Yes! GFA helps you get hired into a full-time, paid government position with a minimum two-year commitment, and your day-to-day work will be managed by your government supervisor. Your job title, compensation, and benefits are determined by your agency and will vary by state and agency.

The GFA Fellowship is a two-year leadership development program that supplements your government job with training, support, and a professional network of other government changemakers. Since GFA is not your employer, many of these activities occur outside of normal work hours.

Our list of government partners grows every year! Fellows are placed all over the country in cities and states with a high need for entry-level talent. Locations are selected on an as-needed basis within national regions. You can view a map with all current and past placements on our webpage. Once you are selected as a Finalist, we will share more information about the 2027 placement opportunities. 

Please note that the more open you are to working in multiple places, the more likely you are to be matched.

Our Fellowship program is structured around 9 Leadership Competencies. Over the course of the two-year program, we focus on trainings intended to provide you with the tools and resources for early career success particularly in public sector work. These training sessions occur quarterly in a virtual format, with 1-2 in-person events each year. For instance, we invite new Fellows to attend an in-person Summer Institute event each year to kickstart their Fellowship.

Summer Institute is an intensive in-person training experience meant to provide incoming Fellows with an orientation to government service and develop skills and leadership competencies that the Fellowship builds on over the course of the two years. Summer Institute takes place at the start of the Fellowship program, usually before a Fellow begins their government role.

Some of GFA’s supports include quarterly skill-building sessions, one-on-one coaching, mentorship opportunities, optional classes, peer coaching, and more. We are constantly looking for ways to improve our programming and we consider our Fellows to be co-creators in this process. Fellows are encouraged to participate in the Fellow Advisory Board and committees for priority topics. We are excited to work with next-generation changemakers who want to give input and take charge of their experience.

Not necessarily! The Fellowship and the job are separate, so while the Fellowship ends after two years, the job match can continue as long as you and the agency you work with are interested in extending your contract.

One of the core benefits and strengths of GFA is its active alumni network. GFA facilitates alumni engagement through: quarterly newsletters to stay updated on current cohorts and other alumni; opportunities to volunteer with GFA as program advisors, trainers, and mentors; and alumni-specific events.