Read Carefully, and Scroll Down for Application
Eligibility:
The Interfaith Civic Leadership Academy is open to clergy members, lay leaders, and faith-based activists from all religious communities in and around New York City (very much including leaders of secular humanist congregations, and those providing spiritual leadership in secular settings). We expect to work with 15 fellows in the 2025-2026 Leadership Academy.
We are particularly interested in working with emerging faith leaders — with individuals who have some past experience in community leadership or social activism, but could still benefit from ICLA trainings. The program is not a “master class” for seasoned faith leaders.
We are particularly interested in working with faith leaders from historically marginalized or underserved religious communities, who may have less access to training and professional development within their own faith community.
We welcome applications from immigrant faith leaders, regardless of their immigration status. English proficiency is required, however — unfortunately we cannot offer translation services.
We welcome applications from faith leaders working on a wide range of social justice issues — whatever you feel is most important for your faith community and/or other New Yorkers.
We welcome applications from faith leaders with a wide range of theologies and social ethics, but all participants must be open to respectful engagement with their diverse neighbors, including diversity of race, religion, gender identity, sexuality, and other criteria.
Support for Fellows:
ICLA fellows will receive a $500 personal stipend, to honor the time commitment required by the program, and cover any expenses associated with participation. Stipends will be paid in two installments, at the beginning and end of the program.
Upon approval of a modest written grant proposal, ICLA fellows will receive $500 in grant funding to support the community project they develop during the program.
Application Process:
Applications from potential fellows are due by the end of the day on Friday, October 24. We will notify applicants of our admissions decisions by Friday, October 31. The ICLA workshop series will begin on Tuesday evening, November 11.
Before you apply, be sure to review the full schedule of ICLA workshops. Barring unforeseen circumstances, fellows must commit to full participation in the program.
To apply, complete the Google Form below. If you can’t complete the online form for any reason, please contact us and we’ll figure something out. (Some applicants have had problems submitting the form with a Firefox browser. Please let us know if you face any technical difficulties.)
The application form requires:
- your contact information, organizational affiliation, and religious identity
- thoughtful paragraph answers to three questions about your community work, background, and interests
- the names and contact information of two references familiar with your community work
Thank you for sharing this information, which will help us create a diverse learning community for the 2025-2026 Interfaith Civic Leadership Academy.
