RYE Fellowship FAQ
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply?
The RYE Fellowship is open to LGBTQ+ folks ages 18 through 26 living in rural North Carolina.
What counts as rural?
The fellowship is open to North Carolina residents who are living outside of major city centers (i.e. Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Charlotte, and Asheville are examples of major city centers). Individuals living in smaller towns and communities throughout NC are eligible.
If I am not currently living in a rural community but am from a rural community in NC, can I apply to develop a project for my rural community?
If you have strong ties to a rural community in NC, you are eligible for this fellowship and we invite you to apply. However, all projects must focus on rural communities (i.e. if you are from Hendersonville but living in Durham, your fellowship project should not be geared towards Durham LGBTQ+ communities).
How do I apply?
We are currently accepting applications for the 2022-2023 RYE Fellowship! Apply here by 11:59pm on Wednesday, September 14th, 2022. If you need additional support to develop your application, please contact brennan@equalitync.org.
I’m not eligible for the RYE Fellowship, but I want to get involved. How can I help?
There are many opportunities for ENC supporters to contribute to the RYE Fellowship program. Would you like to offer your skills and expertise as a mentor to one of our Fellows? Can you offer spaces for us to host events and meetings? Can you donate snacks or meals to our program? Do you want to contribute to our Fellow stipends? Send us an email at brennan@equalitync.org.
What if I don’t have a fully formed project?
The RYE Fellowship is designed to provide all of the tools and support needed for Fellows to design and implement a community-based project. You do not need to have an existing project or idea for a project in order to apply – just a passion for creating change and an interest in exploring and addressing issues that you see in your community.
How do the monthly stipends work?
Fellows will receive a monthly stipend as a direct deposit from Equality NC. Final stipend amounts will be determined by funding available and the number of selected Fellows, but each Fellow will receive a stipend of $1,000 monthly. The stipend is considered taxable income.
Is this a job? How much time will I spend in RYE programming?
The RYE Fellowship does not require you to track your hours like a full-time job might. However, we do expect Fellows to dedicate around 15 hours a month to Fellowship-related activities. Each Fellow will participate in a monthly cohort call, coaching with a dedicated mentor, and additional time working on their independent projects.