ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP
ABOUT VOQAL PARTNERS
VISION
To create and sustain collective liberation and abolish systemic oppression.
MISSION
To support communities in expanding and exercising their power.
OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
• • • • • Provoke Transformation Extend Trust Build Power Support Advocacy Decolonize Systems
ABOUT US
Voqal Partners is a philanthropic organization committed to collective liberation. We believe in shaking things up, stirring the pot, and painting outside the lines. We mobilize our resources to support communities and changemakers doing the hard work to transform our inequitable systems.
ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP
PURPOSE
Voqal Partners believes in taking risks on bold ideas for societal transformation. The Fellowship offers changemakers the chance to enact their vision for a better world. The program is an idea-stage, capacity-building program the centers peer learning and collaborative spaces.
Voqal Partners seeks social justice leaders, thought leaders, doers, and believers passionate about finding new ways to impact communities and
effect lasting, equitable change.We’re looking to partner with people who know the way things are currently just ain’t working; we’re looking for those who see inequality and want to do something about it.We’re looking for community leaders with a vision for a better today, who are ready to make liberation our reality. We want Bold Agitators Disrupting Abusive Social Situations – all you BADASSes out there – who won’t let anyone else feel the heavy hand of oppression.
VALUES
Voqal creates the fellowship program.
Voqal welcomes the first fellowship cohort.
Voqal expands the program from 6 to 8 fellows.
Voqal moves the fellowship to a coaching model.
Voqal becomes Voqal Partners
Voqal Partners welcomes the 10th cohort
WHO WE SEEK
Saviors need not apply. All bold visionaries encouraged to apply. We prioritize people: with lived experience; who represent non-dominant cultures; and who seek to resource historically excluded communities.
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WHAT WE SEEK
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We use the criteria on page 5 to evaluate criteria to evaluate the application against our values and purpose. We seek bold ideas more than who checks the most boxes.
ISSUE AREAS
We don't support any one area. Fellows work on ideas to expand and exercise power with and in historically excluded communities on a reforming structures and institutions including but not limited to:
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• • Criminal Justice Systems. Educational Systems. Financial Systems.
TIMELINE OVERVIEW
• • • Healthcare Systems. Housing Systems. Media Systems.
September – October Applications Open April – September
November – January Application Review and Interviews
CRITERIA
IDEA STAGE
The applicant should develop an idea that has not been tried or produced. Fellows will use the program to build on the idea and take meaningful steps to test it while learning alongside the other cohort members.
ORGANIZING
The applicant should engage the identified constituency in identifying their problems and mobilizing them to apply their solutions. The work should integrate information and service in a way that allows the community to organize itself.
MEDIA OR TECHNOLOGY
The applicant should incorporate media or technology platforms into organizing efforts, including but not limited to television, radio, music, movies, magazines, comics, websites, apps, social media, gaming, and news sites. This also extends to shifting narratives and preserving and archiving community stories.
PROGRESSIVE
The applicant should increase equity and advance progressive values in their chose issue area, including but not limited to economic justice, educational justice, environmental justice, health justice, immigrant justice, racial justice, and LBGTQIA+ justice.
DISRUPTIVE
The applicant should focus on dismantling the policies and practices perpetuating oppression within our structures and systems. They should also work to build political power with and in communities that have traditionally had power used against them.
INNOVATIVE
The applicant should generate an original idea that proposes new ways to achieve social justice. If the work is like others, there should be a clear indication of why the proposed intervention would fill a gap.
REPRESENTATIVE
The applicant should be bold, brave, intelligent, creative, and resilient. They should be a part of the community they work with and not offer support from an outsider’s perspective. We aim to intentionally fund LGBTQIA+ individuals, women, indigenous peoples, people of color, and people with disabilities.
FELLOWSHIP BENEFITS
SEED FUNDING
Financial and capacity-building assistance to turn visions into reality.
PEER LEARNING
Facilitated guidance to seek and offer support from your cohort and program alums.
