to compliance with all applicable labor laws, and not have failed to file any applicable local, state, or federal tax returns, nor failed to pay New York State Unemployment Insurance.

Who is Eligible to be a Fellow?

Eligible fellow candidates must:

Be a resident of the 14th Congressional District , which spans parts of the Bronx and Queens.
Be a member of a priority population, see Priority Population List for the Program [PDF].
Commit to working in the Bronx and/or Queens full-time for the entire 24-month fellowship.

Note: For the purposes of this solicitation, when feasible, in-person work that prioritizes the health and safety of individuals is preferred. However, remote work arrangements will also be considered for funding. If approved, all remote work must take place in New York State.
Note: Fellowships are intended for individuals not enrolled in school or coursework. However, part-time coursework or schooling that does not exceed 6 credit hours or 6 to 8 hours per week may be allowable and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Commit to the goal of assisting the nonprofit employer in advancing climate justice and clean energy priorities for the Bronx and Queens.
Be a new hire defined as (1) an individual who has no previous employment (paid or unpaid) with the nonprofit employer; furloughed employee; contractor and (2) may be new to the climate justice and clean energy field more broadly.
Not be a relative of the owners, principals, hiring managers, or existing employees of the business or organization.

Funding Available to Employers and Fellows

Employers

Eligible employers receive $79,170 per Fellow over the 2-year period. Wage subsidies are administered by NYSERDA on a full-time basis at $39,000 per fellow in year one and $40,170 per fellow in year two to support a 3% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA).

Employers are responsible for contributing $19,500 in wages in the first year and $20,085 in the second year.

Employers must provide low-to-no-cost health insurance to Fellows and offer a minimum of two (2) weeks paid vacation or sick time and federal holidays off per 12-month period.

Fellows

Fellows must be employed on a full-time basis. Fellows receive a minimum annual salary of $58,500 ($30/hour) in the first year and $60,255 ($30.90/hour) in the second year.

NYSERDA will provide up to $8,000 per Fellow over the two year fellowship to support approved professional development activities and supportive services. Fellows are required to meet with BronxWorks on a quarterly basis. BronxWorks will provide case management services to Fellows as well as supportive services or referrals to supportive services to reduce barriers to employment.

NYSERDA has partnered with a contractor to provide additional professional development services to the fellows in each cohort. Fellows must participate in cohort services. Cohort services include: (1) virtual peer groups in which fellows can discuss topics such as challenges and successes, (2) mentorship opportunities with industry leaders, (3) access to a virtual Climate Leadership Certificate Course , (4) Skills Labs to hone specific climate justice- and clean energy-related skills determined based on needs, and (5) access to a Climate Leadership Network (CLN), an online community for climate-focused organizations with a presence in New York State.

How to Apply:

Become an Approved Non-Profit Employer

Apply to be a Climate Justice Fellow

Compare the Programs

Learn how the Climate Justice Fellowship plus Program Compares to the Climate Justice Fellowship Program by viewing the program comparison page.

Learn more about the program by reading the Program Opportunity Notice (PON) .

If you do not meet the eligibility requirements for the CJF Plus Program, learn how the Climate Justice Fellowship Program may suit the needs of your organization.