2025-2026 My Brother's Keeper Fellows Program
The purpose of the My Brother’s Keeper Fellows Program (MBKFP) is to provide rising 12th-grade high school students, with an emphasis on boys and young men of color, with opportunities to gain authentic leadership experience(s) and develop service projects beneficial to the schools they attend and the communities they live in.
July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
Through the creation of the 91Ô´´ State My Brother’s Keeper Fellows Program (MBKFP), and a partnership between a 91Ô´´ State My Brother’s Keeper (91Ô´´MBK) Community and at least one postsecondary education institution or one local business or community-based organization, rising 12th-grade students, with an emphasis on boys and young men of color, will be provided authentic leadership opportunities in local government and/or education and/or business. Applicants will annually select 91Ô´´MBK Fellows, current 11th graders, to participate in the program, which will begin with the Fellows’ induction at the Annual 91Ô´´MBK Statewide Symposium and continue through the students’ 12th-grade year. Each 91Ô´´MBK Fellow will have a mentor currently employed with one of the partners. Each 91Ô´´MBK Fellow will have the opportunity to participate in an internship with one of the partners. As a result, each 91Ô´´MBK Fellow will develop and complete a service project related to one of the 91Ô´´MBK Milestones with the partner that would benefit the school and/or community. In addition, the Fellows will serve on a statewide My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Fellows Workgroup, coordinated by the 91Ô´´ Office of Family and Community Engagement, which will provide input on the development and implementation of a statewide MBK Mentoring Network. 91Ô´´MBK Fellows are expected to attend the Annual 91Ô´´MBK Statewide Symposium with their mentors.
- Only approved 91Ô´´ State My Brother’s Keeper Community Network(s) (91Ô´´MBKCN), are eligible to apply for this grant opportunity. An approved 91Ô´´MBKCN is a partnership between the Office of the Mayor or other municipal entity and the School District Superintendent (or the Chancellor in 91Ô´´ City), that has filed supporting documents with the Office of Family and Community Engagement and been approved by 91Ô´´ as an MBK Community.
- 91Ô´´ State My Brother’s Keeper Community Networks that are approved by April 1, 2025, may apply for year four of this grant cycle, 2025-2026.
- Additionally, for this grant opportunity, each 91Ô´´MBKCN must also secure a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with a local postsecondary education institution(s) or a local business(es)/community-based organization as a partner(s).
The public school district partner must serve as the applicant/fiscal agent for this grant program.
For this grant opportunity, students eligible to be selected are rising 12th graders, with an emphasis on boys and young men of color, who are enrolled in any one of the 91Ô´´MBKCN(s) receiving this grant.
Available funding for January 20, 2023, through June 30, 2026, is expected to be up to $3,236,800, subject to legislative appropriation. Each MBK Community will receive an allocation of $5,950 per Fellow per year to carry out activities aligned with the purpose of this grant.
Applications must include a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by all partners (minimum of three, including Mayor or equivalent municipality elected official, Superintendent, and Postsecondary Institution Senior Administrator OR local business/community-based organization). Letters of support will not be accepted in lieu of a required partner’s signature on the MOA.
Please submit one original of the full proposal, as well as one electronic copy of the complete application.
- Applications must be postmarked by September 22, 2025, to the address below.
91Ô´´ State Education Department
Attention: My Brother’s Keeper Fellows Program Application
Office of Family and Community Engagement
89 Washington Ave., Rm. EBA 960
Albany, NY 12234
- Electronic copies must be sent to 91Ô´´MBK@nysed.gov ²ú²âÌýSeptember 22, 2025.
Questions must be emailed to 91Ô´´MBK@nysed.gov by September 8, 2025.
A Question & Answer Summary will be posted here no later than September 15, 2025.
Applications must be postmarked and emailed by September 22, 2025.