Starling Collective Program Details

What is the Starling Collective?

GivingTuesday’s Starling Collective is a new kind of learning collective for grassroots changemakers to discover and share best practices for increasing generosity and driving systems change. The program offers coaching, peer learning, and connection to GivingTuesday’s global leader network, as well as microgrants to jumpstart or accelerate on-the-ground work.

The program was named after birds that create extraordinary patterns and movements by working together. A scientist once admired their “remarkable ability to maintain cohesion as a group in highly uncertain environments and with limited, noisy information.” Grassroots leaders around the world have incredible power to mobilize and strengthen their communities, especially in times of crisis.

Who is organizing this?

The Starling Collective was created by GivingTuesday, the global generosity movement. This program is made possible through our partnership with our global network of leaders, partners, communities, and generous individuals. GivingTuesday is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to unleashing the power of radical generosity around the world.

Who is eligible for The Starling Collective?

We invite applications from individuals with innovative approaches to catalyzing generosity, empathy, equity, and justice. Applications are accepted from anywhere in the world. The Starling Collective is specifically designed for grassroots organizers, activists, artists, and changemakers from under-represented and under-resourced communities.

Applicants must be individuals over the age of 13 or the equivalent legal age to participate in the program in their home country. If accepted, applicants under the age of 18 must have the permission of a parent or guardian to participate in and receive any fellowship payments under the Starling Collective

Applicants must be legally permitted to receive and accept funds from a U.S. nonprofit organization.

What are the benefits of being a part of this?

If selected, you’ll participate in the Starling Collective learning community, and receive coaching and peer support along with a microgrant of $2,000 USD. As part of the learning community:

You’ll build relationships and with a global community of movement leaders
You’ll tap GivingTuesday’s movement-building experience to accelerate your work and impact
You’ll have access to the GivingTuesday data team to develop strategies for goal setting and measurement of your work
You’ll receive ideas and best practices from your Starling Collective peers

What are the requirements to apply for Starling Collective?

To be considered for this opportunity, applicants must complete an online application describing their leadership goals and how they plan to pursue or continue work that increases generosity. We are especially focused on supporting grassroots leaders with particularly creative and innovative approaches to increasing generosity, community action, and civic participation.

The online application will ask applicants to describe the following components:

Individual goals and challenges
An example of an idea, project, or program the individual is leading to scale generosity
What distinguishes their work from others working for change in your area
How their work lifts up under-represented communities and/or welcomes diverse participants and perspectives
What they hope to gain from their participation in the program

We will prioritize grants to leaders operating in regions of lower resource or greater need. All award decisions will be made at the sole discretion of Giving Tuesday, Inc.

Grant funds cannot be used to support direct or grassroots political lobbying. Please note that GivingTuesday cannot offer any advice or guidance regarding taxes.

Selected grantees may be asked to provide additional documentation and execute a grant agreement before grant funds are released.

Do I need to be in the United States?

No. You can be located anywhere – the Starling Collective fellowship is virtual!

What will be expected of me should I be accepted into the Starling Collective?

If selected, you’ll receive coaching and peer support along with funds to fuel your work, while participating in a virtual learning community. Participants are expected to:

Participate in a series of virtual workshops and idea exchanges that will take place 1-2 times per month between October 2022 and March 2023. These sessions will be conducted in English with live Spanish translation. The schedule is as follows:

Program Kickoff – October 18, 9am-11:30am ET
Program Day #2 – November 15, 9am-11:30am ET
Program Day #3 – December 13, 9am-11:30am ET
Program Day #4 – January 18, 9am-11:30am ET
Program Day #5 – February 15, 9am-11:30am ET
Program Day #6 – March 21, 9am-11:30am ET

You’ll also be expected to attend follow-up virtual regional community conversations for 1-2 hours each month plus at least one virtual 30 min mentor session any time during the fellowship duration.

You will be invited to attend optional virtual talks and networking experiences with Starling Alumni and a global network of changemakers.

We ask that you share your experiences and expertise with others in the cohort and take advantage of the same from your fellow cohort members. We also ask that you complete a short form to share your learnings, experiences, and results from your project or initiative, if applicable.

Selected participants may be asked to provide additional documentation and execute a grant agreement before grant funds are released.

I have co-leaders or a group – can we all apply and participate together?

The Starling Collective experience is designed to focus on an individual’s leadership strengths, opportunities, and challenges. Applications should be submitted by individuals, and those accepted into the fellowship are asked to participate as individuals. We welcome Starling participants to share what they’ve learned with their teams, co-leaders, or others in their community.

Is this a funding opportunity for my nonprofit or charity?

Not exactly. The Starling Collective is a learning fellowship focused on leadership and movement building skills for grassroots organizers, activists, artists, and changemakers from under-represented and under-resourced communities. Applications should be submitted by individuals, and those accepted into the fellowship are asked to participate as individuals.

