The right nonprofit fellowship Philadelphia offers depends on your aim: the PACDC AmeriCorps VISTA role suits community development work, while The Philadelphia Project fellowship suits recent graduates drawn to church-based ministry. Neither outranks the other.
For the wider field of programs, start with our guide to postgraduate fellowships philadelphia. If you are still deciding what kind of program fits a new degree, the overview of post graduate fellowships philadelphia for recent college graduates sorts options by graduate profile.
How to compare nonprofit fellowships
A fellowship at a nonprofit after college is a paid, time-limited role inside a host organization, usually with some training attached. These criteria separate one program from another more usefully than a program’s name or reputation.
- Host type and mission. A community development network, a church-based ministry and a direct-service agency all offer very different daily work. Pick the mission you would still care about in the slow months.
- Length and schedule. A fixed term with set start and end dates and a full-time schedule shapes whether you can pair the role with study or other work.
- Compensation. Look at the whole package, including any stipend, allowance, health coverage, transit and end-of-service payment, not only the headline amount.
- Duties. Duties written as outcomes tell you more than a title does.
- Application status. Many listings close after a short window, so check whether a program is accepting applications before you plan around it.
No ranking applies below, because the programs serve different goals. The selection runs from the most fully documented role to a broader pathway worth exploring.
Nonprofit fellowships to consider in Philadelphia
PHENND Fellows: PACDC Community Development Specialist
This is an AmeriCorps VISTA listing in Philadelphia, hosted by PACDC, a network of over 60 community development corporation member organizations across the city. The listed term ran 08/11/2025 to 08/10/2026 on a full-time schedule.
Who it suits: people who want to see community development from the network level rather than from inside one neighborhood organization, and who value a structured benefits package. The role leans toward program support, evaluation and volunteer systems rather than front-line service.
Limits: the listing states that it is not currently accepting applications, and the last window ran 04/01/2025 to 05/31/2025. Treat that window as a hint about timing, not a promise of when the next one opens. Watch the AmeriCorps listing itself for updates.
The Philadelphia Project fellowship
The Philadelphia Project fellowship is a one-year commitment aimed at recent college graduates who want to grow in ministry and the vocational side of ministry. It is built around serving and ministering to Philadelphia communities through the local church.
Who it suits: graduates who want faith-based service to be the center of the year, not a side feature. It also suits people who enjoy hosting and mentoring others, since the work centers on visiting groups.
Limits: this is a ministry program. If you are looking for secular policy, evaluation or administrative experience, a different host will serve you better. Confirm compensation details directly with the program before applying, because the fellowship page frames the role around commitment and development.
AmeriCorps routes listed by PHENND
PHENND, the Philadelphia Higher Education Network for Neighborhood Development, keeps a resource page on AmeriCorps programming that names Next Steps, VISTA and Scholars in Service to PA. It is a sensible starting point if you like the idea of a national service structure with a local network behind it.
Limits: a resource category is not a single fellowship. Each program has its own eligibility, term and benefits, so read each listing individually before comparing it with the PACDC role above.
Side-by-side comparison
| Program | Host type | Sector | Length | Pay and benefits | Planning use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHENND Fellows: PACDC Community Development Specialist | Community development network (AmeriCorps VISTA) | Community development | 08/11/2025 to 08/10/2026, full time | Stipend, living allowance, health coverage, monthly transit pass, relocation allowance, education award or end-of-service stipend | Best for benefits-focused applicants who want network-level exposure; not open at present |
| The Philadelphia Project fellowship | Church-based ministry organization | Faith and ministry | One year | Confirm with the program | Best for graduates seeking vocational ministry experience |
Figures come from the AmeriCorps VISTA listing and the Philadelphia Project fellowship page.
What nonprofit fellows do day to day
Fellow duties range from running training cohorts to hosting groups, and the posted wording is the best guide to what a week looks like.
In the PACDC role, the listing asks the specialist to support implementation and evaluation of pilot and expansion phases for PACDC peer groups and cohort training programs. It also asks the fellow to design roles and processes for increased volunteer support in PACDC activities. In practice, that points to a mix of coordination, evaluation and volunteer-system design. The fellow builds the structures that volunteers work within, rather than serving as the volunteer.
In The Philadelphia Project, fellows facilitate the growth and leadership development of visiting groups and Summer of Service Interns. That is people-centered work, closer to mentoring and group leadership than to data or program evaluation.
When you read any posting, ask whether the duties produce something you can describe afterward, such as a cohort pilot, a volunteer process or a leadership program. Those outcomes are what carry into a later application.
Stipends, benefits and professional development
The PACDC VISTA listing shows how much a full fellowship package can include. The listing names a stipend and living allowance, health coverage, a monthly all-access transportation pass, a relocation allowance, childcare assistance if eligible, training, and a choice of an education award or an end-of-service stipend.
Health coverage on the listing carries an asterisk that refers readers to the AmeriCorps VISTA healthcare page, so check the terms there rather than assuming a standard plan. The dollar value of the living allowance sits on the listing and in the program’s own materials, so read it against Philadelphia rent and commuting costs before you accept.
Benefits are not interchangeable. The transit pass matters most if you will commute, the relocation allowance matters if you are moving to the city, and the choice between an education award and an end-of-service stipend depends on whether you plan further study. Training also counts as professional development, so ask what share of the year is structured learning and what share is hands-on work.
Judging a host organization
A fellowship is only as good as the organization and supervisor behind it. These checks apply to any Philadelphia nonprofit host.
- Look at the network around the host. PACDC states that it supports member organizations and key partners with training, convening, capacity building and advocacy, and that it has over 60 CDC members. A host that strengthens other nonprofits can give a fellow broad exposure, though a fellow there sees less direct service.
- Test duties against your goals. If you want to learn evaluation, look for verbs like support and evaluate. If you want facilitation, look for work with groups.
- Ask about supervision and training. Ask who the fellow reports to, how learning is structured, and whether a past fellow can describe their year.
- Verify the organization. Review public charity and tax-exempt records for the host, and compare its stated mission with the daily tasks it assigns.
- Check mission fit. Faith-based hosts such as The Philadelphia Project state their orientation openly, so decide whether it matches your own values before applying.
If you also want background on how the namesake of this site came about, the history of the philly fellows program is covered separately.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a college degree for the PACDC VISTA role?
The listing sets a minimum age of 18 and an education level of some college, so a completed degree is not stated as a requirement.
Can fellows study or hold another job?
The PACDC VISTA listing permits school attendance and another job during off hours. Confirm any limits on outside work with the program before you commit.
Where is the PACDC host office?
The listing gives the host contact address as 3440 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