STRATEGIC THINKING PARTNERS
Advice and mentorship from a network of value-align community leaders.
SOCIAL JUSTICE ALLIES
Opportunities to ideate and collaborate with like-minded visionaries across the country.
Each fellow receives:
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• $30,000. Travel to convenings. Facilitated peer learning. Capacity-building support.
Each fellow gains:
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• A value-aligned community of social justice allies. An active network of advisors and mentors. A database of peer-curated resources and workshops. A space to take risks during the first stages of bringing their idea to life.
Each fellow must:
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• Work on their project from April to September. Attend three (3) in-person convenings. Participate in monthly group calls. Interact with a network of advisors and mentors. Bring their full, authentic self. Center joy and rest.
“ If I hadn't had this opportunity, I would have rushed into building something that would not have been the best legal, financial or logistical structure."
—Fellow Alum
TUESDAY AFTER LABOR DAY
APPLICATION PROCESS
OCTOBER 31
EARLY JANUARY
LATE JANUARY FEBRUARY
QUESTIONS
The application has three main sections: Overview, The Pitch, and About You. Each section is meant for us to get to know you as much as to understand your idea.
•Overview:
You will be asked to provide basic information about eligibility and how you found Voqal.
•The Pitch:
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You will be asked to dive into the details, describing the issue and your solution in more depth. If desired, you will have space to attach documents or provide information not asked in this section.
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You must attach a budget (template provided) for the $30,000 award. This is to see how you are thinking about structure, not to evaluate the actual budget breakdown.
•About You:
You will be asked to share more about your background and motivations for social entrepreneurship.
You will also be asked to provide basic demographic information so we may better understand the applicant pool overall, but these questions are all optional.
APPLICATION LINK: bit.ly/VoqalFellowship
ALUM TESTIMONIES/STORIES
ANDREA HART CITY BUREAU, 2016
Developed City Bureau to support Chicago's South and West sides.
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Allows for residents to identify and compile data for Civic investigations.
Trains Chicagoans to report on official meetings and news literacy.
“ It was dope. Your openness gave me hope and motivated me to continue to push, it was a great experience and I look forward to keeping in contact with the fellows."
—Fellow Alum
ERICK GARCIA #GAMETHESYSTEM, 2019
Developed #GameTheSystem to gamify grassroots organizing.
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Incorporates app technology with texting, email, and social media.
Energizes communities to bring fun to laborious, intense work.
ALUM TESTIMONIES/STORIES
RICH WALLACE EQUITY & TRANSFORMATION, 2019
Started Equity & Transformation (EAT) to organize an often tossed aside population, those working in the informal economy.
Combines online and on-the-ground organizing techniques to enact policy-level changes and protections. Advances social change at the City and state level to increase equity for the community .
“ Funding opportunities opened up to me this year that had previously been closed off, and I believe it was due to Voqal's angel-funding approach that allowed me to access those new opportunities."
—Fellow
Alum
ALISON PARK URBANITY, 2020
Created Urbanity for Asian Americans to see, share, and rank content that reflects their communities, histories, and identities.
Elevates and cultivates new Asian American narratives to create the conditions for social justice.
Fosters solidarity through an online commons for authentic voices and user content from the front lines.
GENERAL RESOURCES
Want to start a social enterprise or nonprofit? Want to organize communities to enact change? Check out these resources.
SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATIONS
If seeking to establish a for-profit entity, the U.S. Small Business Administration, with offices across the country, is the best resource to provide tailored support for working within the operating state and/or city.
NONPROFIT ASSOCIATIONS
If seeking to establish a 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4), the state or regional chapter of the National Council of Nonprofits can point you in the right direction for considerations specific to your state/region.
Here are some books we like:
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• • • “Get Backed: Craft Your Story, Build the Perfect Pitch Deck, and Launch the Venture of Your Dreams” by Evan Baehr (2015)
“The Anti-Racist Business Book” by Trudi Lebrón (2022) “Lead from the Outside: How to Build Your Future and Make Real Change” by Stacey Abrams (2019) “Blueprint for a Revolution” by Srdja Popovic (2015)
“ It prepared me to be a better critical thinker and entrepreneur. Voqal invested in the human being."
