$5,000 Civil Rights Advocacy Fellowship
- Organization: Rise
- Type: Fellowship
- Location: Global
- Deadline: September 18, 2026
- Funding: Fully Funded
Rise is a US non-profit led by organisers from the #MeToo, March for Our Lives and Stop Asian Hate movements. Rise Justice Labs is its 12-week civil rights accelerator: you bring one legislative idea, and Rise coaches you through researching it, drafting a real bill, finding a lawmaker to sponsor it and launching a public campaign behind it. It runs online, costs nothing to enter, and selected teams receive $5,000 in seed funding. **What you get:** - $5,000 in seed funding to support your advocacy work - A place in a 12-week accelerator with weekly lectures from working practitioners in politics, storytelling and organising - Technical support drafting your bill from pro bono attorneys and Rise staff who have passed their own laws - Access to Rise's network of lobbyists, attorneys, lawmakers, funders and media contacts - Campaign coaching from organisers behind the Women's March, March for Our Lives, Stop Asian Hate and #MeToo - Press training, plus cross-promotion on Rise's own channels - A cohort of changemakers who become your peer mentors **What you'll do:** - Work through 12 weeks: orientation, how to pass a law, researching your issue, writing your bill, telling your story, contacting sponsors, launching, pitching and Demo(cracy) Day - Research your issue and write your own draft legislation - Power map your issue and build a campaign plan - Secure a bill sponsor and testify at a hearing - Build a media plan, pitch reporters and run a press conference - Pitch your legislative idea at Demo(cracy) Day to legislators, donors, press and volunteers - Commit five to ten hours a week minimum, on US Eastern time **Key dates:** - Applications close 18 September 2026 at 11:59pm Eastern - The accelerator runs 12 weeks, closing with Demo(cracy) Day
