The City of Boston is committed to preventing commercial gentrification and expanding equitable economic opportunities for all community members. The FUSE Executive Fellow will support the Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion (OEOI) in designing and implementing a strategic framework that drives community-led investments in historically-overlooked neighborhoods. As a result of this work, Bostonians from all backgrounds will have greater access to wealth building opportunities, particularly through entrepreneurship.

Fellowship Dates: April 28, 2025 – April 24, 2026

Salary: Executive Fellows are FUSE employees and receive an annual base salary of $80,000. Fellows can also access various health, dental, and vision insurance benefits. Compensation for this year of public service is not intended to represent market-rate compensation for the experienced professionals in our program.

ABOUT THE FUSE EXECUTIVE FELLOWSHIP

FUSE is a national nonprofit working to expand social and economic opportunities, particularly for communities that have been limited by a history of systemic and institutionalized racism. FUSE partners with local governments and communities to more effectively address pressing challenges by placing experienced professionals within city and county agencies. These FUSE Executive Fellows lead strategic projects designed to advance racial equity and accelerate systems change. Since 2012, FUSE has led over 250 projects in 40 governments across 20 states, impacting the lives of 25 million people.

When designing each fellowship project, FUSE works closely with government partners and local stakeholders to define a scope of work that will achieve substantive progress toward regional priorities. FUSE then conducts an individualized search for each project to ensure that the selected candidate has at least 15 years of professional experience, the required competencies for the role, and deep connections to the communities being served. They are data-driven and results-oriented and able to effectively manage complex projects by developing actionable roadmaps and monitoring progress to completion.

Executive Fellows are hired as FUSE employees and embedded in government agencies for at least one year of full-time work. Throughout their fellowships, they receive training, coaching, and professional support from FUSE to help achieve their project goals. FUSE Executive Fellows bring diverse perspectives and new approaches to their projects. They build strong relationships with diverse arrays of stakeholders, foster alignment within.

PROJECT CONTEXT

The City of Boston is committed to advancing economic equity and inclusion for residents from all backgrounds, with a special focus on addressing past economic injustices and fostering generational wealth. The Mayor’s Office of Housing is introducing new loan products and programs designed to help low- and moderate-income families—especially BIPOC households—achieve homeownership. Meanwhile, the Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion (OEOI) is working toward similar wealth-building goals, supporting workers, entrepreneurs, and locally-owned businesses in their pursuit of economic growth and wealth creation.

One promising model OEOI is exploring is Invest Detroit, a 501(c)3 community development financial institution (CDFI) that partners with the City of Detroit to manage the Strategic Neighborhood Fund. Working in tandem, the two entities conduct year-long planning processes with residents in target neighborhoods to identify and fund capital projects that improve quality of life, prevent displacement, and create economic opportunity. OEOI believes this approach could be useful for catalyzing investment in the Fairmount Corridor–a collection of neighborhoods that are home to many BIPOC families. By raising and deploying strategic capital in these communities, OEOI aims to prevent commercial gentrification, create jobs, and build generational wealth for Boston residents.

While OEOI has a vision, the City of Boston does not currently have a mechanism/entity to implement it. The City needs to promote collaboration among diverse internal and external stakeholders and is considering creating a new entity to streamline and facilitate the significant investments envisioned.

The City of Boston will partner with FUSE to unlock the City’s venture capital and investment capabilities. The Executive Fellow will develop and implement a strategic framework for the City to advance its equity and opportunity goals through capital deployment. As a result of this work, BIPOC residents will be able to grow their businesses and remain in their neighborhoods, and Bostonians from all backgrounds will have the opportunity to build wealth through entrepreneurship and increased employment.

PROJECT SUMMARY

Starting in May 2025, the FUSE Executive Fellow will develop deep relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, including City partners (e.g., Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion, Mayor’s Office of Partnerships), local business owners in target neighborhoods, corporate business and finance leaders, philanthropic organizations, and members of the public (with an emphasis on BIPOC individuals and communities). The Fellow will seek to understand the resources, opportunities, and aspirations these partners have for inclusive, community-driven finance. In addition, the Fellow will review best practices for equitable venture capital deployment in communities like Boston. The best practices review will include insights from Invest Detroit and New York Economic Development Corporation, among others. Finally, the Fellow will work with their Executive Sponsor and Project Supervisor to develop and approve specific project goals and deliverables. While these goals and deliverables will likely include the ones listed below, they may differ based on situational changes and the Executive Fellow’s specific skills and experience.

The Executive Fellow will next develop a comprehensive framework to guide the City of Boston in achieving its equity and economic development goals through strategic neighborhood-level capital deployment. This framework will map out the roles of City and quasi-governmental entities involved in the effort and, if necessary, highlight areas where the City lacks the tools or capacities to meet its objectives. Recommendations will include legal structures, such as the creation of new entities (e.g., 501(c)(3) or quasi-governmental organizations), that can support these goals. Furthermore, the framework will identify potential funding sources, quantify the human and financial resources needed for implementation, and outline actionable next steps and timelines to bring this vision to fruition.

Once the Executive Fellow has secured the framework’s approval, they will begin implementation. To ensure sustainability, the Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion must be able to continue advancing this work under their current staffing model or with the resources identified in the framework. Thus, the Executive Fellow must work closely with OEOI colleagues and facilitate the handover of any ongoing tasks prior to the end of the year-long fellowship This may include identifying any necessary adjustments to the current staffing model or securing additional resources to enhance capacity, ensuring that OEOI can effectively continue its initiatives. The Executive Fellow will also facilitate training sessions for OEOI staff, ensuring they are equipped with the skills and knowledge to manage ongoing projects independently. Furthermore, the Fellow will establish communication protocols to maintain collaboration among team members and stakeholders, fostering a culture of shared ownership and accountability in achieving the City’s equity and economic development goals.

PROJECT DELIVERABLES

By April 2026, the Executive Fellow will produce the following deliverables:

  • Stakeholder Engagement and Research Report: A comprehensive report detailing insights from a systematic Listening Tour with City government, non-profits, financial leaders, and community members, highlighting resources, constraints, opportunities, and best practices in equitable venture capital from comparable cities.
  • Capital Deployment Framework: A strategic framework outlining actionable steps for Boston entities to effectively raise and deploy inclusive capital in targeted neighborhoods, emphasizing community engagement and collaborative opportunities.
  • Implementation Plan and Activation: A detailed implementation plan outlining how to activate the framework, which the Executive Fellow will begin executing in collaboration with City and external partners. This plan will include defined milestones and metrics to track progress, ensuring sustainable outcomes and continued advancement beyond the fellowship.

KEY STAKEHOLDERS

  • Executive Sponsor – Segun Idowu, Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion
  • Project Supervisor – Andrew Grace, Director of Economic and Strategic Planning

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Synthesizes complex information into clear and concise recommendations and action-oriented implementation plans.
  • Develops and effectively implements both strategic and operational project management plans.
  • Generates innovative, data-driven, and result-oriented solutions to complex challenges.
  • Respond quickly to changing ideas, responsibilities, expectations, trends, strategies, and other processes.
  • Communicates effectively verbally and in writing and excels in active listening and conversing.
  • Fosters collaboration across multiple constituencies to support more effective decision-making.
  • Establishes and maintains strong relationships with diverse stakeholders, both inside and outside of government, particularly community-based relationships.
  • Embraces differing viewpoints and implements strategies to find common ground.
  • Demonstrates confidence and professional diplomacy while effectively interacting with individuals at all levels of various organizations.

FUSE is an equal-opportunity employer with core values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply for this position.