As a FUSE Executive Fellow, Nathan Chai (2023–25) worked with the Salt Lake City Department of Sustainability to inform workforce planning and analysis under the City’s new Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP), aiming to increase green job opportunities for residents. He completed Salt Lake’s first regional clean energy jobs landscape and gap analysis, sharing forecasts to support a $1M city grant. He built public-private partnerships and hosted two innovation labs engaging 50+ stakeholders. Additionally, he analyzed the City’s and other leading apprenticeship models to inform the development of a new apprenticeship program for the Department of Sustainability.
The fellowship led to his next role as an executive consultant with the University of Utah and the National Science Foundation, where he co-led the workforce development team, focused on accelerating the growth of small businesses and key regional employers in the energy and infrastructure sectors. In 2026, Chai returned to FUSE — this time as the director of philanthropic partnerships, where he now helps foster and sustain partnerships that expand FUSE’s reach and impact.
What was the impact of the FUSE Fellowship on you professionally and personally?
It was almost a 90-degree turn from what I thought my career would look like at this stage. I’d never considered philanthropy or nonprofits as a path for myself. I knew they existed, but it hadn’t occurred to me that it could be something I’d do, or contribute to. When recruiting first told me about a fellowship opportunity in Salt Lake, I saw a project that not only aligned with my skill set but, more importantly, gave me a unique opportunity to contribute professionally to a cause and community I cared deeply about. What I thought would be a one-year commitment turned into a second year, and then into where I am now. I am grateful to be part of the FUSE team. Three years ago, I never would have imagined this turn possible. It helped me see a different path — one I’ve found especially rewarding.
Before FUSE, I spent close to 20 years in tech, leading marketing and operations teams. I loved the work and the people, but I was at a point in my career where the idea that my work could contribute to outcomes that mattered much more than just commercially was very attractive. I didn’t expect that “something different” to become a long-term opportunity, but it has.
What are the big challenges on which you are working now? What are you hoping to achieve in the next 6-12 months, and how has your FUSE experience prepared you to approach them?
Right now, I’m focused on helping FUSE build deeper, more consistent relationships with donors and partners who make this work possible and expand our reach nationwide.
Much of this work feels surprisingly familiar. I’m still learning the philanthropic world — it’s remarkable how generous philanthropic organizations can be and how much good they can do, but the fundamentals of relationship management and long-term growth strategy are things I’ve dealt with throughout my career. It’s really just a different kind of outcome to steward — one that arguably matters a lot more.
Related Work and News:
Green Workforce Development in Salt Lake City: Listening Tour “Read Out”
The Greater Salt Lake Clean Energy and Air Roadmap (SL-CLEAR) Initiative
Powering Salt Lake City’s Clean Energy Future, One Job at a Time
