Overview
While often noted for its innovation around affordable housing production and policy, the Greater Boston area consistently ranks among the five most expensive housing markets in the United States. The Kuehn Fellowship strives to inspire and equip men and women early in their careers to take on this challenge.
The two-year fellowship invests in talent, offering real-world experience in maintaining and producing affordable housing. With strong supervision from well-vetted host organizations, Fellows are quickly immersed in each piece of the process and puzzle—fostering community engagement, guiding design and construction, managing a team, finding and aligning funding sources. The program encourages the best launch possible for Fellows through mentors, monthly meetings, the cohort network, and the availability of KCF staff.
The Kuehn Fellowship program welcomed its fifth cohort of Fellows in 2023. Post-Fellowship, Alumni Fellows are continuing in affordable housing in roles throughout greater Boston and beyond.
Becoming a Fellow
Becoming a Kuehn Fellow or host organization is competitive. Every two years, we set in motion our application process with selection by the staff and trustees, advised by an expert panel. Our 2023 Fellowship process started with the selection of host organizations in Fall 2022.
Our 2023 Fellowship application process is now closed. Fellows started placements in Summer 2023.
Revised on 1/20/2023
Key Fellowship Benefits
- Two-year salaried project management position with vetted nonprofit affordable housing organization located in Massachusetts
- Hands-on experience working with committed supervisors on active projects
- Access to an experienced mentor as well as the Fellowship staff, cohort, and alumni network
- Professional development stipend for courses and/or membership fees
- Monthly gatherings sponsored by the Foundation to share experiences, build skills, and learn more
- Participation in making the Fellows’ Gift, a contribution made at the end of the Fellowship to an area nonprofit of the Fellows’ choosing
Monthly Gatherings
Day to day, Kuehn Fellows get hands-on experience. Once a month, Fellows come together to take a step back. Alongside building core skills like reading construction documents and running an effective meeting, Fellows get a chance to discuss bigger questions of practice and policy. Warm months take us outside for building and neighborhood walking tours. Topics from past sessions include:
- Ask the Underwriter: How Does Your Lender Look at Your Project?
- Reading Construction Documents
- Housing Development in Gateway Cities: A Walking Tour in Lowell
- Driving a Closing
- Current Topics in Senior Housing
- Marketing and Leasing
Fellows Gifts
As the culmination of two years together, Kuehn Fellows have an unusual opportunity to make an impact collectively, directing a gift from the Foundation to a nonprofit they select.
The 2021 Fellows selected Youth Experiencing Homelessness as the focus of their gift, in recognition of the growing needs and vulnerability of this target group.
The Haven Project (Lynn, MA) provides age-appropriate services to a 17-24 year old homeless young adult population north of Boston. This growing organization was recently awarded DHCD funding for its first permanent housing project, Catalyst Housing.
KCF was pleased to make a donation of $25,000 at the direction of the 2021 Fellows to The Haven Project.