NAHRO Fellowship
Purpose: NAHRO Fellows are honored because they have demonstrated, over a sustained period of time, their commitment to improve the housing conditions of their fellow citizens and/or the viability and sustainability of the communities in which they live and/or work. Award recipients may use the designation “NAHRO Fellow” professionally as a designation after their name, and may be called upon for mentoring and service to NAHRO and its members.
History: The Fellowship Program was established in 2007 by the NAHRO Board of Governors to honor members for their accumulated wisdom and mastery as seen by their achievements and their actions within their own communities.
Qualifications:
Each nominee must:
- Have been an individual or associate member of National NAHRO for at least three years.
- Have at least 12 years of professional experience in housing and/or community development
- Have graduated from a college or university or have a combination of professional training that demonstrates a commitment to self-improvement and professional development.
- Be able to demonstrate significant contributions to the housing/cd fields in five of the eight categories including Association Mastery. Mastery in either the policy area or the practice area is also required.
- Be willing to serve as a mentor.
- Only pre-approved nominees should complete the application.
Endorsement Guidelines:
- Current sitting Fellows shall make recommendations for nominations to the other Fellows by the end of the first quarter of the calendar year. The nominating Fellow will share with the group why the person should be nominated.
- The nominating Fellow will mentor their nominee on how to best complete the application. Applications will be reviewed and judged in the third quarter.
- Nominee will provide at least two, and no more than four, letters of recommendation from people within the community with a direct knowledge of the work and character of the nominee.
Other Guidelines:
- All papers or published articles referenced in the application need to be research based.
- In mastery sections, applicants need to not only site awards/nominations received, projects worked on, strategic plans created, etc. but also provide brief details of the project/program itself and the outcome. How did it benefit the agency/organization/community?
Application Deadline and Fee:
Applications are due 2025. The fee for application is $75.00.
Benefits and Obligations of NAHRO Fellows: Upon admission into the NAHRO Fellowship, individuals will receive benefits befitting their contributions to the profession. They will also have an obligation to continue to support NAHRO, the profession and individual practitioners. These obligations and benefits are as follows:
- Individuals may use the designation ‘NAHRO Fellow’ professionally as a designation after their name, in a manner consistent with guidelines approved by NAHRO;
- NAHRO Fellows are expected to serve as mentors to impart their knowledge to the extent that their other business, family and personal obligations allow;
- NAHRO Fellows are expected to continue to be involved in NAHRO, its program activities, conferences and instrumentalities, as appropriate;
- NAHRO Fellows are expected to continue to uphold the code of professional conduct and any ethical standards specific to the NAHRO Fellowship which may be promulgated at a later date.
- Individuals will be given the opportunity to participate in specific programs and activities of the NAHRO Fellowship, time and cost considered; and
- Fellows will be called upon from time to time to serve NAHRO as jurors as needed to sustain the growth and development of the NAHRO Fellowship Program.
The Fellowship Application period is now open for pre-approved nominees
Fellows Application Judging Criteria
Successful candidates will have attained mastery in Professional Association Mastery and at least four of the other Mastery categories, one of which must be either Policy Mastery or Practice Mastery. Recipients will be selected on the basis of their contributions in areas 1 through 9.
- Professional Association Mastery: the candidate’s service to NAHRO through elected or appointed leadership at the Chapter, Region or National level; involvement in special projects, programs, policy; active participation in committees; involvement in membership recruitment, etc. [0-20 points]
- Policy Mastery: the candidate’s ability to develop/enact strategic plans, create local, state or federal funding mechanisms, housing trust funds or linkage programs; lead or guide others to enact or implement new housing programs, or housing/community development and/or preservation policy; create or administer land use policy or programs which create new affordable housing, preserve and improve neighborhood quality and safety or create communities with substantial affordable housing and development; etc. [0-20 points]
- Practice Mastery: the candidate’s ability to create viable, durable partnerships; conceive, create or implant best practice programs or developments; create innovations in organizational management, maintenance, finance development or human services; deliver innovative human services and outreach to the homeless, disabled, elderly or chronically mentally ill; etc. [0-20 points]
- Mentoring Mastery: the candidate’s ability to create resident leaders, support or coach peers, guide staff and others in the local community; provide support or guidance to young professionals; etc. [0-15 points]
- Education and Training Mastery: the candidate’s participation as a guest or regular lecturer or teacher of housing and community development topics; development of curriculum or media; involvement in testing, evaluating or credentialing; participation in conference sessions, speaking engagements or trainings; ability to disseminate information to or engage the public; etc. [0-15 points]
- Governance Mastery: the candidate’s ability to lead a board locally or within NAHRO or other state, regional or professional affiliate; to serve or be involved in NAHRO, housing/community development association, authority, non-profit board or commission; to hold elected public leadership such as city, county, or school district; to provide leadership to resident or youth organizations, etc. [0-15 points]
- Research/Scholarship/Journalism Mastery: the candidate must have published at least three articles or at least two significant works of research or served as an editor/publisher of media germane to the housing and community development profession. [0-15 points]
- Volunteerism Mastery: the candidate’s ability to participate as a volunteer contributor to NAHRO, local, regional or national task forces, working groups or committees; to help with crisis prevention, disaster relief, street outreach or construction of housing or community facilities; to serve as a therapist, counselor or minister; to participate in local service organizations, churches, temples or congregations; to be involved in local fundraisers, funding development or community foundations; etc. [0-15 points]
- Fellows Obligations: the candidate’s ability to serve as a mentor to impart his/her knowledge; to continue to be involved in NAHRO, its program activities, conferences and instrumentalities; to participate in specific programs and activities of the NAHRO Fellowship; to serve NAHRO as jurors as needed to sustain the growth and development of the NAHRO Fellowship Program; and the candidate’s ability to uphold the code of professional conduct and any ethical standards specific to the NAHRO Fellowship. [0-10 points]
Nominees must receive an average score from the jury of at least 70 points to be considered for receipt of the award. The top six scores in the above categories will be used for consideration.
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