—Fellow Alum
•How do I apply? You can apply online at bit.ly/VoqalFellowship.
•When do I apply?
Applications open the Tuesday after Labor Day through October 31
•What is required of fellows?
Fellows work on their projects during the six-month fellowship (April-September). All fellows must demonstrate growth and learning to share at the end of the program. Fellows must attend in-person convenings in April, July, and September. Voqal Partners will cover all travel expenses in addition to the fellowship stipend.
•I applied in a previous round but did not get in. Can I apply again? Yes.
•Can I apply multiple times in one year? No. An individual can only submit one project per year.
•Can I apply if I was a Fellow already? Yes, if it is not a continuation of the already funded project.
•How many people typically apply per cycle? Voqal Partners receives around 150 applications each cycle.
•Who is an ideal candidate?
Ideal candidates for the fellowship are driven social change agents who thrive under self-direction. We are recruiting creative thinkers with a track record of advancing social change and/or using innovative solutions to help communities.
•Will there be opportunities to connect with other fellows?
GENERAL RESOURCES
Yes. There will be three in-person gatherings. We also organize monthly group learning and check-ins to help fellows troubleshoot and share ideas.
•Does location matter?
The Fellowship is virtual and fellows can be based anywhere in the United States, Voqal Partners cannot offer Visa sponsorship to fellows and cannot, consider international projects at this time.
•Does it matter if your project focuses locally or nationally?
No, a project can be hyperlocal or have a national lens.
•Is there an age limit for Fellows? Fellows must be 18 or older.
•How do you define an idea stage?
Voqal Partners views an early-stage idea as one that has not been tested yet to see where it can go. Since start-up generally refers to the tech field, we use idea stage to encompass grassroots organizing ideas.
•How do you define an idea stage?
Voqal Partners views an early-stage idea as one that has not been tested yet to see where it can go. Since start-up generally refers to the tech field, we use idea stage to encompass grassroots organizing ideas.
•Would Voqal Partners have claims to any potential Intellectual Property (IP) created through the successful applicant’s fellowship?
No, and the agreement states that the fellow strictly owns any IP.
•How is the $30,000 distributed?
Each fellow receives the $30,000 as a lump sum at the start of the fellowship but we can accommodate other ways to distribute as requested.
•What is Voqal Partners' expectation of how fellows spend the award?
Voqal Partners has no expectations on how funds are spent. They can be used to cover living expenses, buy equipment, or contract services, to name a few. If the expenses are in service to supporting the fellow and the idea, then it is okay with us.
•Is health insurance/fringe benefits something you should outline in your budget?
In addition to the stipend, Voqal Partners provides $1,000 for healthcare costs.
•Do you cover childcare?
Voqal Partners will provide a childcare stipend for the in-person convenings for fellows with dependents under 18.
GENERAL RESOURCES
•Can fellows pursue other work?
Yes. We want the fellows to prioritize work on the project but understand the need to provide for themselves and their families and to be able to take advantage of potential revenue opportunities.
•What outcome are you looking to see by the end of the fellowship?
We expect fellows to demonstrate growth. There is no expectation for a final product other than presenting what you learned and how you plan to move forward.
•Can you implement the project too, or make plans?
Yes, the fellowship stipend and time can be used to implement an idea, not just think it through.
•Are you open to plans for follow-up once the fellowship ends?
Voqal Partners considers all fellows part of the alum family and provides ongoing support through networks and resources.
•Are there grant opportunities available from Voqal other than the fellowship?
Voqal Partners makes unsolicited grants. In some cases, fellows have received grant funding after the program ends. These cases are limited, though, and based on alignment with the current funding priorities.
“ Voqal is a fantasy fellowship: trusting, thoughtful, understanding, and a warm willingness to see new and blurry vision of a better future."
—Fellow Alum
