CCDE Capstone Fellowship

The CCDE Capstone Fellowship supports Goldman graduate students whose Capstone projects tackle the questions that matter most for democracy’s future. Fellows research how to improve democratic decision-making, expand participation and representation, and give voice to communities historically shut out of the policy process. Some Capstone Fellows are paired with Democracy Policy Fellows, connecting Goldman scholarship directly with the community leaders doing the work. Fellows receive funding and present their findings at CCDE’s annual Democracy in Action Impact Showcase.

Some Capstone Fellows are paired with a Democracy Policy Fellow, a community leader from across California nominated as a catalyst for change. In these pairings, students and practitioners work on the same problem from different vantage points. Students gain firsthand insight from the people closest to the issue. Democracy Policy Fellows gain rigorous research tailored to their communities. These collaborations put the Center’s commitment to bridging the gap between practice and academia into action.

Eligibility

We invite applications from Goldman School MPP, MPA and MDP students who:

Are scheduled to complete their Capstone project in the spring
Have already secured a Capstone client
Are proposing a project closely aligned with the Center’s mission

We welcome a wide range of democracy-related topics, and we’re especially interested in projects that:

Improve democratic decision-making and dialogue
Enhance community participation in policymaking
Increase representation and access
Give meaningful voice to communities historically excluded from democratic processes

Financial Support

Each CCDE Capstone Fellowship provides up to $8,000 in financial support per project. For applicants receiving less than $8,000 through other Capstone-related funding, CCDE can supplement their award up to a total of $8,000. The financial support we provide is administered through the central-campus payment system and may be impacted by the awardee’s eligibility and other circumstances (e.g., existing financial aid, employment, etc.). Fellowship award amounts will be determined by the Center, with a priority towards ensuring the Fellows are fully funded for their Capstone project.

Requirements

A final Capstone Report under the supervision of the student’s faculty advisor
A policy poster generated from the Capstone report (template will be provided)
Attendance and brief panel discussion at the CCDE Spring Capstone Showcase in May
Attendance at two mid-semester 30-min CCDE Fellows meetings