The Robert Holgate Pride Fellowship Award in Queering Religion

The Robert Holgate Pride Award is a fellowship intended to highlight student activism in queering religion at the University of San Francisco. This award, named in honor of LGBTQIA+ activist and philanthropist Robert Holgate, will enable the Queering Religion ministry to create more inclusive programs and build spiritual communities.

Robert Holgate is a long-time gay activist and philanthropist in San Francisco. In honor of his late husband, Robert sponsored the 2022 launch of the Alvin H. Baum, Jr. Memorial Lecture, and also supports the Rabbi-in-Residence program to honor the pastoral work of Rabbi Camille Angel. Robert’s philanthropy is primarily focused on organizations supporting queer young people and elders, civil rights and strengthening our democracy, and related cultural work.

The Robert Holgate Pride Award is being hosted by the Swig program in Jewish Studies and Social Justice; applications will be accepted in January 2025 (process below). The successful awardee will be a sophomore who has significantly contributed to the spiritual/religious life of the USF LGBTQIA+ community, and is involved in the work on campus of “queering religion.” When submitting an application and thinking about the opportunities for queering religion on campus, consider these questions: “How do queer people navigate religious contexts that have often attempted to negate them?” “In what ways can religion and spiritual activism be queer?” “How can LGBTQIA+ spiritual activism manifest at the University of San Francisco?”

In 2025, the Robert Holgate Pride Award in Queering Religion will provide at least one student a fellowship stipend in the amount of $1,500. This award is provided through funding from the Rabbi in Residence Funds through the University Ministry at the University of San Francisco. The award will be disbursed in two payments, half during the Spring semester and half in the Fall in conjunction with realizing their projects. The intent, based on availability of funds, will be to continue this award on a yearly basis.

Award Eligibility and Requirements:

  • Full-time enrollment at USF

  • Sophomore status in good academic standing

  • Someone who has been involved in the work of “queering religion” at USF, with a demonstrated contribution to the spiritual and religious life of the LGBTQIA+ community on campus

Application Requirements:

  1. Personal statement: This statement should outline your commitment to queering religion at USF and your proposal for a project or initiative that will directly impact the USF community during the following Spring semester (and beyond).

    1. Questions to answer in personal statement

      • Why is this work important to you?

      • In what way does your LGBTQIA+ spiritual activism manifest at the University of San Francisco?

      • What are the goals you hope to achieve through your project/programming intended for next semester? And how will it impact the USF community?

      • What is your plan for implementation?

        1. Provide a detailed plan of action for your project. Include:

          1. A timeline with specific dates and milestones for the planning, execution, and follow-up of your project.

          2. Expectations for rollout: What are your goals for each stage of the project, and how will you ensure it runs smoothly?

          3. Any necessary resources or support you anticipate needing, such as funding, collaboration, or space.

  2. Up to 2 letter(s) of recommendation

  3. Presentations:

    1. Finalist Presentation: If selected as a finalist, you will be required to present to the selection committee. This presentation should detail the work you have done and the plans you have for moving USF’s campus culture forward.

      • The intention of this presentation (slideshow or poster) is to encourage, support, and empower the innovation and creativity of a student that facilitates programming to deepen the connection and understanding of the intersectionality between religious/spiritual and LGBTQIA+ communities.

      • This can be done through innovations, programming (ritual, liturgy, service), education (panel, research), cultural (events, music, art, community care), ect.

    2. One-Year Check-In: Recipients will be required to report back in their junior year on the progress, impact, and completion of their project, as well as discuss any plans for its continuation or succession.

Important Dates:

  • February 7: Application deadline (including personal statement and letters of recommendation)

  • February 13: Finalists announced and begin presentation preparation

  • March 7: Finalist presentations to the selection committee at USF Hilltop Campus

  • March 23: Winner announced during the 3rd Annual Alvin H Baum, Jr. Memorial Lecture

If you have any questions about the fellowship, please contact Rabbi Camille Angel, Rabbi in Residenceat csangel@usfca.edu.

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