FAQ'S
We have the answers to your questions...
About Hire Cause
What is the Hire Cause Fellowship?
Why was the Hire Cause Fellowship created?
What happens after Hire Cause?
Logistics
What will I be doing across these five weeks?
Where does the program take place?
What is your class attendance policy?
How does the mentoring or professional development coaching work?
What are the important dates and deadlines?
How much time can I expect to spend on coursework each week?
Investment
How much does it cost?
What is your refund policy?
Are scholarships available?
Additional Information for Educators
How can my school help our students participate in this Hire Cause Fellowship?
Can my school use Hire Cause to engage our own alumni?
What is the Hire Cause Fellowship?
It is a 5-week fellowship that empowers motivated high school students in grades 9-12 to raise awareness and money for the charity of their choice, with mentorship from various industries.
Why was the Hire Cause Fellowship created?
Something was missing from the education system.
After graduating Magna Cum Laude from Emory University, Hire Cause founder David Dvorkin became the youngest Director of New Business at a media and entertainment company in New York City where he was in charge of managing the sponsorship sales for the Grammy's and American Music Awards.
Through his 10 years of experience, David realized something was not right. While he was in charge of his company’s internship program and hiring of recent graduates, David realized that students lacked the professional skillsets to feel confident to succeed in a business environment. Students also did not know what they wanted to do because they lacked the exposure to different career paths.
David began Hire Cause with the simple belief that philanthropy could be the ultimate vehicle to help students gain this necessary exposure and develop the skillsets to pursue a financially rewarding and fulfilling career. At last Hire Cause was born, and students have been reaping the rewards while giving back to their communities ever since, developing professional skillsets and building a network of successful executives in their given fields along the way.
What happens after Hire Cause?
In addition to the course itself, perhaps our biggest goal is to build a powerful alumni network of students and professionals that lets students know about jobs, internships, volunteer, and leadership opportunities. Fellow changemakers, pushing each other to make a difference.
After the course, support for/between/by our members goes on. You will be invited to join a private Linkedin Group so that you can start building your connections early and well before you will need them after school.
You will also walk away from the program with a marketable story about how you used certain skills to have a tangible impact on the lives of others. This story will help you in college applications, interviews with employers, and most importantly, give you even greater confidence in your abilities.
What will I be doing across these five weeks?
You will be raising awareness and money for the charity of your choice. You can check out the program details page to see an overview of the five-step process and hear from some of our alumni on their experience.
Where does the program take place?
No travel is required. The coaching calls with professionals take place online every Tuesday and Thursday at 6pm EST during the 5-week program, utilizing Zoom video conferencing. If you’ve never used Zoom before, we’ll make it easy for you in the program. All that’s required is a computer and an internet connection.
Throughout the week, you will have access to your mentor through our 24/7 forum on Slack.com where you will be able to ask questions and get support. Office hours are also available on Saturday each week for those who want even more personalized attention. Students in the past have also formed their own "study groups," which you are able to do via your own Zoom video conference.
We’ve found that these virtual coaching sessions are effective in helping you connect with and learn from different professionals as you complete your charitable project. Professionals coach students online to have their impact offline in their communities.
What is your class attendance policy?
This is a 5 week sprint, and the professionals of Hire Cause are counting on you and every other student to be fully present. Professionals are volunteering their time and planning well in advance to help you grow. The short version is that we ask that each member of the 5-week workshop allocate the time to take this process as seriously as the rest of us.
How does the mentoring or professional development coaching work?
We have a mentor network of more than 300 professionals from different industries. We collaborate with NYU, Columbia, and Baruch’s Career Centers to select our mentors. We select the mentors who have experience with and passion for helping young adults.
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In our application, we first ask students what careers they are interested in potentially pursuing so that we know which professional would be best for them.
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Each student is then assigned one mentor and will be in a coaching group of no more than 30 students. Each student will be part of a supportive community that is committed to the same journey, which we find brings out the best in everyone and creates effective opportunities to learn from each other.
What are the important dates and deadlines?
Important dates are listed on the homepage.
How much time can I expect to spend on coursework each week?
Approximately 2 to 3 hours per week. One of the skills you will develop is time management. The virtual video coaching sessions will take place each Tuesday and Thursday at 6pm EST with professionals. Outside of those calls, you will work on your project each week, using the weekly assignments to keep you on track towards having your impact. Throughout the project, you'll be able to seek support from your mentor on our 24/7 forum on Slack.com.
How much does it cost?
The tuition for the fellowship program is $2,500.
This tuition goes towards creating and maintaining our robust online platforms, experiential learning design, and alumni network. We provide you with the tools, resources, coaching, and professional network to have the impact you want and develop professional skillsets.
We are proud that many of our students have raised even more money for their charity than the price of tuition that goes towards supporting them in their projects.
What is your refund policy?
We understand that life can interfere and that plans change, and we’ve tried to create a refund policy that respects you, our students and our mutual commitments.
DEPOSIT: We require a $500 deposit to secure your spot in the Hire Cause program and to accept our admission offer. Your deposit is non-refundable.
TUITION: The rest of your tuition is fully refundable any time between the day we receive it and thirty-one days before the start of the session you originally applied to attend. If you withdraw and ask for a refund, and then later decide to reapply--you'll be asked to pay a new non-refundable deposit as part of your full tuition.
WITHDRAWAL: If, in the opinion of our coaches, your conduct is disruptive to the curriculum and you are not contributing to the culture and forward motion of your team, we’ll let you know. If your behavior does not change, we will ask you to withdraw. In this situation, no refund is possible, and we’ll donate half your tuition to Room to Read, a non-profit which builds libraries and schools for children across the globe who do not have access to education.
Are Scholarships available?
Yes, scholarships are available. Any student that demonstrates reasonable financial need is eligible to apply for financial aid. When awarding financial aid, we look for applicants who are curious, driven and ready to fully engage themselves within the program. Due to the high volume of applicants, the process is competitive. Please note that applying for a scholarship does not guarantee a space in the Hire Cause program.
Step 1:
Complete the Application on the Application page.
Step 2:
E-mail scholarships@myhirecause.com with the following:
Attach to the email a short essay on why you feel you are a candidate for a Scholarship.
Include:
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The exact amount of money that you can contribute towards the cost of the program. (It is very rare for Hire Cause to offer a full Scholarship). The more you are able to contribute, the greater the likelihood that we’ll be able to support you with aid. Please be precise; if we do not have this information, we cannot consider your application.
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Specific information about any previous financial assistance that you have received for summer programs or school tuition.
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Information about the parent/guardian who will be covering the remainder of the program costs.
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Anything else that we should know about your financial situation.
Step 3:
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Please also include copies of your most recent Student Aid Report (SAR), FAFSA Form or BOTH of your parents most recent Federal tax return.
*We are currently accepting 5 students for the scholarship program. When we have received your completed application, essay, and supplemental financial documents, our Admissions Team will conduct a review and contact you. Be patient and pro-active. We receive many more Scholarship applications than we are able to support.
How can my school get students involved in Hire Cause?
Give us a shout at Team@myhirecause.com.
We have special Hire Cause programs that we can customize for each high school and school network.
Can my school use Hire Cause to engage our own alumni?
Absolutely! Hire Cause is a meaningful way to engage your alumni and bridge relationships between students and alumni in your network. Email us at Team@myhirecause.com. We can learn more about your goals and create the right solution for you.