We acknowledge that SJPLA’s perspective on systems and systems change is one of many. A system involves related elements, such as organizations and policies, that function as a whole. Examples of systems include the K-12 education system and criminal justice system.

We define systems change as work that addresses the root causes of injustice by engaging people across the system to shift power, policy, and mindsets. Systems change work acknowledges the problem's complex history and it improves the lives of the people most impacted by the issue for the long term. Our systems change  definition is inspired in part by FSG’s “The Water of Systems Change” and Marina Kim’s “Rethinking the Impact Spectrum”.

Here is what SJPLA looks for to identify systems change work: 

• Shifting policies, mindsets, and behaviors to make your organization’s solution unnecessary over time

• Engaging impacted communities, decision-makers, and cross-sector partners to shift power

• Addressing root causes, history, and power dynamics for lasting change

• Building local empowerment and self-determination over service dependence

Policy Change

Godfrey Plata (alum 23’-24’) and LA Forward Institute are building the grassroots movement necessary to place a more democratic and functional city council structure in front of voters.

Community Organizing

Ashleigh Washington (alum 21’-22’) and The Collective for Liberatory Lawyering works with impacted families to investigate school conditions and create police-free schools in LA. 

Narrative Change

Ryan Smith (alum 22’-23’) at Love Letter LA creates content showcasing Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) leaders, strengthening the city’s public sector racial justice leadership. 

Changing Minds and Mental Models

Amita Swadhin (alum 21’ - 22) and the Mirror Memoirs team intervene in rape culture by uplifting the narratives, healing, and leadership of queer and trans people of color who survived child sexual abuse. 

Building People Power

Florence Adjoa Annang (alum 23’-24’) and Pasadenans Organizing for Progress builds people power, raising organizers from within their community to address injustice issues in Pasadena through advocacy and decision-making power in the city.

Direct service work is ineligible for this fellowship. This includes direct service to individuals that alleviate immediate needs or relies on communities continuing to utilize the service, such as temporary or permanent housing, food banks, job training, and counseling. 

Only IRS-designated 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations, or initiatives with a fiscal sponsor are eligible to apply for the Systems Change Fellowship. If you are a 501(c)3 nonprofit entity, ensure that you have a Letter of Determination from the IRS affirming your organization’s tax-exempt status. Learn more at the IRS website. 501(c)4 nonprofit organizations are not eligible. 

If you’d like to learn more about fiscal sponsorship, visit the National Council of Nonprofits.

The review committee includes SJPLA partners, Systems Change Fellowship alum, and values-aligned community members. They, along with staff, review eligibility forms and determine invitations to the applicant workshop. They also engage with applicants at the applicant workshop and recommend applicants to invite to the fellowship. SJPLA staff review the recommendations and extend invitations to join the fellowship.

An application committee will review all Eligibility Form submissions, and invite eligible candidates to attend an applicant workshop.  

The applicant workshop will be offered virtually on two dates: Wednesday, June 10th, 10am-1pm or Monday, June 15th, 11am-2pm. Invited candidates will be required to attend only one.  

We acknowledge the time, resources, and effort that nonprofit leaders invest in completing funding applications. Our intention is to reduce written barriers to applications, to honor the investment of time and resources that nonprofits expend applying, and to offer a relationship building component that we hope adds value to the nonprofit leaders whether or not they join the fellowship.

The applicant workshop is hands-on and interactive. It’s an opportunity for candidates and SJPLA to get to know each other, to get a deeper understanding of the systemic change candidates seek to create, and to determine whether the program will be a fit for both sides of this partnership.  

Applicants will engage in collaborative exercises with fellow applicants and the application committee. After the workshops, SJPLA will invite up to 10 candidates to join the Systems Change Fellowship.

Fellows are required to participate in all program dates. If you know in advance that you will miss one or more of the sessions, please email mdominguez@sjpla.org before submitting the Eligibility Questionnaire.

The individual participating in the Systems Change Fellowship on behalf of their organization should have significant organization-wide decision-making responsibility and should have at least six months of tenure with the organization. This person is responsible for the strategy and overall success of the systems change initiative. We have found this is usually the Executive Director, initiative Director, or someone with similar responsibilities, but we are open to participants of varying positions.  

The program will be conducted primarily in person with some virtual sessions, and participants should be based in LA County in order to utilize the coaching resources available.

There is no cost to participate in the program, thanks to the generous support of our sponsors and Partners. 

We welcome you to join us at the Information Session or email us if you have any questions about eligibility or program participation requirements.

Fellows are asked to:

• Attend all workshop sessions.

• Fully engage with the cohort and SJPLA community. 

• Complete program surveys throughout.

In 2025, we received 127 eligibility forms. Twenty one applicants were invited to the workshop, and 11 were invited to the cohort. In 2024, we received 42 eligibility forms. Twenty four applicants were invited to the applicant workshop. Of those invited, 23 attended and 8 applicants were invited to join the cohort. In 2023, we received 79 eligibility forms. We invited 23 applicants, 18 attended, and 8 were invited to the cohort. In 2022, we had 28 applicants. Thirteen were invited to the workshop, 11 attend, and 9 were invited to the cohort.

Systems Change Fellow’s organizations are given a $10,000 unrestricted grant to be dispersed in two $5,000 installments. The first payment is disbursed three months into the program, in November, and the last disbursement is upon completion of the program in May.

If you feel committed to a collaborative space with various nonprofit leaders, connected to the work, and believe you could represent the organization while sharing your story, we encourage you to submit an eligibility form and not self-select out.

Ideally, the person participating in the fellowship should have the support of their organization to:

• Spend a meaningful amount of time participating in fellowship sessions and completing work between sessions.

• Serve as a visible representative of the organization and share the story of the work publicly.

If you need more time to discuss your participation with leadership or others at your organization, you can do so before or after submitting your eligibility form, ideally prior to the second stage of the process which is attending an applicant workshop.

If you’re unsure whether this is the right fit, come to our Information Session or email us. 

Yes. Please apply using the name of the coalition or collaborative initiative you would be representing and describe the coalition’s work in your application.

Ideally, the person participating in the fellowship should have the support of their organization and coalition to:

• Spend meaningful time participating in fellowship sessions and completing work between sessions.

• Serve as a visible representative and share the story of the coalition’s work publicly.

Each fellow receives a $10,000 grant disbursed to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or fiscal sponsor connected to the work. This grant is intended to support the organization or coalition for the fellow’s time participating in the fellowship. If you are part of a coalition, you and your partners can determine which affiliated nonprofit or fiscal sponsor will receive the funds.

No. We do hope at the very least fellows can be responsive to an email we will send 6 months after culmination to check in on the fellowship’s impact on you and your work. This greatly helps us with our own grant reporting to sustain this program. 

Organizations: Alumni organizations are eligible to participate in the program more than once, provided there is a different applicant and different scope of work.

Individuals: There is no limit on how many times you can apply for the fellowship; in fact, many of our fellows were accepted after multiple attempts. However, if you have already participated in the fellowship as a representative of your organization, you are generally ineligible to reapply.

Exceptions: We occasionally review this policy. If you have previously participated but are interested in applying again, we welcome you to reach out to our team to discuss your specific situation.

Beyond the eligibility requirements, we seek to form a cohort of fellows who:

• Embody a collaborative spirit to uplift each other

• Represent a broad range of initiatives tackling systemic injustice

• Are open to reflection, learning, and storytelling together

Learn more about Story of Us LA.