Led by DeVos Institute Founder & Chairman Michael M. Kaiser and President Brett Egan, this high-intensity program serves executives of arts, culture, heritage and humanities non-profits worldwide. It provides training and guidance in strategic planning, leadership, fundraising, marketing, board governance, human resources, and financial planning coupled with peer learning, networking, and time for personal reflection. It is designed as both a catalyst for leaders at critical points in their careers, as well as a high-touch, long-term investment in a generation of leaders who will support one another, and their fields of service, for a lifetime.
Individuals engage in the Fellowship at a point of career inflection when they are well-positioned to make a significant investment in their work at their organization and their role as a leader in their field. Fellows pursue the program through the lens of their current organization, developing, implementing, and refining strategies for their organization through its curriculum. It serves both top organizational leaders (CEO, Executive Director, and similar) and members of senior management (Deputy Director, General Manager, Director of Development or Marketing, and similar). Past Fellows have come from a range of backgrounds – many are founders and executive directors of organizations which they have grown to a point of maturity, while others are leaders within iconic institutions or contemporary platforms. All Fellows share a deep commitment to the role of arts, culture, and creative practice in their respective societies and an inquisitiveness that drives them to engage deeply in the immersive and collaborative environment. On average, Fellows bring 10-20 years of professional experience to reflect upon.
The program provides three sequential years of fully-subsidized training, travel, housing, and living support. Fellows attend a four-week residency in July for three consecutive years and engage in cohort-based activities between residencies. It introduces a new cohort and matriculates a returning cohort each summer, allowing each Fellow to engage with five cohorts over the three-year engagement. 5-7 Fellows are selected to begin the program each year through a competitive application process. Each residency serves approximately 20 Fellows across 1st year, 2nd year, and 3rd year cohorts.
Founded in 2001, the Fellowship has a network of over 250 alumni around the United States and in over 50 countries.
Applicant Criteria
The fellowship is designed to be pursued through the context of each Fellow’s current organization. As such, applicants must:
- Currently serve as the Executive Director, CEO, President, or equivalent or a member of the senior management team of an arts, culture, heritage or humanities non-profit in a full-time, paid, and permanent capacity.
- While the program is equally impactful for leaders working in large and small organizations, the applicant’s organization must have a minimum of three full-time staff members (or equivalent), three years of consistent programming history, and an operating budget of at least the equivalent of $250,000 USD/€220,000 EUR.
- Have an excellent command of business English, orally and written.
- Be able to commit to the full term of the Fellowship. (Four weeks beginning in early July for three consecutive years. Upcoming dates are: July 7 – August 1, 2025; July 6 – 31, 2026; and July 5 – 30, 2027)
Fellows receive:
- Air and ground transportation between the Fellowship residency location. and their state or country of residence. (The residency is held in Washington, D.C. at least once every three years. Other U.S. East Coast locations may be used in alternate years.)
- Lodging during the Fellowship
- Per diem to cover living expenses during the Fellowship
- Visa sponsorship (for international applicants)
- Program materials
For questions on eligibility, please review our frequently asked questions here.
For additional questions, please email fellowships@devosinstitute.net.
CLICK HERE to read more about how the fellowship has empowered arts managers worldwide.
Website link: http://devosinstitute.umd.edu/What-We-Do/Services-For-Individuals/Fellowship
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