Frequently Asked Questions

The FUSE Executive Fellowship program is a one- to two-year full-time public service role in city or county government. FUSE Executive Fellows work alongside senior government leaders and the community to lead strategic projects. Unlike many other programs, FUSE Executive Fellows have 15+ years of experience and are seasoned professionals and executives with private sector experience. 

The FUSE Executive Fellowship program launches two cohorts per year – one in the spring and one in the fall. Our cohort model builds community and strengthens connections through shared experiences as Executive Fellows start and finish their fellowship journey together.

FUSE conducts direct outreach to government leaders and local stakeholders to understand the most pressing challenges facing their communities and the kind of support that would most accelerate progress.

We also welcome requests to partner with local officials interested in our program. Current and prospective partners may contact our team to explore how a FUSE Executive Fellow can support your office’s priorities.

FUSE works closely with our government and community partners to co-create fellowship projects based on their highest priorities, looking at opportunities that will accelerate progress already underway and advance the community’s vision for the future. The following criteria guide the design of our projects:

• Directly impacts the communities served.
• Integrates new approaches or process reforms.
• Reinforces existing departmental goals or initiatives.
• Championed by senior government leadership. 
• Establishes ambitious yet achievable project deliverables. 

FUSE staff then work with stakeholders to craft a detailed project description and recruit executive-level talent for the fellowship project.

FUSE Executive Fellows work full time and are embedded in the government agency hosting their project. They partner with managers in their respective government agencies to complete project goals and assignments. They also work with a senior-level leader within the agency who helps communicate the fellow’s strategic role and value to key stakeholders. Executive Fellows also engage a wide array of community partners and non-governmental stakeholders throughout the duration of their fellowship in pursuit of project objectives.

The cost of a fellowship is covered by the government partner and/or philanthropic partners. Funding covers the cost of the project design process, an executive search to find the right candidate, the Executive Fellow’s annual compensation and benefits, and training, coaching, and support to participants throughout the fellowship year.

FUSE seeks to partner with cities and counties that serve 150,000 residents or more, and has worked with more than 60 communities to date. You can see a list of our partner communities on our Where We Work page. We are always exploring partnerships with new cities and counties and as new projects arise they will be listed on our application page.

We are always exploring partnerships with new cities and counties and as new projects arise they will be listed on our application page.

FUSE provides extensive support to Executive Fellows throughout the course of the year to deepen and accelerate the impact of our work. This includes multi-day convenings at the start and midpoint of the fellowship year; in-depth, skill-strengthening workshops to equip Executive Fellows with proven tools and strategies; monthly convenings to discuss project-related challenges and leverage the expertise of current and former Executive Fellows. 

Executive Fellows also have a dedicated FUSE staff member with whom they meet regularly to help ensure they are leveraging the breadth of resources available and applying best practices learned from years of partnering with local governments. Executive Fellows can also work directly with executive coaches on various project and professional development-related topics.

Our model is different from traditional consulting because we co-design projects with our government partners, conduct a unique executive search for the talent and skills that best complement the existing team, embed our Executive Fellows full-time in government agencies, and provide extensive coaching and resources to ensure project success. That highly customized, dedicated focus is catalytic to advancing strategic priorities, helping leaders move initiatives meaningfully forward – from conception and ideation to the implementation of solutions.

FUSE launches two fellowship cohorts per year – one in the spring and one in the fall. Each fellowship project description will specify its beginning and end dates.

General applications are accepted throughout the year. As fellowship opportunities become available, they will be announced through FUSE’s social media channels and recruiting newsletter.  Sign up here to receive the newsletter. 

The initial application is designed to take less than 15 minutes to complete. In addition to answering common application questions, you will be asked to upload your current resume and indicate your professional interests and geographic preferences.

Yes.  Applicants are asked to submit only one application to be considered for all available projects. All candidates will receive an email acknowledgment that their fellowship application has been successfully received and is under review. If FUSE identifies an alignment between your experiences and interests and the goals of the fellowship program, you will be contacted by a recruiter to schedule an introductory conversation. Candidates contacted for an interview are asked to inform the FUSE recruiter if they are open to being considered for multiple fellowship projects.

The interview process can take from three to 12 weeks, depending on when applications are submitted and the fellowship start date. After reviewing applications, the next step is a phone interview to assess candidates’ skills and competencies related to a given project. Those initial conversations are also the appropriate time for candidates to discuss other projects of interest for which they would like to be considered. Selected applicants then advance to a video interview.

Applicants proceeding to the next stage in the selection process will be asked to submit a short (500 word) statement describing how they would contribute to the government agency to which they would be assigned and the community being served by the project. Three professional references will also be requested.

Finally, two to four finalists are selected to interview with stakeholders from the host agency. These interviews are typically held at least five weeks before the start of the fellowship. The host agency then selects the candidate who they believe best fits the project’s requirements.

Selected candidates will need to clear a background check conducted by FUSE and any agency-required background screens. Qualified applicants with arrest and/or conviction records will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with federal and state laws.

Finalists who are not selected for a FUSE Executive Fellowship project are encouraged to consider opportunities for future fellowships.

Yes. Executive Fellows are FUSE employees and receive an annual salary of $80,000. Fellows can also access various health, dental, and vision insurance benefits. This amount is not representative of market-rate salaries for the experienced professionals in our program but is intended as compensation for a year of public service.

No. The FUSE Executive Fellowships is a full-time commitment. The achievement of the project goals is the Executive Fellow’s singular professional priority for the entirety of the fellowship. Executive Fellows must either live within a commutable distance to the host agency’s office or be willing to relocate if selected, as projects will require daily on-the-ground and in-person interaction with host agency stakeholders. FUSE does not provide relocation benefits to candidates who are interested in moving for a specific project.

Executive Fellows have many opportunities to interact with their cohort peers and FUSE alumni and staff through various channels established to support their success.

This includes multi-day convenings at the start and midpoint of the fellowship year; in-depth, skill-strengthening workshops to equip Executive Fellows with proven tools and strategies; monthly convenings to discuss project-related challenges and leverage the expertise of current and former Executive Fellows.

Executive Fellows are also provided a dedicated Slack channel – an online messaging platform for groups – that they can use to communicate with other fellows in their cohort, ask for feedback, and exchange ideas. 

Regular newsletters are also sent by FUSE to keep Executive Fellows apprised of their peers’ work and accomplishments and share program updates and opportunities. 

Executive Fellows also have a dedicated FUSE staff member with whom they meet regularly about the status of their project and to brainstorm other resources to support their project work.