The Fellowship Experience

The El Pomar Fellowship is a highly selective, two-year post-undergraduate leadership training program that develops today's young professionals into tomorrow's leaders. It is designed to bring together highly qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds and interests, and develop them into effective leaders for the public, private and nonprofit sectors. The Fellowship seeks to develop professional skills and educate Fellows in the role of philanthropy in the nonprofit sector, while offering direct management experience.

The First Year

The core work experience of the Fellows is to staff and manage the Foundation's programs, from Awards for Excellence to the Regional Partnerships. The first year of the Fellowship is dedicated to skill-building, nonprofit sector education and exploring the theoretical framework of leadership. More importantly, first year Fellows experience rapid personal and professional growth in the supportive environment of the Foundation.

The Second Year

In their second year, Fellows continue to put their skills and self-understanding into practice, enhancing their experience through increased responsibility in training and development. Second year Fellows become coordinators of the Foundation's regional activities and directors of the various programs. A number of second year Fellows have the opportunity to explore community development by traveling to and working directly with community leaders in their respective regions.