The University of California, Berkeley is recruiting a Philanthropy Fellow for the David and Lucile Packard Foundation’s Civil Society and Leadership team in Los Altos, California. The full-time hybrid role offers annual pay of $78,435 to $90,000 and is designed for professionals who want direct experience in philanthropy, grantmaking, evaluation, and civil society leadership.
Key facts
- The fellowship is a full-time position based in Los Altos, California, with a hybrid schedule.
- The salary range is $78,435 to $90,000 per year.
- Applicants must submit a resume and cover letter.
- The first review date is September 22, 2026.
- The role is not a visa opportunity.
What does this mean for early-career professionals?
The fellowship is aimed at professionals with at least two to three years of experience and/or graduate-level education in a related field, plus at least two years in a full-time professional role. It is a practical route into philanthropy for people with backgrounds in civil society organizations, research, public policy, social impact, nonprofit work, or related areas.
Selected work will span monitoring, evaluation, and learning; strategy support; grantmaking; project and event management; knowledge management; and stakeholder engagement. The Packard Foundation also says the fellow will receive coaching, supervision, and a professional development budget through UC Berkeley’s Center for Social Sector Leadership.
- Location: Los Altos, California, with office days on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
- Application materials: Resume and cover letter.
- Review timeline: First review begins September 22, 2026.
- Eligibility note: The position is not a visa opportunity.
What will the fellow do?
The fellow will support the Civil Society and Leadership initiative across research, evaluation, strategy implementation, grantmaking, knowledge management, project coordination, and meetings with grantees and partners. The role also includes participation in Foundation-wide activities and some travel for partner meetings and conferences.
The job is structured as a development opportunity as well as a working role. Berkeley says the fellow will receive support through the Center for Social Sector Leadership, while the Foundation says the cohort will include four other fellows working in different program areas.
Who can apply?
UC Berkeley says applicants should have a bachelor’s degree in a related area or equivalent experience and training, along with strong research, communication, teamwork, and project management skills. The posting also asks candidates to show an understanding of the challenges facing civil society and experience with knowledge management systems.
Because the fellowship sits inside a major philanthropic foundation, the strongest fit is likely a candidate who can combine analytical work with stakeholder engagement and professional judgment in a nonprofit or grantmaking setting.
Why the role matters
The position connects Berkeley’s Haas School of Business with the Packard Foundation’s work on just societies and resilient civic space. The fellow will help support the foundation’s Civil Society and Leadership initiative, which focuses on strengthening civil society organizations and ecosystems while contributing to strategy and learning across the foundation.
For emerging professionals, the appeal is the mix of salary, institutional support, and exposure to how a major foundation evaluates programs, works with grantees, and develops grantmaking strategy.
