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Organizational Memberships to ESAL Community

ESAL is launching organizational memberships for ESAL Community. We heard your feedback and are responding to provide new ways to coordinate with organizations that share our goal to inform and inspire people with backgrounds in STEM to engage in their local communities. This opportunity provides a pathway to strengthen relationships between organizations and across our networks.

New tiers of paid memberships give organizations access to exclusive benefits, such as visibility within ESAL Community and on the ESAL website, space on the platform to support members working at state and local levels, training opportunities through a customized workshop for their members, and a fellowship program for leadership development. 

The Plans

• Amplifier: Gain visibility across ESAL Community, co-host Action Hour events, and share your organization’s story with members.
• Catalyst: Empower your team to take local action through training, collaboration, and connection. This tier includes a customized civic engagement workshop for your members.
• Builder: Lead boldly and support your members in launching local engagement projects. This tier comes with three ESAL Community Fellowships, which provide hands-on project support, mentorship, and free access to ESAL’s upcoming, virtual civic engagement course.
• Mobilizer: Provide visibility, training, and leadership opportunities for your team by getting the best of all tiers.

You can find a full benefit list of the Organization Memberships to ESAL Community on the network landing page. If you do not see a membership type that fits your group's needs, reach out to us at info@esal.us.

ESAL Community Fellowships

ESAL Community Fellowships are designed to empower individuals from our partner organizations to lead meaningful local civic engagement projects that connect science, engineering, and public life. Fellows receive guidance, resources, and access to a network of like-minded STEM professionals who are driving change in their communities. ESAL will provide support for fellows with check-in calls, planning tools, and eligibility for local event support funds and sponsorship for community grant applications. 

This program is offered exclusively as a benefit of the "Builder" and "Mobilizer" organizational membership tiers within the ESAL Community.

How It Works

Partner organizations joining ESAL Community at the Builder and Mobilizer tiers receive up to 3 fellowship positions each year. Fellows are required to design and implement a local civic engagement project. The ESAL team will work with Fellows throughout the year to support their projects. Fellowship positions can be extended or offered to new candidates annually when the organization renews its membership. 

What Fellows Receive

Each ESAL Fellow gains access to:

• Live events and meetups to connect with other STEM civic leaders
• Access to a paid-tier individual membership ("Beacon" tier) in ESAL Community for one year which includes:
  • Supporter-only space on ESAL Community for networking opportunities and exclusive content from ESAL
  • First look at new ESAL initiatives, including our upcoming, virtual local civic engagement course
• Free access to the local civic engagement course upon launch in 2026
• Engagement tools, mentorship, and resources, including monthly check-ins with ESAL team members and other fellows
• Eligibility for local event support funds and sponsorship for community grant applications (fiscal sponsorship).
  

Fellows may also be featured in spotlight posts or events highlighting their work and impact within ESAL Community.

Examples of Fellowship Projects

Fellowships can support new or existing initiatives that promote civic engagement at the local level, such as:

• Convening people with backgrounds in STEM and civic leaders
• Planning and hosting a community clean-up or science outreach event
• Organizing skills-building workshops for university or community groups
• Addressing a community-defined need in collaboration with other local leaders

View our original articles for other examples of the type of initiatives ESAL would support.

Fellow Selection

Organizations are responsible for recruiting candidates for their fellowship positions. ESAL can provide outreach materials. Fellowship candidates must submit a brief proposal of a local civic engagement project or initiative they wish to start or expand. ESAL will work with organizations to select the ESAL Community Fellows.

Approved fellows will be given access to paid-member benefits in ESAL Community and invited to join monthly check-in meetings to support the growth of their projects. If Fellows wish to access financial support for their projects, either in the form of one time funds from ESAL to support an event or assistance applying for a community grant, they must complete a required request form. 

Please note that ESAL cannot financially support partisan initiatives, such as political campaigns or advocating for specific policies or ballot initiatives.

Successful Outcomes

A successful fellowship experience would include:

• Building more local relationships between Fellows and community members
• Launching or deepening a local civic engagement project or initiative
• Sharing lessons learned and inspiration with their organization and ESAL Community members
• Strengthening ties between their organization and the broader ESAL network

Whether launching new efforts, expanding current projects, or connecting communities around STEM and public service, Fellows will get the support they need to make a difference in their local communities.

Join ESAL Community as an organizational member today!

Do you have questions or want to discuss options? Reach out to us at info@esal.us.