Applicants do not have to work for registered charities or nonprofit organizations to be eligible to participate in the Starling Collective fellowship.

In what languages is the application available?

The application for the Starling Collective fellowship is available in English and Spanish. Applicants will need to be proficient in English or Spanish, as programming will be conducted in English with Spanish simultaneous translation. All vitual meetings will have English captions available.

How much funding is available?

Participants will each receive a $2,000 USD microgrant upon successful completion of the fellowship. The funds can be used in any way the participants sees fit. Participants who attend every meeting will also have the opportunity to present their idea or initiative for a chance to receive additional funding during the fellowship period.

What is the timeline? When will applications be reviewed?

Applications for the 2022 cohort closed on September 4, 2022 at 11:59pm PST. Participants will be announced in October 2022.

Please sign up for our email list to find out when applications will open for the 2023 cohort.

How are the applications reviewed and selected?

The Starling Collective applications are reviewed by a team of Regional Directors, who will follow up with applicants during the selection process. The final determination will be made by the GivingTuesday staff and selected applicants will be notified in October 2022.

Applications will be evaluated on the following criteria: Leadership and Vision, Potential Impact, Ingenuity and Creativity, Focus on Generosity, Diversity and Belonging, Measurable Goals.

Do I have to pay taxes on the microgrant?

All recipients of Starling Grants are liable for any applicable taxes and responsible for any applicable reporting requirements associated with the grant funds. Recipients should consult with their own advisors regarding these obligations. GivingTuesday does not offer advice to recipients on reporting obligations or tax liabilities.

Can I nominate someone for this program?

There’s not a nomination process, but we hope that you’ll help spread the word and encourage innovative and passionate leaders to apply.

What if I have more questions?

Email us at starling@givingtuesday.org.

Meet the Regional Directors

Catherine Mwendwa

Director, Africa Hub

Formerly a GivingTuesday global leader for Kenya, Catherine has worked in the philanthropy sector for over 8 years driving conversations, research, and action in philanthropy policy and fundraising.

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Catherine Mwendwa

Formerly a GivingTuesday global leader for Kenya and program manager for the East Africa Philanthropy Network, Catherine has worked in the philanthropy sector for over 8 years driving conversations, research, and action in philanthropy policy and knowledge management and fundraising. She currently provides research, learning and stakeholder engagement expertise at Wasafiri Consulting, a global consulting partner. She is also a Senior International Fellow of the Centre of Philanthropy and Civil Society, Graduate Centre, City University of New York.

Cherisse Faith Beh

Learning & Engagement, Global

A former journalist, Cherisse encourages people to give back and to build positive attitudes towards people with intellectual disabilities at Special Olympics Asia Pacific.

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Cherisse Faith Beh

A former journalist and creative head, Cherisse now puts the skills she has picked up over the years in encouraging people to give back and to build positive attitudes towards people with intellectual disabilities at Special Olympics Asia Pacific. Her current remit includes building regional brand awareness through campaigns, donor stewardship as well as digital fundraising – serving 35 countries in the areas of communications capacity building and marketing resources. She is currently a member of AmCham Singapore’s Social Impact Task Force. Previously she was at National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre as Assistant Director, Marketing & Communications and Mission Head for Giving Week, a nationwide initiative which is part of the global Giving Tuesday Movement. She was also involved in the marketing of NVPC’s key initiatives in building capacity and capability for corporates and nonprofits.

Esteban Oyarzo

Communications Manager, Latin America + Caribbean Hub

Esteban Oyarzo manages communications for the GivingTuesday Latin America + Caribbean Hub.

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Esteban Oyarzo

Esteban Oyarzo is an architecture graduate and visual arts teacher from Chile. He’s got a master’s degree in political communication and public affairs and more than 15 years of experience in nonprofit and public service organizations. His work focuses on the coordination and execution of projects in the fields of educational innovation, childhood policies, and volunteer work. Since 2014, he has supported GivingTuesday in Latin America, known locally as #UnDíaParaDar. Esteban is based in Santiago, Chile and loves sad songs with upbeat music

João Paulo Vergueiro

Director, Latin America + Caribbean Hub

João Paulo (JP) Vergueiro directs GivingTuesday's Latin America + Caribbean Hub.

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João Paulo Vergueiro

João Paulo (JP) Vergueiro directs GivingTuesday’s Latin America + Caribbean Hub. Since 2014 had led Dia de Doar, the local version of GivingTuesday, an inspiring movement that is engaging more Brazilians every year. He is formerly the CEO of ABCR, the Brazilian Fundraisers Association and he regularly speaks at conferences including AFP Icon, the Central and Eastern European Fundraising Conference, the Non-Profit Technology Conference, and WINGS Forum. In Brazil , João Paulo is a professor and PhD candidate. He volunteers for a number of organizations and designs the monthly newspaper in his parish.

JP is based in São Paulo, Brazil. Loves playing board games and traveling.