SACRED Organizing Fellowship (Paid, Part-time, Contract)

Organizing Fellowship

Job Type: Part-time, Contract

About SACRED

Based in Chicago, SACRED (South Asian American Coalition to Renew Democracy) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan, independent organization working to overcome hate in the South Asian American community. SACRED unites progressive members of the South Asian American community to overcome anti-democratic South Asian actors that advance authoritarianism and the myth of racial and caste superiority in the U.S.

Fellowship announcement

SACRED organizes multiracial, multifaith, anti-caste coalitions to advance the vision of democracy, equality, nonviolence, and collective liberation that has united civil rights leaders in the U.S. and South Asia since the first half of the 20th century.

SACRED (South Asian American Coalition to Renew Democracy) is launching its second annual Organizing Fellowship seeking three to five highly motivated individuals to support SACRED’s organizing work. In 2027 SACRED is building out its focus to basebuild in working class South Asian American communities in Chicago with a focus on the following neighborhoods: West Ridge, Rogers Park, Edgewater, and Albany Park.

About our Fellows

SACRED is searching for enthusiastic, dynamic individuals who are passionate about building our multifaith, multiracial democracy. The ideal team members have a strong work ethic; ability to work autonomously and collaboratively; are highly organized; have a proven track record of working effectively with diverse populations; and have excellent oral and written communication skills.

Successful fellowship candidates will demonstrate an intersectional understanding of and commitment to racial, gender, caste and economic justice as well as democracy, equality, and human rights. Candidates should have a background or interest in civic engagement, community and/or political organizing, power mapping, communications, policy, or public interest.

SACRED will provide organizing training on the specific approach and methods we use, but we are looking for fellows who are familiar with analyzing local dynamics, engaging community members and building a diverse coalition on the issues we work on. Moreover, successful fellows will have:

A commitment to building a new wave of working-class organizing that reaches well beyond what already exists.

A belief that as “The Fundamentals of Organizing” author George Goehl has written “we need to dramatically broaden who our organizing is designed to reach and tell the story of what becomes possible when we broaden who we invite in to a ‘bigger we.’”

A commitment to developing a collaborative work environment, constructive workplace culture, and team-centered approach.

Mission and value alignment with SACRED’s work.

The ability to engage constructively in discussions about organizational goals, performance, metrics, and deadlines.

Responsibilities may include (but may not be limited to):

• Canvassing, phone-banking, and hosting community meetings to identify issues important to community members.
• Designing and building campaigns, while integrating long-term organizing, base-building, and campaign strategies across issue areas.
• Building relationships between community members and community organizations, advocacy groups and policymakers.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams (policy, communications, digital, development) to support campaign messaging, narrative development, and organizing integration.
• Provide peer support to fellow organizers; collaborate on shared strategies and rapid response organizing.
• Track progress and report campaign success, base growth, field metrics, and deliverables.
• Research opportunities that would lead to growth and attendance at SACRED events and programs.
• Undertake other duties in support of SACRED’s work.

Additional details about the Fellowship:

• Three to five individuals will be selected as Fellows.
• SACRED is looking for fellows who will take on a weekly commitment of 4-6 hours of work.
• While a good amount of work may be virtual, SACRED will convene Fellows in Chicago (likely in West Ridge, Rogers Park, Edgewater, and/or Albany Park) one to three times a month.
• Compensation: Fellows will receive a stipend expected to be between $4,000 and $5,000 (transferred at the midpoint and end of the Fellowship).
• Fellows will be asked to regularly provide updates on their work to the SACRED team and must be able to meet internal deadlines.
• Fellows will be asked to comply with SACRED’s digital security policies and practices.
• Although the fellowship is primarily associated with SACRED’s organizing work, fellows will have opportunities to connect with other team members.
• The Fellowship will run from January to December 2027.

Apply now

Please submit a resume and cover letter to info@SacredDemocracy.org describing your interest in the position and fit with the qualifications and skills described above. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis; candidates with backgrounds that prepare them well for the fellowship will be invited for a 45-minute interview with SACRED team members.

The application deadline is 5:00 PM on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

SACRED is an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to economic and social justice. Women, people of color, caste oppressed people, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, and members of other historically disenfranchised populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Any applicant who requires an accommodation in order to apply for or perform the essential functions of the job should contact us at info@SacredDemocracy.org with the subject line "Application Accommodation" to request such an accommodation.