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Invest STL is searching for a graduate student to serve as a Fellow during the Fall/Spring semester. The Fellow will jointly support the planning and implementation of Invest STL projects and gain experience with a mission-driven non-profit organization operating within the community and economy development ecosystem.

The fellowship period is set to last for the Fall semester with the option to continue through the following Spring semester based on mutual agreement.

Applications will be accepted through August 16, 2026.

Background

Invest STL facilitates investment in the power of people and their neighborhoods to create communities of justice and opportunity in places that continue to endure the legacy of systemic anti-Black racism. We seek to do this by generating trust-based, community-driven, neighborhood-based investments; investing in the regional community and economic development system; influencing policies and decision-making that advance equitable development; and reframing prevailing narratives in our region about predominantly Black neighborhoods and the people, power, challenges and dreams that they hold. Catch a glimpse of who we are and how we work here.

Position Overview

The Graduate Fellow will partner with Invest STL staff on projects aligned with their academic expertise and Invest STL's strategic priorities. Fellows will contribute advanced research, analysis, facilitation, evaluation, or systems design while gaining experience applying scholarship in a community-centered nonprofit setting. Projects will be scoped collaboratively based on organizational priorities, the Fellow's area of expertise, and mutual learning goals.

This role will report to the Executive Operations Partner and work under the direction of Team Leads to support project management and associated responsibilities.

Fellows may have opportunities to:

• Apply academic research to real-world community development challenges

• Collaborate across nonprofit, philanthropic, and community sectors

• Assist with outreach and engagement efforts with neighborhood residents and partners

• Support community meetings, events, and listening sessions

• Develop applied research products with organizational impact

• Support collection of stories, data, and lessons learned from projects

• Support development of communication materials and presentations

• Facilitate organizational learning and strategic reflection

• Help maintain organized digital files, resources, and project materials

• Build experience translating scholarship into practice

Responsibilities of the Fellow

Projects will vary based on organizational priorities and Fellow expertise. Examples may include:

Strategic Project Leadership

• Support projects aligned with organizational priorities and academic expertise

• Develop project scope, timeline, and deliverables in collaboration with staff

• Present recommendations and work products to Invest STL staff

• Translate research into practical organizational tools or decision-making resources

Research & Systems Learning

• Conduct applied research relevant to Invest STL initiatives

• Synthesize academic and practitioner literature

• Develop frameworks, evaluation tools, or implementation recommendations

• Support organizational learning through presentations or written briefs

Collaboration

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams

• Participate in planning meetings and strategic discussions

• Seek input from staff and community partners when appropriate

• Integrate feedback into project development

Knowledge Sharing

• Produce tangible organizational resources that can be used beyond the fellowship

• Share findings with staff through presentations, workshops, or written materials

• Document lessons learned and recommendations

Required Qualifications and Critical Qualities

To start, a candidate should be a current graduate student in good academic standing in a field relevant to Invest STL’s work. Additionally, we recognize that candidates may bring a combination of lived, academic, volunteer, and professional experience to this role.

Ideal candidates should demonstrate:

• Interest in community development, social justice, or systems change work

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills

• Curiosity, humility, and willingness to learn

• Ability to manage tasks and follow through on responsibilities

• Strong time and project management skills.

• Comfort working with diverse communities and perspectives

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail

• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively

• Clear, concise, efficient written and verbal communication style

• Firm understanding of your personal boundaries for maintaining a work-life balance that is healthy for you and supports you consistently meeting the expectations of the role.

• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment, initiative, and tact when interacting with work team, colleagues, our community, partners, and whoever walks through our doors.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace applications.

Additionally, we are seeking out candidates that are competent in, and have the mindset for:

• Fulfilling Invest STL’s mission and vision for the St. Louis region.

• Prioritizing responsibilities, tasks, and schedules across multiple projects.

• Ensuring accuracy in detail-oriented projects, tasks, and coordination.

• Being a proactive and resourceful problem solver, and motivated vs. halted by complexity in systems, relationships, and work products.

• Building relationships with humility

• A listening and learning posture

• Curiosity and adaptability

• Openness to feedback and reflection

• Engaging positively in a team environment

Compensation

In consideration of the estimated average of 15 hours per week over the 9-week term (with the option to extend upon mutual agreement), Invest STL agrees to pay Fellow the sum of $3,375.00 in roughly monthly disbursements - contingent on attendance and performance of work assignments performed for each period.

The Fellow will serve as an independent consultant, thus the Fellow shall not be deemed an Invest STL employee. The Fellow is not eligible to participate in any employee medical insurance, or other fringe benefit plan of Invest STL.

Team Culture

We are a growing team transitioning from startup to standout. We do our best, and sometimes we fall short. We aim to be thoughtful and courageous in our work. We relish a work environment that inspires and supports us to grow personally and professionally. We understand that our work, which we are deeply committed to, is but one component of our multifaceted lives.

We maintain a hybrid work schedule, operating from our office, homes, and elsewhere as the work permits. We meet as a full team in person on Thursdays. We are a highly collaborative team. Our culture is best suited for team members who are able to receive direction on work scope and expectations, then enjoy having the space to design, manage, and be accountable for their own approach to meeting expectations within an agreed upon timeline. We use Trello, Google Workspace, Outlook, and Teams to manage workflows and progress towards quarterly and annual work plans.

Application and Additional Information

Applications will be accepted through August 16, 2026.

Please submit:

• Your resume/CV.

• Previous work sample.

• A personal narrative on your commitment and practice towards racial equity, justice and healing.

• Written responses to prompts within the online application:

*Invest STL is very much interested in your original thoughts and responses. Answers will be screened, and candidates will be disqualified, for AI-generated responses.

We will evaluate candidates based on an initial de-identified review of all applications followed by one round of interviews. We anticipate our Fall/Spring Fellows to start on or near September 14, 2026/February 1, 2027.

Invest STL prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to team members and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Invest STL conforms to the spirit as well as to the letter of all applicable laws and regulations. Invest STL prioritizes diversity in many forms in the workplace and celebrates it in our community.

During the open application period, we request that applicants refrain from contacting staff directly with questions or requests regarding the position or application process. To ensure fairness and transparency, all communications and questions related to the position and application process should be directed to Invest STL at info@investstl.org.