Advocacy & Development Fellow

About MBBA The Michigan Black Business Alliance (MBBA) is the leading voice for Black entrepreneurship in Michigan. Our mission is to help close the racial wealth gap by advocating for policies, creating programs, and building partnerships that lead to thriving, profitable Black-owned businesses. Through bold leadership, cultural connection, and intentional systems-building, we connect Black businesses to capital, resources, and opportunity.

Position Summary

The Advocacy & Development Fellow supports MBBA’s external affairs work across policy research and advocacy, fundraising and grant development, and external partnerships. This is a hands-on role for a college student, graduate student, law student, or recent graduate who wants substantive experience in public policy, nonprofit development, stakeholder engagement, and economic development while working directly with the Director of External Affairs. This is a 10-month position from August 2026 - May 2027.

Key Responsibilities

Conduct research on policy issues affecting Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs, including local / state legislation, ordinances, regulations, and economic-development issues. Assist with drafting policy memos, briefing documents, ordinance summaries, legislative talking points, one-page briefs, and plain-language policy materials for non-expert audiences. Maintain and update MBBA’s policy tracker by monitoring relevant bills, ordinances, and policy developments at the city and state levels. Support policy efforts by developing surveys, preparing policy communications, and assisting with events such as legislative meetings, community forums, and advocacy convenings. Conduct prospect research to identify foundation, corporate, and government funding opportunities aligned with MBBA’s mission and priorities. Assist with first drafts of grant applications, letters of inquiry, funding proposals, and grant-reporting narratives; help gather data and supporting documentation for submissions.