Our Programs
The Bill Anderson Fund advances hazards and disaster research, policy, and practice through three distinct programs, each of which is dedicated to serving communities that are disproportionately impacted by environmental extremes.
The Bill Anderson Fund Doctoral Student Fellowship
Designed to support the unique needs of underrepresented doctoral students whose research centers disproportionately impacted communities in the context of hazards and disasters, the fellowship includes four interconnected pillars.
Professional Development
Fellows receive comprehensive professional development programming through workshops, participation in professional meetings and conferences, webinars, and diverse training opportunities. Dedicated fellows’ workshops are hosted by university partners and showcase local research and community-based collaborations in addition to addressing topics that advance doctoral program matriculation, such as grant-writing, publishing in academic outlets, and navigating the job market. Professional meetings such as the Annual Natural Hazards Research and Applications Workshop provide a platform for fellows to showcase their research while connecting with other professionals in the field. Training activities focus on issues such as policy advocacy, research methods, and skill development.
Mentorship
Mentoring takes place through a variety of interactions within the BAF. The formal BAF Mentorship Program formally matches individual Fellows with a professional mentor based on their self-identified mentoring needs and career stage. The BAF Buddies program pairs incoming Fellows with established Fellows as peer mentors who can provide basic guidance based on common interests and experiences. Additionally, professional and skill-focused mentorship is available for Fellows participating in BAF research experiences and external projects, with mentors including research collaborators or other professionals providing project oversight and support.
Collaboration & Leadership
Through the BAF Student Council, fellows engage in student-led activities that directly contribute to their programming and training. Five student committees offer experience with writing and publication development, event planning, program design and implementation, building organizational culture, and delivering effective presentations.
Peer Support
Each new cohort of fellows joins a broader community of scholars who support one another through the challenges of doctoral study, life upheavals, and career transition. This cohesive network fosters lifelong professional relationships and a network of potential collaborators across institutions.
Research, Evaluation & Consulting
The BAF brings rigorous research expertise, independent evaluation capacity, and strategic consulting to partners working to advance disaster risk reduction in communities that suffer disproportionate harm. We work with government agencies, nonprofits, universities, and philanthropies to generate knowledge and drive evidence-based practice.
Research
Community-centered hazards and disaster research that amplifies the experiences of frontline communities—grounded in rigorous, ethical methodologies.
Evaluation
Independent program evaluation services for organizations seeking to measure impact, strengthen outcomes, and demonstrate effectiveness in disaster- and climate-related work.
Consulting
Strategic consulting to help partners integrate community voice into disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation programs.
Collaborative Communities Initiative
Currently in Pilot StageThe Collaborative Communities Initiative (CCI) provides Fellows with the skills and experience needed to further the BAF’s mission of working with communities that are responding to environmental hazards and disasters while struggling with barriers to support. Through CCI, Fellows work on applied, community-driven research and technical assistance projects that help community partners meet a variety of self-identified needs. The CCI is designed to be responsive to what communities ask for, not just what produces academic outputs.
Opportunities with the CCI are currently only available on a project-by-project basis as funding opportunities allow. However, expansion of this initiative to serve more resource-constrained partners remains a broader goal for the Bill Anderson Fund. As the CCI expands, it will grow into a comprehensive program where fellows and alumni apply their expertise in ways defined by the communities they serve.
Get Involved