Davidson Impact Fellows
The Davidson Impact Fellowship (DIF) program connects graduating Davidson students with one-year, post-graduate experience-based fellowships with participating organizations that have been awarded grants from the College.
DIF empowers fellows to create and implement solutions to urgent problems confronting society through direct engagement with thought leaders and community members; thus, the program definitively aligns with the College’s mission to prepare students for lives of leadership and service.
History of DIF & Partner Organizations
Established in 2013, DIF has partnered with 501(c) organizations in a variety of sectors including social justice, healthcare, education and the environment. Eligible organizations could also include Benefit Corporations (B Corps). DIF prioritizes organizations whose work supports the College’s priorities, diversifying community support.
While partner organizations can vary year to year, a cohort of core organizations has been identified, as many have participated in the program since its inception and continue to do so. They include:
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Catawba Lands Conservancy
Charlotte, NC -
Catawba Riverkeeper
McAdenville, NC -
Charlotte Community Health Clinic
Charlotte, NC -
Georgia Justice Project
Atlanta, GA -
Habitat for Humanity International
Washington, DC -
Leading On Opportunity
Charlotte, NC -
Mountain Area Health Education Center
Asheville, NC -
Roof Above
Charlotte, NC -
Salzburg Global Seminar
Washington, DC -
Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University
Atlanta, GA
DIF Spotlight
"During my time as a Davidson Impact Fellow at Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) in Asheville, I worked as a part of the Substance Use Disorder initiatives team to treat underserved patients with use disorders and educate providers on effective care. My projects included leading 7 high-school and undergraduate interns to address substance use-related wound care needs, conducting a case review of 3 pregnant patients with kratom use disorder, and building educational content and online courses alongside addiction medicine specialists."
Outcomes
Fellows and organizations alike express the impact of their participation in the DIF program. At the completion of the fellowship, each fellow submits a capstone project to the Matthews Center, a culmination of their experience. Fellows and organizations have flexibility in the capstone format, be it written or video. The goal of the capstone project is to demonstrate the fellow’s growth in the year following graduation as well as showcase their integration into their host organization and the purposeful, meaningful impact they made.
Beyond the fellowship year, the DIF program’s impact cannot be emphasized enough. The immediate next steps in the first year after the fellowship’s completion include promotion to full-time roles within their organizations, enrollment in masters and PhD programs in a variety of disciplines, and future employment in nonprofit, business and government organizations. DIF fellows credit their fellowship experience with providing the foundation needed for a successful transition into their next steps after graduating from Davidson.
Expectations
DIF matches (at minimum) the current Davidson College Fellow salary of $35,568 plus benefits. The current Davidson College contribution for the salary is $15,500. DIF allots each fellow $500 that is to be used for professional development activities such as professional conferences, certifications and training, etc. This allows the fellow to develop relevant skills and experiences for continued development in their respective space, while not requiring the host organization to fund such initiatives.
Partners are expected to fund the remaining portion of the fellow’s salary as well as provide medical benefits. Partners respond to a Request For Proposals (RFP) to showcase their need and commitment, to identify the dedicated responsibilities of the fellow and demonstrate the desired impact of and on the fellow.