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Golub Capital Board Fellows Program

The Golub Capital Board Fellows Program at the Tepper School of Business connects Full-Time and Online Hybrid first-year MBA students with nonprofit organizations for meaningful board service and leadership development.听

Administered by the Tepper School鈥檚 Accelerate Leadership Center in partnership with the Golub Capital Board Fellows Network, the program places selected students as non-voting members on nonprofit boards for an 18-month fellowship.听

During this time, Fellows contribute strategic insight to mission-driven organizations while gaining hands-on experience in nonprofit governance, leadership, and board-level decision-making.

What does board service look like in practice?

Watch how students and nonprofit partners work together to drive meaningful community impact.

The Fellowship Experience

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Board Fellows serve as non-voting members of nonprofit boards while leading a strategic project aligned with the organization鈥檚 priorities. Through board and committee meetings, mentorship from nonprofit leaders, and applied project work, students gain meaningful exposure to governance, strategy, and values-driven leadership.

The Board Fellows program is for those seeking:

  • Purpose in Your Leadership 鈥� Step inside a nonprofit organization, engage with its community, and lead a strategic project that creates meaningful impact.
  • Real Boardroom Experience 鈥� Participate in board and committee meetings while exploring nonprofit governance and values-driven decision-making.
  • A National Network 鈥� Join a cohort of MBA students from top business schools connected through the Golub Capital Board Fellows Network and a shared commitment to social impact leadership.

Eligibility

The Board Fellows Program is open to Full-Time and Online Hybrid first-year Tepper MBA students in good academic standing who are interested in leadership development, nonprofit governance, and community impact.

Application and Selection Process

Students receive application details at the start of their first year. Applications open early in the fall semester and selected candidates are invited to interview. Fellows are then matched one-to-one with a nonprofit organization based on skills and interests, with final selections made in November.

Program Commitments

Board Fellows commit approximately 2鈥�3 hours per week and participate in onboarding sessions and workshops during the spring semester of their first year. Fellows regularly attend board or committee meetings, complete a strategic project, engage in program events, and uphold confidentiality and professionalism throughout the fellowship.

For questions or additional information, please contact the Board Fellows Program team.听

Past and Present Cohorts

The Golub Capital Board Fellows Program continues to grow through each cohort of students and nonprofit partners. Take a look at past and present participants to see how these collaborations are driving meaningful community impact.

A group photo of the first cohort of the Golub Capital Board Fellows Program

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  • Olivia Ahearn
  • David Blanco
  • Jordan Chrite
  • Damidera David-Olusa
  • Nathan Edmondson
  • Teyonna Jarman
  • Ashwini Karanth
  • Sruthi Nagarajan
  • Dhriti Oza
  • Benjamin Powell
  • Devin Smith
  • Phrare Teinwan
  • Nolan Watson

Partner With the Golub Capital Board Fellows Program

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The Golub Capital Board Fellows Program partners mission-driven nonprofit organizations with Tepper School MBA students who serve as non-voting board members while leading a strategic project aligned with organizational priorities.

Nonprofit partners benefit from business-minded insight, focused strategic support, and a meaningful connection to Carnegie Mellon and the Tepper School, strengthening both organizational impact and leadership capacity.

Who Should Partner & Eligibility

The Golub Capital Board Fellows Program partners with mission-driven nonprofit organizations whose work aligns with the program鈥檚 focus on leadership, governance, and community impact. Ideal partners are interested in strengthening board engagement and advancing a strategic initiative while contributing to the development of future nonprofit leaders.

Partner organizations must meet the following requirements:

  • Be a registered 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), 501(c)(5), 501(c)(6), 501(c)(7) nonprofit organization
  • Have an active, engaged board of directors of five or more
  • Maintain an annual operating budget of $500,000 or more
  • Organizations must be based in the Greater Pittsburgh region or operate virtually anywhere across the country

Not sure if your organization is the right fit? We welcome conversations with nonprofits at all stages and across mission areas. Contact the Board Fellows Program team at boardfellows@andrew.cmu.edu.

Partner Commitments

Nonprofit partners commit to:

  • Assigning a board mentor and a staff point of contact to support the Fellow.
  • Participating in nonprofit onboarding and other Board Fellows Program events
  • Establish regular meetings with the Fellow to maintain clear and regular communication
  • Collaborating with the Fellow to scope and support a strategic project
  • Including the Fellow in board meetings as a non-voting member and committee meetings as relevant
  • Giving students the opportunity to present completed project to the board

Board Fellows are not interns or staff members. They serve as non-voting board members focused on learning nonprofit governance while contributing strategic insight.

Apply to be a Partner Organization

Nonprofit organizations interested in partnering are invited to submit a brief interest form.

Applications typically open in early August & close early October. Fill out the interest form to receive updates on the application process.