Fellowship and Scholarship Opportunities
Sorry — only the Gary Smith Scholarship is available for the January Leadership Institute. Please send an email to nweiss@udel.edu if you work for a state, local or federal government agency and would like to be considered for this scholarship (pays tuition but not travel costs).
If you are interested in a Mentor Fellowship, please let us know and we will let you know when applications are open for the Summer Institute
A limited number of fellowships and scholarships are available for participation in the University of Delaware Leadership Institute. These are provided through the generosity of The MENTOR Network Charitable Foundation and The Gary Smith Memorial Fund. The MENTOR Network Charitable Foundation fellowships are made available in cooperation with the ANCOR Foundation. For more information about The MENTOR Network Charitable Foundation see: www.thementornetwork.com/foundation; for more information about ANCOR Foundation see: http://ancor.org/foundation/center_for_leadership.htm#leadershipinst
Fellowships and scholarships are provided on the basis of both financial need and the impact the applicant is likely to have as a leader. Fellowship and scholarship applicants will be asked to provide a statement describing financial need, including organizational considerations (i.e., why your employer is unable to provide financial support for your participation in the Institute and/or personal considerations if relevant), as well as why the committee should give consideration to your request for support. You will also be asked to indicate whether the review committee should consider you for participation if a fellowship or scholarship is not available.
Below is a description of the two options for financial support:
The Gary Smith Scholarship Fund for Public Managers was established in honor of Gary Smith, an extraordinary leader and towering figure in the developmental disabilities field and beyond. His prodigious knowledge of the Medicaid program and his understanding of the rich history of our field were unmatched. The scholarship fund in Gary Smith’s name is a legacy to support others who work for state, local or the federal government in their pursuit to improve the lives of people with disabilities and their families.
The MENTOR Network Charitable Foundation Fellowships: In an effort to recognize outstanding leadership potential in the field of human services, The MENTOR Network Charitable Foundation, in cooperation with the ANCOR Foundation, has created The MENTOR Leadership Fellows program. Up to five MENTOR fellowships will be provided. ANCOR members are encouraged to apply for this program. MENTOR Leadership Fellows will have their Institute tuition, travel costs, and hotel accommodations paid by The Foundation and they will be recognized as Fellows at the Institute as well as subsequent to their participation. Unfortunately, due to IRS restrictions, employees of The MENTOR Network are not eligible to receive a MENTOR Fellowship but are invited to discuss their interest in applying for the Leadership Institute with their supervisors.
The MENTOR Network Charitable Foundation is committed to transforming the delivery of human services through the generation of new ideas and best practices. The Foundation seeks to advance an agenda based on quality, accountability, and respect for the individual. The focus of giving is on organizations that take a fresh look -- through research, innovative thinking, direct care, and programming -- at how people with disabilities and youth and families facing emotional, behavioral and other challenges are cared for in our society. The Foundation also works to expand opportunity for the young people we serve through employment and educational support.
The ANCOR Foundation is committed to ensuring people with disabilities live meaningful, productive, personally satisfying and well-supported lives in the communities of their choice. The ANCOR Foundation seeks to assist professionals, families, and communities in helping to integrate people with disabilities into everyday life and offers a variety of programs to assist in the creation of inclusive communities. The ANCOR Foundation is affiliated with ANCOR, a non-profit trade association representing private providers serving individuals with disabilities.
Selection of MENTOR Fellows will be based on two factors: 1) The financial needs of an applicant's employing organization that result in an inability for the employer to provide necessary funding for participation, and 2) the applicant's leadership potential within the field of human services. Applicants for a MENTOR Fellowship will be asked to provide a statement addressing what they see as the biggest challenges facing the field of human services and explaining how their own professional goals might contribute to helping to solve theses challenges.
MENTOR Fellows will be encouraged to maintain contact with each other and with The MENTOR Network Charitable Foundation for the purposes of follow-up and outcome measurement. Upon completion of the Institute, Fellows will be asked to submit a brief statement discussing their experience and its impact on their professional lives. Follow-up information and the statements of impact will be shared with the University of Delaware Leadership Institute staff and faculty, as well as with the ANCOR Foundation.
