Women's Policy Institute - How to Apply

Thank you for your interest in the Women's Policy Institute. Please check back in May 2010 for information on how to apply for the 2010-2011 WPI Class.

What is the Women's Policy Institute?
The Women's Policy Institute is a year-long training program that equips leaders from nonprofit organizations with the skills to develop and advance public policy in California. Find out more information about the Women's Policy Institute.

Who can apply?

There are several requirements for a successful application to the Women’s Policy Institute. Successful applicants will:

1. Be an executive director, senior program staff member or volunteer leader from an organization or program that focuses on economic justice, elder women’s issues, criminal justice, environmental justice or reproductive justice. This year's class will include a group with a cross-issue focus on environmental and reproductive justice. Possess deep content knowledge in one of these five fields as it relates to women.

2. Represent an organization that is ready to integrate or increase policy advocacy at an organizational level. Have the full support of your organization, including the board of directors, to participate in the Institute and to spend staff time to work on a policy project that includes lobbying. The Institute will provide information regarding the legal requirements for non-profit lobbying. For information about legal lobbying by nonprofits please see www.allianceforjustice.org.

3. Be committed and available to attend all four training retreats for the full time of each training retreat. Retreats will be held in Sacramento, California. Travel, meals and lodging are fully paid by the Women’s Foundation of California.

4. Be willing to work on a team with others who have similar interests, collectively develop a policy project and actively work on the project even if it is not completely within your organization’s priorities. Team members must be willing to work to bridge differences in personalities and styles to collaborate successfully as a team.

5. Be able to dedicate an average of two to four hours of your work week and, some weeks — before legislative hearings and during retreats —to spend several days in a given week working on your policy project.

6. Be willing to commit to continued participation in your team’s policy project after the year of training in the event that your policy project becomes a two-year bill.

7. Be willing and prepared to share what you have learned in the Institute with colleagues and community members in your organization.

8. Be willing and prepared to engage after your year of training in the network of Institute fellows and alums to continue advancing public policy agendas that benefit California’s women and girls.

9. Have an e-mail account that you can check daily.