Fellowship Calendar
The fellowship year begins October 1 and ends July 31 of the following year and is divided into two five-month sessions: the Fall session starts on October 1 and ends on February 28; the Spring session begins on March 1 and ends on July 31. In special cases, the program may accommodate fellows out of cycle.
Financial Support and Office Services
Each fellow receives a monthly stipend for living expenses, plus basic health insurance and roundtrip travel to and from Washington, D.C., at the beginning and end of the fellowship period. Fellowship payments are calculated to cover cost of a short-term, furnished rental aprtment, plus “cost of living” for food, local transportation, and other necessities. Fellows are provided with a fully equipped office, including Internet access and a NED email account, plus a limited budget for long-distance phone calls and professional travel within the United States.
Cost of Living and Dependents
Applicants should bear in mind that the cost of living (housing, furniture, food, and other essential living expenses) in the Washington metropolitan area is very high and that fellowship stipends are not calculated to cover a family’s financial needs. Fellows who wish to bring family members with them to Washington, D.C., will be expected to cover the costs of their dependents’ roundtrip travel and stay within the United States. The program does not ordinarily cover costs associated with dependents’ health insurance or roundtrip travel to the United States. Please note that all dependents traveling to the Unites States on a J-2 dependent visa will be required to have basic health insurance coverage for the full period of their stay.
Research Associates
Fellows receive research support through the Reagan-Fascell Research Associates Program. Research Associates (RAs) play a vital role in helping fellows realize their fellowship objectives by collaborating with them on their fellowship projects and engaging them in ongoing discussions about their work. Each RA is assigned to work with several fellows and provides critical support in a variety of ways: consulting with fellows on the shape and direction of their projects, providing research, written, and editorial support on issues relating to the theory and practice of democracy, facilitating outreach, aiding in the preparation and follow-up of fellows’ public presentations, and providing other assistance as necessary.
Democracy Resource Center
The National Endowment for Democracy houses a Democracy Resource Center (DRC), staffed by five librarians, all of whom offer research assistance to the fellows. The DRC is the leading center for research on democracy in Washington, and includes an attractive library housing some 20,000 works, including books, journals, grantee reports, and other publications on democracy. The DRC’s expert staff members assist fellows with their research interests and computer needs. Fellows may enjoy access to other local libraries as needed.
