# Become an SDP Partner ## Become an SDP Partner For education and nonprofit organizations committed to using evidence for change, the Strategic Data Project recruits and trains data talent to move forward strategic priorities in your organization. We invite partners who value a culture of rigorous data use to hire an SDP Fellow or nominate an existing staff member into the fellowship program. [ Download the Partnership Flyer arrow\_circle\_right ](https://sdp.cepr.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum4446/files/2025-08/SDP%20Fellow%20Partnership%202-Pager%20_%20FINAL.pdf) [ Start the Partnership Application arrow\_circle\_right ](https://sdp.smapply.io/prog/c18_partner/) ![d](/sites/g/files/omnuum4446/files/styles/hwp_28_10__1920x685/public/sdp/files/banner6.jpg?itok=JYa3AdPC) ## Why Partner with SDP? ### Build your team's data capacity. Partners hire fellows recruited and screened by Harvard researchers as full-time staff for the two-year program, or they nominate one or more of their own rising data stars as fellows to receive tools and training to support the organization. ### Carry out a high impact project. Advised by renowned faculty and mentors, fellows carry out a transformative data project to advance a critical initiative for partners. This work results in action-oriented insights to aid policymakers in decision-making. ### Access leaders and experts. At multiple in-person workshops, partners and fellows have access to a growing network of education leaders, data strategists, and researchers who exchange best practices, rigorous findings, statistical code, and ideas. It's been such an honor to work with our fellows. The work allowed us to really understand how critical the SDP Fellows have been to the longitudinal data system's success. They are the exact data leaders we need right now to get this project done. The impact of their work, SDP's guidance, and the community of practice they've been involved in has benefited their development *and* our project. The fellows have shared important ideas and resources garnered from their SDP gatherings and colleagues. It's been a wonderful scaffold to their accomplishments and development as statewide data leaders. SDP Supervisor 2022 - 2024 We've always called ourselves a 'data driven organization,' and to a degree we were. But seeing other organizations in action really motivated us to step up our efforts. And having all of the resources and work during the program helped us put it into action. SDP Supervisor 2020 - 2022 Our Fellow was already a leader, but the SDP broadened his world and data view, gave him better insight into some of our biggest academic challenges, and connected him with outstanding leaders and valuable resources. SDP Supervisor 2015 - 2017 The SDP fellowship program gave our agency fellows tools and strategies to keep our strategic planning and data use efforts moving when we would otherwise have been tempted to let other things delay our work. Their excitement and enthusiasm for the use of data has not only changed our office culture and attitudes about data but increased our principals' enthusiasm for the use of data at the local school sites. SDP Supervisor 2015 - 2017 The term ‘support’ can mean many things, but for SDP it runs the gamut from providing resources and feedback to autonomy and advocacy. They’re really putting the right things in place to realize their vision of increasing the analytic capacity of education agencies to affect real change. SDP Fellow 2019 - 2021 ## Pathways to Becoming a Partner Hire a Fellow Nominate a Fellow Develop a Team ## Hire a Fellow Strategic Data Project Placed Fellows are recruited by SDP via a competitive nationwide search. They are matched to SDP partner organizations where they are hired as full-time, paid, agency employees for two years and participate in SDP workshops and activities, while executing on key analytic projects identified by your organization's leadership. Placed Fellows bring impressive credentials in statistics, data management, and research methods to the projects commissioned by your organization. The application to apply to become a Placed Fellow for Cohort 18 (Fall 2026-Summer 2028) is now open. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The deadline is March 16, 2026 and we encourage prospective partners to apply as early as possible. [How to hire an SDP Fellow.](https://prod-sdp.drupalsites.harvard.edu/hire-data-fellow) ## Nominate a Fellow Partner organizations may enroll a Nominated Fellow, a rising star within your organization with analytic chops, high-quality written and verbal communication skills, and the passion and drive to be a changemaker within education to become a fellow. Nominated Fellows remain as full-time employees at partner organizations and participate in all SDP workshops and activities, alongside Placed Fellows who have been hired as new employees by other SDP partner organizations. Applications are now open. Applications will close on May 4, 2026, to nominate a fellow. Prospective partners' applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and partners are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. [How to Nominate an SDP Fellow](/enroll-agency-fellow) ## Develop a Team SDP hopes to support your organization in growing its leadership and technical capacity to do ambitious data work. There are three ways to develop a team or group of data leaders. Partners are welcome to enroll and/or hire multiple fellows at their agency, funders are welcome to sponsor multiple fellows at their grantee sites, and organizations can send teams to SDP training institutes. SDP may also deliver a custom training for your group. [Contact us for more information](mailto:alison_segal@gse.harvard.edu) ## Sponsoring Fellows [### Why Funders Sponsor SDP Fellows ](/why-funders-sponsor-sdp-fellows)SDP has a track record of successfully working with foundations seeking to build analytic capacity at grantee sites. By placing fellows, they build their ability to report on the impact of their investments and help organizations learn more with data. [### Partnering With Local Businesses ](/aps-funding)Long-time SDP partner Atlanta Public Schools knew they wanted to continue participating in the Strategic Data Project fellowship. Faced with a lack of flexibility in the budget, they decided to get creative. Rachel Sprecher, APS Executive Director of the Office of Partnerships and Development, shares how the district was able to secure external funding to continue their participation in the fellowship. [### Adding Fellows to Grantwriting Efforts ](/grounding-your-analytic-project-how-one-cmo-wrote-fellowship-grant)When we have competing priorities, how can we ensure that staff remain tied to the projects that matter most? Fortune School of Education, a California-based charter management organization, had an answer to this question: the Strategic Data Project fellowship. ## Do you have questions or want to learn more? [ Email us arrow\_circle\_right ](mailto:sdprecruitment@gse.harvard.edu) [ Schedule a call arrow\_circle\_right ](https://calendly.com/alison_segal/sdp-partner-opportunities)