Outreach & Partnership Fellow

About the Opportunity 

Start Date: June 2nd, 2025

Length of Fellowship: 10 months

Are you driven to make a difference at the intersection of climate resilience, equity, and community engagement? As an Outreach & Partnership Fellow in the Climate Corps Fellowship program, you’ll play a key role in advancing sustainability and housing justice initiatives with the Community Energy Project. This position is primarily remote but requires occasional onsite meetings (1–3 times per month), so candidates should be within commuting distance.

In this role, you’ll build meaningful relationships with community members and partner organizations while playing a key role in amplifying stories that drive climate and housing justice. This Fellowship offers hands-on experience in community-centered outreach, strategic communications, and event planning, all while working at the intersection of sustainability, equity, and public engagement. Fellows will also gain insight into nonprofit development, advocacy, and data-informed storytelling—essential skills for any emerging leader in the environmental justice space. You’ll collaborate with Development & Communications to advance climate resilience by engaging frontline communities through outreach, education, and storytelling. Working within the Development and Communications Department, the Fellow will help implement a full organizational media plan, contributing to communications strategy, website redesign, and digital content creation. They will also support in-kind donation outreach and sponsorship requests for CEP’s annual fundraiser while helping to coordinate community events and partnerships that promote energy efficiency, healthy homes, and equitable access to climate solutions. This role offers hands-on experience in nonprofit communications, community engagement, and climate justice advocacy, providing valuable skills and exposure for anyone pursuing a career in sustainability or public service.

Projects you will be working on include:

• Organizational Media Plan Implementation: Assist with executing a comprehensive communications strategy, including content creation, social media, and the redesign of CEP’s website.
• Annual Fundraiser Support: Coordinate in-kind donation outreach and sponsorship requests and support event promotion and logistics.
• Community Outreach & Partnership Engagement: Help plan and participate in outreach events, workshops, and partner collaborations to strengthen CEP’s presence in frontline communities.

This position offers a unique opportunity to develop your professional skills, grow your network, and contribute to Community Energy Projects’ sustainability goals.

About Our Partner: Community Energy Project

Community Energy Project (CEP) is a Portland-based nonprofit that partners with low-income communities on the frontlines of climate change to create more resilient, efficient, and healthy homes. For over 40 years, CEP has delivered free home energy upgrades, DIY education, and repair services, ensuring that historically underserved communities can access the benefits of sustainable housing. Their work sits at the intersection of climate justice, housing, and equity, making a direct impact on the health, comfort, and energy burden of thousands of households each year. They also use community-driven data to inform policy and advocate for systemic change, making it a powerful force for sustainability and environmental justice in the region.

CEP is an exciting place to work because it centers equity, innovation, and community wisdom in everything they do. Team members are supported in their professional growth, encouraged to bring creative ideas forward, and connected to a mission that truly matters—helping build a more just and sustainable future from the ground up.

What You’ll Do

• Assist in evaluating and enhancing outreach strategies to better reach underserved communities, using data and feedback to recommend improvements.
• Participate in cross-departmental learning to understand how climate resilience, housing, and energy justice intersect across CEP’s programs.
• Research best practices in nonprofit communications and community engagement to inform future initiatives and strengthen CEP’s equity-centered messaging.
• Contribute to public education efforts by helping design or refine outreach materials, presentations, and resources that reflect the voices and needs of frontline communities.
• Research new funding sources and opportunities to support CEP’s outreach and engagement efforts, including potential sponsors, grants, and community partnerships.

What We’re Looking For

• Passion for environmental justice, climate resilience, and community-centered work.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with an interest in storytelling and outreach.
• Interest in learning about nonprofit communications, development, and community engagement.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a diverse team.
• Comfort with or willingness to learn digital tools (e.g., Canva, Google Workspace, social media platforms).
• A college degree is preferred but not required.
• Coursework or related experience in environmental fields (e.g., internships, volunteer work) is preferred.
• Flexibility to occasionally support evening or weekend community events with advance notice (1–2 times per month; additional hours worked outside regular business hours may be adjusted during the workweek).
• Valid Driver’s License and consistent access to reliable transportation for local travel to events and outreach sites (mileage reimbursed).
• Cultural humility and commitment to equity, inclusion, and working with historically underserved communities.
• A demonstrated commitment to addressing racism and advancing racial equity, both within team dynamics and programmatically.
• Authorization to work in the United States for the duration of the fellowship (SEI is unable to sponsor visas).
• May require occasional moving about to accomplish tasks, moving from one worksite to another, or adjusting or moving objects under 25-50 pounds in all directions.

We encourage everyone interested in this position to apply, even if you don’t meet every qualification. We value diverse perspectives and believe that a unique background can bring significant strengths to this role, even if some qualifications are not fully met.

What We Provide and Why This is a Game-Changer for Your Career

• A fixed, monthly stipend of $3150.
• $1000 end-of-program financial award.​
• Health care coverage with 100% of health care insurance premiums covered by the employer.
• Access to a national Member Assistance Program offering financial, legal, and medical advocacy and counseling services.
• Comprehensive career-readiness training, including interview prep, salary negotiation, and resume building.
• Panels, workshops, and networking with climate resilience industry professionals.
• Professional networking and learning opportunities.
• University of California Climate Stewards Certification, equipping you to lead community and ecosystem resilience initiatives.