The Tribal Solar Accelerator Fund Summer Associate Program is offering a $5,000 stipend for an eight-week summer learning opportunity learning about renewable energy within tribal communities.
Donor Name: Tribal Solar Accelerator Fund (TSAF)
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Program
Deadline: 05/15/2023
Size of the Grant: $5,000
Duration: 8 weeks
Details:
TSAF Summer Associates will participate in a virtual eight-week program created to provide the opportunity for motivated individuals to gain experience in the many aspects of the non-profit solar industry and its impact in tribal communities. Associates will engage in learning opportunities to enhance their knowledge about renewable energy and solar through research and virtual project deliverables. The goal of the program is to encourage more tribal individuals to enter into renewable energy work.
TSAF summer associates program is for federally-recognized tribal members with a passion for learning and sharing knowledge about renewable energy and how it impacts Tribal communities. Summer Associates will spend the eight-week learning from and engaging with the TSAF team who are creating access to renewable energy technologies for tribal communities.
The TSAF team is excited to share their mission, vision, and goals through learning and engaging in one-on-one opportunities to learn and work with us by developing renewable energy-related communication skills, industry knowledge, and hands-on learning experiences. Associates will learn about the grant making process, philanthropic fundraising, communications and public relations with Tribes, and community engagement and outreach.
Areas of Learning and Outcomes
Throughout the eight-week program associates will get hands-on experience and learning opportunities with TSAF-specific research and writing skills, grantmaking development and processes, culturally and project relevant storytelling through multi-media, and basics of philanthropic fundraising. Some areas of learning will include the following:
- The research and writing (potential writing activities: literature reviews, white papers, blogs, etc.) that will provide an overall picture of the tribal energy sovereignty landscape on; Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), Community Solar for low-income and communities of color, in particular tribal communities, primary data collection on existing and current tribal solar projects and programs, and other possible topics.
- Assisting with the TSAF team in website and social media ideas in a culturally relevant way, including videos, blog postings, e-newsletters, website content updates, social media events, etc. Participants will gain and utilize knowledge in multimedia design and implementation to assist in telling the story of the Tribal Solar Accelerator Fund.
- Understanding and building skill in philanthropic fundraising through virtual meetings with GRID Staff, prospective funders, and/or individualized mentorship with the TSAF team.
Eligibility Criteria
Federally-recognized tribal members from all academic and career disciplines with experience and knowledge about their tribal community, environmental justice issues, and a passion for learning about the renewable energy industry are encouraged to apply.
The TSAF Summer Associates will enjoy working autonomously and with a team in a virtual collaborative setting with peer participants with varying interests and goals. Participants must be 18 years of age or older and enrolled in a federally-recognized tribe.
Participants should have the following qualities and skills:
- Good verbal and written communication skills
- Knowledge of and/or skills in video and photo editing
- Working knowledge of Google applications (Google Docs, Google Sheets etc)
- Experience working with websites and social media platforms
- Self-starter with a good sense of humor and professionalism
- Responsibility to complete projects by a predetermined deadline
- Committed to advance one’s tribal community in renewable energy awareness
Selection Criteria
This experiential learning opportunity is intended for individuals whose application, references, and interview demonstrate:
- A good understanding of tribal communities and how policy and political structures (tribal, local, state, federal) influence, guide, and impact renewable energy planning.
- An interest in learning more about solar and renewable energy.
- An interest in developing communication skills through writing and multimedia platforms.
- A strong potential to enhance a participant’s understanding of renewable energy, grant making, and storytelling within tribal communities.
For more information, visit TSAF.
