Bonner Leaders Program

What does it entail?

Students accepted into the program go through a site-matching process after which they are paired with a local non-profit organization that matches their interests. The program offers a unique and enriching opportunity to work with a single nonprofit for four years. 

Bonner Leaders serve at their site for approximately 8-10 hours per week, culminating in about 240 service hours per academic year. Students serve at their site for the duration of their undergraduate experience at Chatham which depends on the year they apply and are accepted.

Bonner Leaders meet with the Assistant Director of Student Leadership & Civic Engagement and Graduate Administrative Associate for the Bonner Leader program regularly for enrichment trainings. These are primarily discussion-based, and often led by guest speakers.

Who's eligible?

First- and second-year and students with federal work study. Due to COVID-19, there will be no Bonner Leaders selected for 2020-2021.

Apply

Service Sites

Our collection of nonprofit service sites offer a variety of services to very different populations, with the hope to pull in even more as the program grows.

If you’re interested, apply here or email Emily Fidago for more information. Due to COVID-19, there will be no Bonner Leaders selected for 2020-2021.

• Off the Floor
  Off the Floor Pittsburgh is a local faith based volunteer ministry which, since 2004, has provided basic used furniture like beds, dressers, tables, and chairs to disadvantaged families who lack these items. There are countless families and individuals in the region who desperately need the services of Off the Floor Pittsburgh in order to live with the dignity that a furnished home provides.
• Pittsburgh Filmmakers Association
  Filmmakers Youth Media provides media literacy education to the region with innovative classes, hands-on workshops, and outreach programs to schools and other community partners. Classes, camps, and workshops are offered in a wide range of media including digital video, filmmaking, photography, animation, and programming.
• Ten Thousand Villages
  Ten Thousand Villages is an exceptional source for unique handmade gifts, jewelry, home decor, art and sculpture, textiles, serve ware and personal accessories representing the diverse cultures of artisans. One of the world's largest fair trade organizations and a founding member of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), the company strives to improve the livelihood of tens of thousands of disadvantaged artisans in 38 countries.
• Pittsburgh Center for the Arts
  Pittsburgh Filmmakers/ Pittsburgh Center for the Arts is dedicated to nurturing and encouraging artists, and the advancement of artistic excellence in all forms of visual art, from existing disciplines to those yet to be imagined. The artistic exchange, the sharing of thoughtful experiences with others, is at the core of our cultural philosophy. The creation of art is inextricably linked to free thought; and should never be limited.
• YWCA
  YWCA Greater Pittsburgh is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. We envision a community that advances education, opportunity, and equity regardless of gender, race, or background. We focus on programs that generate institutional change and better the lives of women and girls.
• Homeless Children's' Education Fund
  The Homeless Children's Education Fund is a nonprofit organization established in 1999 to support the educational needs of children experiencing homelessness in Allegheny County. The mission of the Homeless Children's Education Fund is to advance the education of children and youth experiencing homelessness, guiding them to be productive, empowered citizens.
• Gwen's Girls
  The mission of Gwen's Girls is to empower girls and young women to have productive lives through holistic, gender-specific programs, education and experiences. Our vision is one of girls becoming self-sufficient adults, equipped with the capacity to continuously evolve emotionally, physically and spiritually; building strong family units; developing a strong support system; and contributing to community life.
• Just Harvest
  Just Harvest works to end hunger in our region by advocating for change in our public policies and public institutions; helping people in poverty access the assistance programs, public benefits, and healthy food they need; and organizing our communities through education about the public policies that create hunger and poverty and by providing opportunities for political action.
• Steel City Squash
  Steel City Squash is an academic and athletic youth program that provides life-changing opportunities to children from low-income families in Pittsburgh through education, mentoring, community service, and the sport of squash. Our goals are to support students through high school and college graduation; Promote good health, nutrition and physical fitness; Provide opportunities to serve the community and travel beyond its limits; Prepare students for post-collegiate employment.
• Women's Law Project
  The Women's Law Project is a leading voice in the fight for equal access to reproductive healthcare and abortion, improving institutional response to all forms of violence against women, challenging sex & gender discrimination, and advocating for workplace equality and economic justice. The mission of the Women's Law Project is to create a more just and equitable society by advancing the rights and status of all women throughout their lives. To this end, we engage in high impact litigation, advocacy, and education.
• Carriage House
  Our Center is non-profit, non-sectarian, and conveniently located in Squirrel Hill in the Wightman School Community Building. We offer part-time and full-time care for families. The Center is accredited by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs and licensed by the Department of Public Welfare. The pre-school is also licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.