The heart and soul of our program
Whether you're a local or tribal government, or a non-profit working to strengthen your community through robust collaboration with public institutions, we know that you are working hard every day to provide essential services to those you serve. But we also know this is a time in which our cities and towns are confronting massive challenges all while often lacking the resources and leadership capacity you need.
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Lead For America Fellows can help your team and community. Our Fellows see public service as a lifelong calling and have made an intentional choice to begin this journey in a community they call "home.” Lead For America selects highly driven and innovative candidates to join the Fellowship. Fellows receive intensive training in public administration, community engagement, and LFA's leadership model - equipping them with the skills and tools to be effective leaders in addressing community challenges. As a federal AmeriCorps program, every LFA fellow becomes an AmeriCorps service member (click here to learn about AmeriCorps and what activities/organizations are allowed to participate).
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Fellows join as full-time members of your team, bringing their talents, passions, and skills to boost your team's capacity and lead on important projects from day one.
Hosting a Fellow is an honor, and our Fellows join your team ready to learn, lead, and inspire. If you're ready to make an investment in the next generation of leadership for your team and community, apply for the LFA Fellowship today!
Scott Erbisch
Marquette County Administrator
"Our Fellow offers new and creative thinking, and brings an intellect that is critical for the future of our community."
— Scott Erbisch,
Marquette County Administrator
LFA Fellow Maddie Long and host organization, the City of Little Rock, Arkansas
"With the ability to take a creative and unique approach to issues in this area, our Fellow possesses skills to make an impact."
— Michelle Akers, Southwestern Regional Day Report Center, Boone County, WV
Check out some past and present LFA host organizations!
Why Host?
Welcome Trained & High-Quality Talent
We recruit outstanding young leaders that have a strong connection to your community and bring a skillset that matches your organization's needs. Fellows have received intensive leadership training designed to make them real contributors in your organization from the start.
Make a Long-Term Investment
For less than the cost of an entry-level salary, you will receive one of the nation’s most talented, young leaders to serve on projects of critical importance to your community.
As a mentor to your Fellow, you'll help provide a positive vision for your community and help show your Fellow that they have a place in that future. Our goal is to find you an up-and-coming leader you can help introduce to the community and that can be a leadership asset well beyond the one-year Fellowship!
During the Fellowship, Fellows are encouraged to work with other partners in the community and to engage with local residents, building a more connected community and expanding your organization's profile. Fellows help recruit and engage other young residents, helping build the local leadership bench.
Join a Network of Service-Minded Orgs
We believe it is important that we connect our host institutions and organizational partners to one another. As such, all hosts are invited to join our online community of forward-thinking community organizations.
What We Look For In Hosts
We are able to accept only a fraction of interested hosts into our Fellowship program each year. Successful candidates have the following traits:
Be an Awesome Leader
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Hosts should have hope for their community, and inspire others to share in that vision!
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Offer Challenging + Engaging Work
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LFA Fellows are not interns. They are highly talented leaders ready to step into leadership roles within your organization and the community.
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Commitment to Building Together
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Fellows should have hosts that serve as mentors and co-collaborators in the work to build a better community.
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Have a Welcoming & Loving Team
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Hosts should have a team and office-environment that aligns with Lead For America's values, which you can find here.
Submit an interest form and our team will reach out to you!
Check out these important links​
Ready to Apply?
Questions?
Contact Community Partnerships Manager Alexis Ching - alexis.ching@lead4america.org
Lead For America is a federal AmeriCorps program. Click here to learn what that means for host organizations!
Learn more about the finances, responsibilities, and the Fellowship experience here.