Open Society Foundation Leadership in Government Fellowship 2025 ($160,000 stipend) Deadline: 24 July, 2025

Applications are open for the Open Society Foundation Leadership in Government Fellowship 2025. The Leadership in Government Fellowship program supports outstanding individuals who have played a significant role in advancing social change from within government in the United States and its territories at the city, county, tribal, state, and federal levels. The fellowships will allow recent government leaders to reflect on their public service, expand their network and knowledge, and insert their unique perspectives and expertise into the public dialogue.

Stipend

• Fellows will receive a stipend in a general range of $115,000 to $160,000 depending on percentage of time committed to the project. Projects are either 12 or 18 months in duration. 

Eligibility

• The Leadership in Government Fellowship program seeks fellowship applicants who have served in senior-level, full-time government positions in the United States and its territories.
• The ideal candidates are public servants who have recently completed their time in government (within the last two years) or will have completed their term prior to the beginning of their fellowship and have served in the chief executive role or senior management of their agency or office. Ideally, applicants see themselves serving as change agents within government in the future or are looking to apply their public service experience to an advocacy career. People of all political parties or ideologies are encouraged to apply, especially those who expand ideas and approaches to social change.
• Successful applicants will demonstrate the following qualities: a keen interest in reflecting on their government service; a passion for solving problems and implementing policy; a desire to advance ideas beyond their former jurisdictions; and a desire to inject their work into the public dialogue.

Application

Applicants who are uncertain whether their government experience or proposed project fits within the parameters of the fellowships guidelines may submit an email inquiry before proceeding with the full application. The email should provide a brief (no more than 200 words) description of the proposed project, as well as some background information on the applicant, and should be sent to: LIGfellowship@amalgamatedfoundation.org

Applicants will have to provide basic contact information and answer questions about their government experience. Applicants will also submit a proposal of eight questions along with their resume. Once registered with the system, applicants can save their progress before submitting a final application.

Applications are due on July 24 at 11:59 p.m. (EDT) and must be submitted online via the Leadership in Government Portal.

For more information, visit Leadership in Government Fellowship.