The Pauli Murray Fellowship, EDIB Team

The ACLU seeks a Pauli Murray Fellow in the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Department of the ACLU’s National office in New York.

This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month.

This is an eighteen-month term limited position.

OVERVIEW

ACLU’s

Pauli Murray Fellowship was founded 2022 in honor of the Reverend Dr. Pauli Murray – activist, legal theorist, author, Episcopal priest, and former ACLU board member. The fellowship invests in and cultivates leadership pathways for individuals who have overcome systemic barriers to achievement to support development of future leaders. Target participants are those aspiring to make full-time entry into nonprofit organizations with a passion to advance civil rights and civil liberties.

Those selected will embedded within an ACLU cross-functional department and charged with overseeing critical internal initiatives, projects, and priorities.  They receive meaningful exposure, access, and training to enhance and broaden their professional skills. This fellowship will begin in mid-January 2027 for 18-months.

THE TEAM:

At the ACLU, the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Belonging (EDIB) team seeks to develop an organization that reflects the world in which we aspire to live, valuing and reflecting on the people whose lives and pursuit of fairness drive our work.  We know that our success in doing so is tied to our success in advancing our mission. The EDIB team plays a key role in this work, continuing to move the ACLU to a culture of belonging.

YOUR DAY TO DAY:

The Pauli Murray Fellow will be responsible for providing event support, advancing programmatic efforts, and working on designated special projects.

The Pauli Murray Fellow will report to the Director of Equity and Inclusion and will take directions from other members of the EDIB team based on assigned projects or tasks.

Communication and Event Support

Support EDIB hosted events for heritage months, ERG events, and a quarterly nationwide community hour.

Create event communication and roll out plans and execute, working with event organizers and Internal Communication Director.

Draft and seek feedback on event language for internal distribution, including flyers.

Ensure that the event is accessible by requesting live captioning and/or ASL interpretation.

Ensure accessibility of flyers and event descriptions on the ACLU Intranet site

Support tech needs for the event on Zoom or Teams.

EDIB Data/Metrics Collection and Analysis

Track EDIB data on our tracking platforms on a regular cadence.

Support the Director of Equity and Inclusion for the creation of quarterly and annual reports for various audiences.

Analyze quantitative and qualitative data with the ability to articulate findings and measure key results.

Special Projects

Support specific project management aspects of any EDIB trainings and initiatives, ERG requests, and the Community Building Circles program.

WHAT YOU'LL BRING:

• Our ideal candidate is a problem solver with a high level of integrity and discretion, excellent judgement, and a service-oriented, can-do attitude, who takes pride in anticipating the needs of others.
• The Pauli Murray Fellow must exercise exceptional discretion, sound judgment, and a deep understanding of the importance of privacy and trust in all aspects of the role.
• Effective listening skills with high emotional intelligence and a highly collaborative style.
• Strong organizational and communication skills, with attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office including PowerPoint and Excel; familiarity with virtual meeting platforms (e.g., Zoom/Teams).
• Direct experience with restorative practices, including community building circles.
• Ability to design and edit graphic presentations and materials at an intermediate level using Microsoft Office applications.
• Demonstrated passion for EDIB work; deep knowledge, research, and best practices for organizations on equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
• A commitment to civil liberties, civil rights, and social and racial justice.
• FUTURE ACLU-ERS WILL
• Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU
• Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives
• Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflict
• KEY COMPONENTS OF THE PAULI MURRAY FELLOWSHIP
• Full-time employment, $78,000 annual salary, and benefits for 18 months at the ACLU National Headquarters in New York.
• Skill development in key functions such as professional communications, organizational strategy, project management, and more. These transferrable skills will support participants in their pursuit of future leadership roles.
• Stipends to expand career and professional development through conferences, coursework, graduate school coaching, etc.
• Access to leaders and mentors at the ACLU including career networking opportunities.
• A trip to a historical site where the fellows can deepen their understanding and learn more on the ongoing challenges related to systemic barriers.
• A capstone project developed with support from a mentor that allows participants to practically apply their academic skills.
• Community with fellows and colleagues.
• Priority Application Deadline: October 6, 2026
• WHY THE ACLU
• For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people.

OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUITY, DIVERSITY, INCLUSION AND BELONGING

Equity, diversity, and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. For us diversity, equity and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities, but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change. We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability.

We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us.

With this commitment in mind, we strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

If you have a need and require assistance during the application process, please let us know by completing the applicant accommodations form

The Department of Education has determined that employment in this position at the ACLU does not qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

SELECTION TIMELINE:

All applications are due by Monday, November 9th, 2026 by 11:59pm EST

Interviews: First week of December 2026

(

Applicants can expect to hear whether or not they have received an interview by mid November)

Final Selection: End of December 2026

WHO SHOULD APPLY?

Individuals making their entry into the nonprofit sector full-time, overcoming systemic barriers to achievement, are encouraged to apply—especially those with a fresh perspective and a commitment to our mission.

Minimum qualifications:

• College graduate by September 2026 seeking entry-level role
• A demonstrated commitment or interest to leadership, service, civil rights and civil liberties.
• Eligibility to work in the United States for the duration of the program (January 2027 - July 2028).
• An 18-month, Mon-Fri full-time commitment to working at the ACLU from January 2027 - July 2028
• There is no single “right” major or course of study. We are looking for strong problem solvers with an eagerness to learn, a passion to lead, and commitment to civil rights and civil liberties.
• This fellowship primarily focuses on organizational leadership, emphasizing the operational aspects of an organization. If you are interested in our legal fellowships or direct advocacy work please click here.
• SELECTION CRITERIA
• The selection committee will engage in a consistent and holistic review process, with attention to applicants with:
• A demonstrated commitment to sustained leadership and service.
• A demonstrated resilience in the face of systemic barriers or adversity.
• A commitment to civil liberties, civil rights, and social justice.
• Commitment to the mission of the ACLU.
• No prior connection to the ACLU (via past internships, fellowships, other connections) a plus.
• HOW TO APPLY
• Please submit the following no later than Monday, November 9th, 2026 by 11:59pm EST
• A resume
• (no longer than two pages)
• Two Essays
• Essay 1
• : Consider a significant life experience or perspective that has influenced your future goals. How does it it connect with your commitment to civil rights and liberties and how do you foresee using the Pauli Murray Fellowship to help you achieve your aspirations?  (400 words, Microsoft Document or PDF)
• Essay 2: Personal Statement or Video Essay selected from the prompt below* (written essays no longer than 600 words in a Microsoft Document or PDF
• OR video essay no longer than 5 minutes).
• In a 1967 letter to Dr. Kathryn F. Clarenbach, Chair of the National Board of NOW, Pauli Murray wrote, “And since, as a human being, I cannot allow myself to be fragmented into Negro at one time, woman at another, or worker at another. I must find a unifying principle in all these movements to which I can adhere . . . This, it seems to me, is not only good politics but also may be the price of survival.” How does this quote resonate with you? How has an aspect of your identity or life experience shaped you?
• In your essays, we want to hear your authentic voice. Think carefully about your values, passions, aims, hopes and dreams. There is no “right answer” to these questions — the best answer is the one that is truest for you.
• Two letters of recommendation: one academic and one character/personal recommendation*
• We want to understand how you would contribute to the ACLU community. Please select two people from your life who could speak meaningfully to those qualities in their recommendations.