Cleveland Foundation Public Service Fellowship

Timeline

March 21 – April 2* – Semi-Finalist Interviews

April 7 -18* – Virtual Finalist Interviews with Host Agencies (with an additional limited round of Finalist Interviews possible between April 22 – May 2* as needed)

Week of April 21 – Fellows Selection Begins

August 1* – Fellowship Begins

*Candidates must be available on these dates 

Creating Pathways to Careers in Public Service

Launched in 2016, the Cleveland Foundation Public Service Fellowship immerses talented, emerging leaders from across the country in the work of Cleveland’s public sector, providing them an opportunity to develop their skills, enhance their networks, and jumpstart a career in public service.

The program includes:

  • A 12-month, full-time paid placement at a selected public sector agency or a nonprofit partner in Cleveland, providing meaningful career-related work experience. The fellowship includes a $47,000 salary with health benefits and a $1,000 signing bonus (which is taxable).
  • Participation in professional development that prepares Fellows for 21st century public service, administered by Cleveland Foundation staff and professionals with expertise in their fields.
  • A small cohort with individualized coaching, supervision and support.
  • Immersion in the rich civic and cultural life of Cleveland, with first-hand opportunities to network and connect with a diverse array of senior leaders, organizations, and community members.

 How to Apply for the Public Service Fellowship – CLICK HERE   

(For Organizations) How to Host a Public Service Fellow – CLICK HERE 


Sign up for updates regarding the Cleveland Foundation Public Service Fellowship here.

FAQs

What is a fellowship?

The role of a fellow is multi-faceted. In working within a host organization for a year, fellows are full-time employees that add capacity, perspectives, and skills to teams and meaningful projects. At the same time, a fellowship also offers unique opportunities to balance experiential learning, exposure, and professional development with work products and networking – both as an individual and together with a cohort of peers. In 2025, the one-year fellowship program begins on Aug. 1.

What benefits and opportunities are generally included as part of the fellowship?

Over the course of their program year, Public Service Fellows receive compensation and access to insurance, retirement, and PTO/sick days as aligned with full-time employment at their host organization. Training and professional development days are coordinated for the entire cohort an average of 14 hours per month. These sessions have focused on topics such as communications, network management, racial equity and inclusion, leadership, and more. Fellows select and then work individually with an executive coach for 5 sessions. Informally, there are also opportunities to network, attend local forums and events, meet with alumni, and conduct informational interviews. It is important to note that, while general compensation, benefits, and professional development opportunities will be coordinated across fellows, there may be some differences based upon an individual’s host organization, project, and scope of work for the year.

Are the host agencies different every year? How are they selected?

Yes, the host agencies vary every year following an application, screening, and selection process. Organizations need to have a meaningful and robust project that a fellow would be able to move forward over the course of a year well as the capacity to offer ongoing supervision, mentoring, and access to leadership. Beyond this, the timeliness or urgency of a project, skills required of a fellow,  and geography or population(s) served may also be considered holistically.

What is the selection process for fellows?

There are three general steps in the selection process for applicants:

  1. Interested candidates complete a general application for the program. Applications are screened with a focus on alignment with eligibility requirements, commitment to public service, indicated skills, and writing.
  2. Semi-finalist interviews are conducted with candidates to learn more about their individual goals, prior experiences, and the host organizations that they believe are best aligned with their skills and interests. These interviews are facilitated by Cleveland Foundation staff, alumni of the program, and/or community leaders with time reserved at the end of questions. Full position descriptions and the names of interviewers will be shared in advance of this stage.
  3. Finalist interviews are coordinated directly by host organizations. This stage provides an opportunity for candidates to meet directly with organization staff that they may be working with, to learn more about the project(s) for the year, and to ask specific questions related to the position and workplace. Each finalist candidate is guaranteed an interview with at least one host organization.

What generally characterizes the most successful fellowship experiences?

