The Hunt Institute’s mission is to provide unbiased research, technical expertise, and learning opportunities that equip and empower educators and policymakers to drive equitable reforms and become audacious champions for education. Since its establishment in 2001, The Institute has emerged as a recognized and credible leader in the movement to transform American public education and a go-to source for reliable, objective, and timely information. The Institute works at the intersection of education policy and politics, supporting state and national officials and empowering them to transform education. The Institute’s mandate is to inspire and equip elected officials and senior policymakers to make informed decisions that improve the lives of all children, with its primary audience consisting of governors, legislators, and other elected and state-level policymakers.

In 2020 the John M. Belk Endowment and The Hunt Institute came together to develop The John M. Belk Impact Fellowship. The John M. Belk Impact Fellowship is a 10-month (August–May), paid program that provides hands-on experience for students currently enrolled in community college, undergraduate, or graduate programs in North Carolina. Building on the success of the John M. Belk Scholarship program, and grounded in the belief that talent is universal but opportunity is not, the Fellowship serves as a training ground for the next generation of social impact leaders. Fellows gain exposure to the inner workings of organizations across North Carolina’s education landscape and may be placed at nonprofits, education systems and institutions, or philanthropic organizations.

Position

Designed with the goal of building future leaders in the area of social impact, the program places students currently enrolled in community college, undergraduate, or graduate programs in North Carolina in 10-month long fellowships with organizations focused on providing equitable access to quality education. To gain exposure to the inner workings of organizations playing a variety of critical roles across North Carolina’s education landscape, Fellows could be placed at organizations such as nonprofits, education systems and institutions, and philanthropic institutions. Fellows will deepen their experience across a wide array of focus areas, build relationships with one another and with education leaders, and gain marketable skills towards future employment.

Applications will close March 20, 2026 at 11:59 pm ET.

Application Requirements

• Resume
• Unofficial transcript
• Cover letter
• (1) letter of recommendation
• 2 short response questions (250 words each)

Eligibility to apply

• Full-time community college, undergraduate, or graduate student at an accredited NC college or university interested in the fields of education, public policy, political science, data analytics, psychology, or related fields; applicants must be a student for the duration of the program
• Ability to commit to a minimum of 11 hours and a maximum of 20 hours per week from mid August 2026 – early May 2027

Program Expectations

• Impact Fellows will work 11-20 hours a week with their host site.
• Ability to work primarily on-site.
• Attend monthly virtual Fireside Chats.
• Participate in bi-weekly check-ins with the Impact Fellowship Coordinator and weekly check-ins with your host site supervisor.
• Ability to attend an in-person orientation and networking opportunities.

Responsibilities

Impact Fellows will receive a tailored experience based on their interests and preferences. This can include research spanning the education continuum, communications and social media management, and preparing policy briefing documents, legislative reports, and other supporting materials including but not limited to:

• Researching specific topics and policy issues to inform the development of materials and activities.
• Analyzing legislation, reports, and other documents and creating summaries and recommendations.
• Gathering and tracking qualitative and quantitative data.
• Preparing briefing documents and other supporting materials for meetings and convenings.
• Developing and/or maintaining the social media presence of partner organizations.
• Providing support at on-site or virtual events as needed.
• Ownership of far reaching and high impact projects at a diverse array of host site organizations, including nonprofits.
• Hands-on skill building in functional areas in philanthropy, program management, finance and operations, communications and marketing, and research and evaluation.
• Mentoring and coaching provided by The Hunt Institute.
• Professional development via workshops and speaker panels.
• Other duties as assigned.