2027 Govern For America Fellowship: Matching Pathway

Join the Movement!

The Govern For America Fellowship is a competitive two-year program that propels emerging leaders from diverse backgrounds into meaningful careers in government. Fellows work full time in government roles while participating in hands-on leadership development, dedicated mentorship, and a national community of peers committed to improving outcomes for communities across the country. Your career in public service starts with Govern For America.

Through the Fellowship, you will build the skills, relationships, and experience to drive meaningful change from within public institutions. Whether Fellows are advancing educational opportunity, improving public health, expanding access to housing, strengthening workforce systems, or addressing other critical community needs, government is where leadership becomes action.

About the Matching Pathway

Breaking into government can be difficult, especially when you are unfamiliar with public-sector hiring processes. The Matching Pathway is designed for candidates who want GFA's support in finding an eligible government role to begin their public service careers. Through GFA's matching process, selected candidates are connected with potential government opportunities that align with their skills, interests, and career goals before beginning the full two-year Fellowship experience. Candidates do not need to have a role secured when they apply.

What You May Do in Your Role

Matching Pathway Fellows are considered for a variety of government roles depending on available opportunities, agency needs, and each candidate's skills, experiences, and interests. The specific responsibilities, title, employer, salary, and location of each Fellow's role will vary.

Depending on your role, you may:

• Work closely with government leaders on strategic initiatives and mission-critical priorities.
• Conduct policy research and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
• Analyze programs, budgets, operations, legislation, or other government systems.
• Use data and evidence to identify opportunities, improve programs, and strengthen outcomes.
• Coordinate projects and support the implementation of new initiatives.
• Build and manage relationships with government agencies, community organizations, residents, and other stakeholders.
• Engage communities and incorporate the perspectives of people most impacted by government decisions.
• Ask difficult questions, challenge assumptions, and develop creative solutions to complex public challenges.

What You'll Do as a Fellow

In addition to your full-time role, you will participate in the full GFA Fellowship experience. Over two years, Fellows receive intensive leadership development, responsive mentorship, and support from an extraordinary community of peers doing inspiring work across the country. Fellows participate in regular professional development opportunities, peer learning, networking, and gatherings designed to strengthen their ability to lead within and beyond government.

You will have opportunities to:

• Build and practice GFA's core leadership competencies.
• Learn alongside a national cohort of emerging public sector leaders.
• Participate in professional development and leadership training.
• Receive coaching and mentorship from experienced professionals.
• Build relationships with peers, public policy experts, and government leaders.
• Reflect on your work and share lessons learned with a broader community of public servants.

What You'll Get

• A full-time government role with a competitive salary and benefits package. Salaries for Fellowship roles typically range from $45,000 to $75,000, depending on the position and employer.
• Extensive investment in your development as a leader, including coaching and mentorship.
• Training centered on GFA's 9 Core Leadership Competencies.
• Collaboration with a cohort of emerging leaders working across a wide range of public challenges.
• Access to GFA's network of public policy experts, government leaders, Fellows, and alumni.
• Financial support for relocation assistance and emergencies on a case-by-case basis.
• Ongoing alumni engagement and continued support as you advance your public service career.

Where You May Work

GFA partners with government agencies in communities across the country. Available opportunities vary each year based on partner needs, and GFA cannot guarantee that roles will be available in every state or city.

Candidates should be prepared to consider opportunities in locations where GFA has identified a need for emerging public sector talent. Potential opportunities may be located in communities including Tucson, Arizona; areas of California including Fresno, San Rafael, San Francisco's Mission District, and Oakland; the Northern Denver area; Norwalk and Stamford, Connecticut; Wilmington, Delaware; Orlando, Florida; Berea and Appalachian Kentucky; Baltimore, Maryland; Boston, Massachusetts; St. Cloud and Northfield, Minnesota; Akron and Dayton, Ohio; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Portland, Oregon; Providence, Rhode Island; Spartanburg, South Carolina; Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee; select locations in Texas; Salt Lake City, Utah; Tacoma and Seattle, Washington; and Kenosha, Racine, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Available locations and roles may change throughout the selection and matching process. Applicants should not assume that every location listed above will have an available Fellowship role.

How to Apply

The GFA Fellowship is a direct-apply program. We do not reserve Fellowship opportunities for specific universities, and candidates are not selected based on nomination or recommendation. Every interested candidate must complete an application and participate in GFA's selection process. We strongly encourage you to apply as early as possible because applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and review capacity is limited. Applying earlier gives your application the best opportunity to be considered.

2027 Matching Pathway Timeline

• Application Opens: December 14, 2026
• Application Deadline: February 5, 2027
• Written Application Decisions: February 22, 2027
• Group Interviews: March 8–26, 2027
• Matching: April–May 2027
• Summer Institute: June 14–20, 2027
• Roles Begin: On or after June 21, 2027

We strongly encourage you to apply as early as possible because applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and review capacity is limited. Applying earlier gives your application the best opportunity to be considered.

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for the 2027 Matching Pathway, applicants must:

• Be a U.S. citizen at the time of application.
• Have completed an undergraduate degree or be on track to earn an undergraduate degree by June 2027.
• Be available to begin the Fellowship in mid to late June 2027 and attend Summer Institute in person from June 14–20, 2027.
• Demonstrate a passion for public service and a desire to build a career in government.
• Be willing to consider government opportunities in cities and states where GFA has identified a need for emerging talent.
• Be prepared to participate fully in GFA's selection and matching process.

We actively encourage applicants who have been traditionally underrepresented in government leadership, including people of color, first-generation college students, women, gender non-conforming individuals, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Govern For America is committed to equal opportunities in employment. Every Fellow has the right to work in an environment free from all forms of discrimination. We recruit Fellows without regard to color, religion, race, national origin, citizenship, veteran status, military status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, age, or any other status protected by law.