We encourage participants to continue to reflect upon their individual goals and objectives as they “carve out” their own fellowship experience. Generally, fellows tend to maximize their engagement with the program when they are open to new opportunities – even those that are slightly outside their comfort zone, invest in meeting and building relationships with new people, and remain committed to learning and growth.

What are some examples of fellows’ transitions at the end of their program year?

Please reach out to alumni on LinkedIn to ask this question directly as paths vary widely! At least 50% of fellows transition to full-time employment either at their host organization or within another agency in Cleveland. Fellows may also pursue graduate studies or law school, move on to other fellowship programs, remain based in Cleveland but work remotely (or vice versa), or pursue career opportunities in other cities across the U.S. (still largely with a focus on public service).

Meet the 2024-25 Cleveland Foundation Public Service Fellows here.

In 2024-25, host agencies included the City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, neighborhood CDCs and more.

Meet the 2023-24 Cleveland Foundation Public Service Fellows here.

In 2023-24, public service fellows were placed primarily at the City of Cleveland and Cleveland Metropolitan School District. 

Meet the 2022-23 Cleveland Foundation Public Service Fellows here. 

In 2022-23, public service fellows were placed primarily at the City of Cleveland and Cleveland Metropolitan School District. 

Meet the 2021-22 Cleveland Foundation Public Service Fellows here. 

In 2021-22, host agencies included Cleveland Metroparks, Cleveland Neighborhood Progress, Higher Education Compact of Greater Cleveland, College Now Greater Cleveland, Fatima Family Center, Cleveland Foundation, Cleveland Transformation Alliance, Cleveland Public Library, Global Cleveland, Cleveland Documenters – Neighborhood Connections, Famicos Foundation, and MyCom.

Meet the 2020-21 Cleveland Foundation Public Service Fellows here. 

In 2020-21, host agencies included Enterprise Community Partners, Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA), Cleveland Metropolitan School District, Cleveland Purpose Built Communities, the Cuyahoga County Office of Innovation and Performance, the Cuyahoga County Department of Health and Human Services, and Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.

Meet the 2019-20 Cleveland Foundation Public Service Fellows here. 

In 2019-20, host agencies included the City of Cleveland, Cleveland Foundation, Cleveland Metropolitan School District, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority, Invest in Children, MidTown Cleveland, and Say Yes to Education Cleveland. 

Meet the 2018-19 Cleveland Foundation Public Service Fellows here. 

In 2018-19, host agencies included the City of Cleveland – Mayor’s Office of Communications, Cleveland Foundation, Cleveland Public Library, Cuyahoga County Council, Cuyahoga County Office of Reentry, Enterprise Community Partners, MetroHealth and Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District.

Meet the 2017-18 Cleveland Foundation Public Service Fellows here.

In 2017-18, host agencies included the City of Cleveland, Cleveland Neighborhood Progress, Cleveland Metroparks, Cleveland Metropolitan School District, and Cuyahoga County.

Meet the 2016-17 Cleveland Foundation Public Service Fellows here. 

In 2016-17, host agencies included Cleveland City Council, the Cleveland Foundation, Cuyahoga County Office of Innovation and Performance, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA), MetroHealth, and the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA).

 

Fellowship host sites

Each Fellow will be matched with a public sector agency with a supportive corporate culture and a commitment to providing opportunities to develop leadership and innovation. In addition to potential placements within local government, selected public service agencies and nonprofit organizations may also include those which provide a range of public goods and services, such as education, healthcare, housing, transportation and water. The 2025-26 host sites will be listed once selection is finalized.

Cleveland Foundation’s Commitment to Diversity

The Cleveland Foundation exists to enhance the quality of life for all citizens of Greater Cleveland.  The ability to carry out our mission and to foster a commitment to excellence can best be pursued if our workforce, grantees, donors, partners and governing body include individuals of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and perspectives.

The foundation, in partnership with its host sites, is committed to ensuring diversity and inclusion across all of Cleveland’s public sector agencies by using this fellowship as a catalyst for developing a pipeline of future leaders for Northeast Ohio.