We’re dedicated to supporting changemakers across the country.

We bridge the gap between young adults eager to start careers in social impact and organizations seeking to hire them. Through our core fellowship program, we place young people from historically marginalized backgrounds in paid internships and early-career roles. Then, we offer them the training, mentorship, and connections they need to become tomorrow’s leaders.

Our Story

Founded in late 2018, Second Day is on a mission to unlock the potential of diverse emerging leaders in the social impact sector. Our flagship Impact Fellowship program connects talented students and recent graduates with mission-driven organizations, creating pathways for meaningful change.

By providing comprehensive support, we empower young professionals with the skills, experiences, and networks essential to thriving in social impact careers. Our vision is to create an accessible, sustainable pipeline of nonprofit talent that reflects the communities these organizations serve.

In 2024, Second Day joined forces with Progressive Pipeline, which places candidates from historically underrepresented backgrounds into paid fellowships at social change organizations. Staying true to its mission, the Second Day Impact Fellowship remains focused on placing fellows at nonpartisan organizations across the social impact sector. With this partnership, the program now offers enhanced programming and deeper support for both fellows and their managers, driven by a united team committed to launching the next generation of social impact leaders.

Collectively, Second Day and Progressive Pipeline have recruited, trained, and supported over 700 fellows, building a stronger and more diverse pipeline of leaders in the social impact sector.

Equity

Our Values

We value opening doors to opportunities that would otherwise be closed.

Equity is evident at each point of the Fellowship process  – from recruitment, application and screening, to the training, mentorship, and pay fellows receive to be successful in launching their careers. It extends into our work with partner organizations to define, understand, and strive for a more equitable workplace through recruiting and retaining diverse talent.

Authenticity

We value showing up as our full selves in our work, and we equip fellows to do the same.

Through our unique screening process and personalized coaching support, we meet fellows where they are in their lived experiences and make space for their voices to shine. Our fellow trainings and managerial support challenges traditional norms of “professionalism” that have historically excluded marginalized talent from expressing their full authenticity in the workplace.

Belonging

We value creating spaces in mission-driven organizations where those of all walks of life feel that they belong.

By fostering a community of fellows, alumni, coaches, partners, and friends of Second Day, we diversify and strengthen social impact networks, carving out spaces where historically marginalized communities can thrive and build lasting connections.

Change

We value reshaping the social change and political landscape to open doors to diverse, high-quality talent by breaking down access barriers that have historically left marginalized people out of building social and political power.

Through our fellowship and staff matching programs, we identify entry points and development paths for future talent to become the changemakers and leaders of tomorrow. To strive for change beyond the individual fellow experience, we guide organizations on best practices for onboarding and supporting diverse staff through expanding the parameters of the traditional “ideal” candidate in the hiring process.

Practical

We value getting things done through tested, effective long-term strategies in hiring and placement.

Coaching and support can increase staff retention. Our targeted outreach and accessible screening process allows us to reach the best talent in the country. Our fellowship program builds real skills needed in the workforce, with hands-on coaching, training and support for increased retention and success beyond their fellowship experience, landing real people in real careers. For organizations that share our vision for a more diverse workplace, we provide practical, tangible, direct steps that make a clear impact on the hiring landscape, while taking the bulk of the hiring process out of the workload.

Meet The Team

  • Michael Michaelson

    Executive Director

  • Erin Doolin

    Senior Fellowship Manager

  • Danny Perez

    Partnerships Coordinator