Overbrook Human Rights Fellow in Democracy and Reproductive Rights

The Overbrook Foundation:

The Overbrook Foundation (the “Foundation”) is a family foundation that supports organizations advancing human rights, protecting American democracy, and conserving the natural environment. Founded in 1948, the Foundation has a fourteen-member Board of Directors and a professional staff of seven. The Foundation awarded approximately $10 million in grants in 2025.

Position Overview:

Overbrook’s Human Rights program supports work to defend democracy and advance reproductive health, rights, and justice in the United States. It also provides support to human rights defenders in Central America. For a start date in September of 2026, The Overbrook Foundation is offering a fellowship for graduate students interested in philanthropy and promoting democracy and reproductive rights in the United States. The Overbrook Fellowship provides an opportunity for graduate students in the New York area to partner with The Overbrook Foundation senior leadership as the Foundation undertakes time-sensitive policy and grantmaking strategies. Fellows will work closely with Overbrook’s Human Rights Program team on topics related to the Foundation’s core mission and values, and with other members of the Foundation team on philanthropy operations.

The Fellow will work under the supervision of the Program Associate, Human Rights and the Director, Human Rights. The scope of work for the Fellow will depend on several factors, including experience, interests, focus area, etc. However, the Human Rights Fellow can expect to:

• Manage one or two research projects related to the Human Rights portfolio’s strategic focus; this work will be the primary task for the Overbrook Fellow. Research areas may include identifying and analyzing issues at the intersection of advancing reproductive rights and democracy in the United States and mapping and analyzing the impact of year-round voter engagement strategies;
• Identify /assist with evaluating potential grantees undertaking specific work / projects relevant to the program’s portfolio;
• Assist in monitoring the impact of policy changes at the federal and state levels and support Human Rights Program leadership in identifying opportunities to make special grants in response to protect and advance the Foundation’s areas of strategic focus;
• Develop case studies to showcase grantees’ impact;
• Work on special projects regarding philanthropy operations in collaboration with other Foundation team members.

Qualifications:

• Applicants must be current students or have graduated within the last six months;
• Graduate degree must be in process or recently received; degree in public policy, human rights, or equivalent is preferred;
• Demonstrated interest, studies, and/or professional experience in a relevant program area;
• Exceptional research, analytical, and problem-solving skills;
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills;
• Ability to work in the Foundation’s Midtown offices one to two days per week from mid-September through mid-December;
• Strong proficiency in the use of Google Suite, Zoom, and Microsoft Office computer applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint;
• Ability to structure documents clearly and concisely in order to communicate key points to a variety of audiences;
• Proactive, curious, independent, eager, and able to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously; and
• Enthusiasm for working as a part of a highly collaborative and high-performing small team, with a sense of humor and a positive attitude.

Stipend and Fellowship Term:

The Overbrook Foundation offers a stipend of $2,200 per month for three months. The Fellow will start mid-September and work approximately 20 hours weekly. This is a hybrid position, with the Fellow working from the office one to two days per week.

How to Apply:

Interested applicants should email a resume, statement of interest, and short writing sample to humanresources@overbrook.org. The writing sample should be at most 1,000 words. Please include “HUMAN RIGHTS FELLOWSHIP – YOUR NAME” in the subject line. In your short cover letter, please address why you are interested in working at The Overbrook Foundation and with the Human Rights program team. The application deadline is April 30, 2026, at 11:59 P.M. ET. Due to a large volume of requests, we will not be able to confirm that we received your application. No phone calls, please.

The Overbrook Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes diverse applicants. Thank you in advance for your interest and work on this application!