Diversify Your Staff and the Field of Real Estate Development

Host a FEAHD Fellow

 

May 2023 Update— The CDC Host application period is now closed.

CDCs Apply to Host a Fellow, by completing a Host Application

Introducing the Fellowship for Equitable Affordable Housing Development (FEAHD)

This paid Fellowship supports young BIPOC professionals who are early in their careers and are interested in creating an impact in the field of affordable housing development.

Support Building a Diverse Pipeline of Real Estate Developers

Community development corporations work extensively in communities of color, yet employ few people of color in leadership and real estate development positions. With the support of NeighborWorks America, OppCo and local non-profit community developers are working to change that.

Our unique Fellowship program encourages young professionals to enter careers in affordable housing real estate development, providing opportunity to members of our communities and diversifying the field.

The FEAHD Program

The Fellowship for Equitable Affordable Housing Development (FEAHD) covers the cost of candidate recruitment, screening, and on-boarding, training for Fellows, and program management.

Ideal candidate are those who:

  • Have either four years of relevant work experience OR a college degree;

  • Have backgrounds that are historically underrepresented in the real estate development field;

  • Have lived experience that aligns with the communities served by Massachusetts CDCs;

  • Demonstrated interest in real estate development, community development, or housing; and

  • Desire to work with communities of color, low-income communities, or disinvested communities.

Cohorts of nine Fellows complete 24-month paid fellowships working as Associate Real Estate Project Managers at host CDCs in Massachusetts.

All Fellows will benefit from foundational career training, peer-learning, and mentorship. Our goal is that two-thirds of program graduates will remain employed in the community development sector.

Host a Fellow

Host organizations pay their Fellows competitive salaries and benefits, and assign them to one or more active projects.

With the support of the program director, Fellows benefit from a wide range of skills that will enable them to build a career in affordable housing and community development.

Hosts share learnings with each other, and promote the fellowship to peer organizations across the country.