What to expect in your El Pomar Fellowship
Fellows are very much a part of the day-to-day fabric of the Foundation’s work. From the first moment of New Fellow Orientation and the group Outward Bound adventure, to the daily program operations and professional trainings, to the comprehensive job preparation and Fellow Farewell, Fellows are engrained in the work of El Pomar and in their own career journeys.
Foundation Work
Each Fellow’s experience is different, but all Fellows support the Foundation’s grant making through our Regional Partnerships program and competitive application process. As a Fellow you are assigned to one or two regions as part of your Regional Partnerships work. This includes coordinating with leadership staff and Trustees on regional council strategy and meeting preparation; organizing and facilitating quarterly council meetings to discuss regional grant making strategies and impact; processing regional council grant recommendations and preparing them for Trustee meetings; and representing the Foundation while meeting with nonprofits and others in your region(s).
Fellows also support our competitive grant making process. Each year, we receive hundreds of grant applications from nonprofits across the state. Fellows read through grant applications and draft documents summarizing the work these nonprofits do, the specific requests, and staff funding recommendations. Fellows then present these write-ups to Trustees for their review and approval.
Programmatic Work
We are proud to say we contribute $25 million each year to nonprofits across Colorado, but we know not everything can be addressed through grant making, which is where our programs come into play. Fellows are assigned to support multiple programs. Whether you want to learn more about business and finance, or you prefer community program development, content creation, or public relations, we have something for you!
Because each Fellow supports the work of multiple programs, you’ll use and develop a core set of skills, including: project management, business writing and editing, grant making support and evaluation, event planning, communications, investments, and more.
The opportunity to learn and grow, as well as contribute, is exceptional.
Professional Development & the Cohort Model
A key component of the Fellowship is professional development. Through an intentionally designed curriculum, you will continue to develop your soft skills through public speaking trainings, leadership assessments, and individual coaching sessions with Fellowship leadership. Additionally, you have the opportunity for continued education through investment and finance classes, Excel, PowerPoint, and Project Management Ready certifications, and more. Fellows are also eligible for the Foundation’s tuition reimbursement and certification programs.
Additionally, you gain from the peer support of other Fellows. The cohort model is a key aspect of the Fellowship program, and allows each class of Fellows to learn, grow, and develop as a community of young professionals. Each year, Fellows participate in a Colorado Outward Bound School river or mountain course, which provides the opportunity to deepen your relationships with other Fellows and stretch beyond your comfort zone. You work closely with your own cohort as well as the cohort ahead or behind you. With this, you have the opportunity to form invaluable working relationships, friendships, and gain feedback from your peers.
Finally, a core part of the Fellowship experience is preparing for the next steps in your career journey. You’re guided through preparation with career readiness and job search coaching. In the final four months of your Fellowship, you’ll spend one day a week supporting the work of a community organization or business to widen your perspective before departing the Foundation.
Professional as a Rule, Casual by Nature
Our founders had a lot of style and flair and liked to be a little fancy when they could. We keep this tradition alive with professional spaces, attire, and practices. That’s not to say we don’t also enjoy our casual days, and even a group mountain bike ride or spontaneous pickleball tourney now and then. From suit and tie to hiking pants – it’s all about balance!
Beyond the office, Fellows explore Colorado Springs and the beauty of our state in their free time.
Schedule an Informational Interview
We believe it’s important to be familiar with what a Fellow really does on a day-to-day basis and with El Pomar’s programs before you’re ready to apply. We offer the opportunity for you to chat with current Fellows about their Fellowship experience. Informational interviews allow you to get a better sense of what it might entail to apply and participate in the program. These informational interviews are not mandatory for the application, and we recommend them as a way to gain deeper insight into what your two years at El Pomar Foundation might look like.
We can host these conversations either virtually or at our offices in Penrose House in Colorado Springs.
Read about past and current Fellow's experiences
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