PULSE Nonprofit Partnership

Partner Nonprofit Application

PULSE invites talented university graduates to partner with Pittsburgh nonprofits for a year of service and leadership.  Partner nonprofits receive a university graduate to serve in their organization to create, improve and/or expand services to local residents.

PULSE provides our nonprofit partners with:

• A PULSE fellow serving for eleven months, 35 hours per week (from the beginning of September until the end of July) at their organization


• Further development of a PULSE fellow through regular personal and professional development (weekly seminar on Wednesday afternoon from 1-5pm, two retreats, mentoring, etc.) to further develop them with the skills they need to succeed


• A simple agreement with PULSE for the fellow's services (PULSE covers employer tax liablities, health insurance, payroll expenses, etc. - a significant savings to a full-time employee)

Partner nonprofits provide:

• A positive work expeirence that supports the PULSE fellow, providing thhem with professional mentorship, guidance and direction


• A well-definited position with clear job description, responsibilities, objectives and goals


• A commitment to orient, supervise and evaluate the PULSE fellow


• A monthly stipend (contracted with PULSE) to cover expenses

Fellows serve in a wide variety of ways at different nonprofits, from environmental to social service, the arts to community development, from large nonprofits to small start-ups.  PULSE works to identify a good fit for both Fellow and Nonprofit Partner.  Over the last 19 years, we've partnered with over 100 different Pittsburgh nonprofits. 

Steps in the Nonprofit Partner Process:

1. Learn more about PULSE by reading our Parnter General Information sheet.


2. Ask questions about the program to our Executive Director or current/past nonprofit partners.


3. Download, fill out and upload our Partner Nonprofit application.


4. Conduct neutral-site interview with several PULSE fellows that might be a good match based upon your organizational/staffing needs.


5. Rank the PULSE fellows and decide if you want to extend an offer (and to who(m)) 


6. PULSE fellows will interview several Partner Nonprofits and rank them.  If there is a match, we move forward.  If not, we try again next year.  NOTE:  PULSE does not guarentee PULSE fellows at Parnter Nonprofit sites, but we do try and find good fits based upon fellow interest.


7. Welcome fellow(s) as they start their term of service at your organization.

Our partnership runs from September 2nd, 2014 to July 24th, 2015.  We look forward to journeying with you.