Application in PDF
Application in Word
Questions and Answers – Posted 12/1/22

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.

January 20, 2023 – June 30, 2026

Through the creation of the New York State My Brother’s Keeper Fellows Program (MBKFP), and a partnership between a New York State My Brother’s Keeper (NYSMBK) 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 NYSMBK Fellows, current 11th graders, to participate in the program, which will begin with the Fellows’ induction at the Annual NYSMBK Statewide Symposium and continue through the students’ 12th-grade year. Each NYSMBK Fellow will have a mentor currently employed with one of the partners. Each NYSMBK Fellow will have the opportunity to participate in a fellowship with one of the partners. As a result, each NYSMBK Fellow will develop and complete a service project related to one of the NYSMBK 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 NYSED Office of Family and Community Engagement, which will provide input on the development and implementation of a statewide MBK Mentoring Network. NYSMBK Fellows are expected to attend the Annual NYSMBK Statewide Symposium with their mentors.

• Only approved New York State My Brother’s Keeper Community Network(s) (NYSMBKCN), are eligible to apply for this grant opportunity. An approved NYSMBKCN is a partnership between the Office of the Mayor and the School District Superintendent (or the Chancellor in New York City), that has filed supporting documents with the Office of Family and Community Engagement as of December 1, 2022.
• New York State My Brother’s Keeper Community Networks that are approved by May 1, 2023 may apply for years two, three, and four of this grant cycle (2023-2024, 2024-2025, and 2025-2026).
• New York State My Brother’s Keeper Community Networks that are approved by May 1, 2024 may apply for years three and four of this grant cycle (2024-2025 and 2025-2026).
• New York State My Brother’s Keeper Community Networks that are approved by May 1, 2025 may apply for year four of this grant cycle (2025-2026).
• Additionally, for this grant opportunity, each NYSMBKCN 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 NYSMBKCN(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) to be reviewed for consideration. Applications that do not include an MOA signed by all required partners will not be reviewed for consideration. 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.

For Community Networks approved between December 8, 2022 - May 1, 2023, the application deadline is June 2, 2023; for Community Networks approved between May 2, 2023 - May 1, 2024, the application deadline is June 3, 2024; for Community Networks approved between May 2, 2024 - May 1, 2025, the application deadline is June 3, 2025.

View the recorded webinar for guidance.

Questions and Answers – Posted 12/1/22

• Questions from Community Networks approved between December 2, 2022 - May 1, 2023 must be emailed to NYSMBK@nysed.gov by May 5, 2023 (Q&A posted by May 19, 2023);
• Questions from Community Networks approved between May 2, 2023 - May 1, 2024 must be emailed to NYSMBK@nysed.gov by May 6, 2024 (Q&A posted by May 19, 2024);
• Questions from Community Networks approved between May 2, 2024 - May 1, 2025 must be emailed to NYSMBK@nysed.gov by May 6, 2025 (Q&A posted by May 19, 2025).

• Applications must be postmarked and emailed by March 17, 2023.
• Applications from Community Networks approved between May 2, 2022 - May 1, 2023 must be postmarked and emailed by June 2, 2023;
• Applications from Community Networks approved between May 2, 2023 - May 1, 2024 must be postmarked and emailed by June 3, 2024;
• Applications from Community Networks approved between May 2, 2024 - May 1, 2025 must be postmarked and emailed by June 3, 2025.

Application in PDF | Application in Word
Questions and Answers – Posted 12/1/22