Fellows Program in Public Affairs

Fellows Program in Public Affairs is sponsored by Coro California. Seven-month full-time fellowship providing hands-on experience in public affairs, leadership training, and civic engagement across sectors in California (Los Angeles or Bay Area).

Public Policy Fellowship in California | FPPA | Coro California Fellows Program in Public Affairs Training the next generation of civic leaders across California The Fellows Program in Public Affairs is the gold standard in public affairs training with a proven track record of advancing civic engagement and accelerating the careers of remarkable leaders.

This rigorous, full-time fellowship prepares emerging civic leaders to shape the spirit and integrity of their communities, organizations, and country. Fellows learn and practice essential leadership skills while forging connections across sectors, navigating complex challenges, and developing strategies to create tangible change.

Through immersive professional placements, regional explorations, and transformative leadership training, you’ll gain knowledge, skills, and a network that positions you for lifelong success across varied settings. Coro California’s Fellows Program in Public Affairs is offered in both the Greater Los Angeles Area and San Francisco Bay Area.

Currently Accepting Applications Ideal Candidates & Eligibility Application process & key dates Rotate through professional placements, gaining hands-on experience across sectors including private sector, nonprofit, government, labor, and/or electoral politics. Fellows work closely with top leaders and tackle high-profile assignments. Explore regional systems through Focus Weeks that dive deep into pressing civic issues.

Fellows conduct site visits, expert interviews, and independent research, deepening understanding of critical regional challenges. Engage in leadership interviews in closed-door sessions with influential cross-sector leaders who offer candid insights about navigating career challenges and opportunities.

Build a leadership toolkit through weekly facilitated seminars focusing on effective and ethical leadership practices including inquiry, adaptive leadership, systems thinking, communication, critical thinking, and stakeholder analysis. Apply learning and advance regional change through individual and group projects .

Join a powerful network of 15,000+ Coro alumni including United States Senators, elected officials, nonprofit, labor, and corporate executives, and changemakers across the nation. Gain esteemed credentials from a nationally-recognized fellowship with an 80+ year track record of high-impact civic leadership and professional development training.

Build a professional portfolio showcasing tangible deliverables, including placement projects, civic and policy analyses, and demonstrated leadership competencies for future employers and graduate programs. Accelerate career advancement by directly engaging with industry leaders, tackling real-world civic and organizational issues, and expanding social capital through high-caliber professional experiences.

Deepen political and policy knowledge, developing nuanced understanding of key institutions, sectors, opportunities, and challenges shaping communities and policy landscapes. Master leadership practices, learning and applying proven strategies for navigating change, systems thinking, effective communication, critical thinking, evaluation, inquiry, and objective analysis.

Benefit from lifelong alumni resources, including continuing education sessions, networking events with decision-makers, exclusive digital platforms, and digital credentials. Ideal Candidates & Eligibility Early-career professionals with 1-3 years of post-college experience are especially encouraged to apply. Recent graduates who will have attained a bachelor’s degree before the fellowship begins are also welcome.

Committed to ethical leadership and motivated to help strengthen democracy and society through positive changemaking and civic engagement. Welcome different perspectives, bringing intellectual curiosity, an open mind, and willingness to learn from and collaborate with people across identities, ideologies, sectors, and generations.

Authorized to work in the United States for the full duration of the fellowship program without restrictions. Can commit fully to full-time fellowship participation without outside employment; the program’s intensive nature prohibits concurrent full-time or part-time work. Located in or willing to relocate to Los Angeles or the Bay Area for the fellowship’s duration and participate in professional placements across the region.

Seven-month full-time fellowship running from late-August or early-September through late-March or early-April. Professional Placements: Multi-week rotations, each in a different sector or industry – such as for-profit, nonprofit, government, labor, and / or electoral campaigns – provide direct exposure to institutions and build professional networks.

Fellows work closely with supervisors on meaningful projects and assignments, creating tangible organizational impact. Focus Weeks: In-depth explorations of pressing regional issues and other critical topics through site visits, expert interviews, and independent research.

Leadership Seminars: Weekly facilitated sessions build a leadership toolkit, offering proven strategies for adaptive leadership, systems thinking, effective communication, critical thinking and inquiry, evaluation skills, and stakeholder analysis.

High-Profile Projects : Across the length of the program, fellows engage in individual, small group, and cohort-wide projects that explore regional systems, test leadership skills, and provide individually-curated deliverables for partner organizations.

Closed-Door Interviews: Fellows gain unparalleled, behind-the-scenes access to the influential executives and civic leaders shaping our region and their sectors, turning each conversation into a lasting professional connection and a deeper understanding of how leadership works . Coro’s experiential methods center active practice over passive listening.

Fellows engage in case discussions, leadership simulations, peer exchanges, and reflective exercises. Facilitators create space for mindfulness, vulnerability, and authentic connection, fostering psychological safety for adaptive collaboration and innovation.

Coro’s approach emphasizes three core principles: active leadership practice as lifelong learning, relating productively across differences in identities and perspectives, and embracing curiosity and vulnerability as foundations for authentic leadership and meaningful change. The Fellows Program in Public Affairs is tuition-free, subsidized from $50,000 by generous sponsors.

Fellows receive extraordinary value for immersive, full-time professional development. Coro offers a limited number of monthly stipends, up to $3,000 per participant, to help offset the costs of participating in the fellowship. A one-time needs-based relocation stipend may also be available for those who need to relocate.

Because individual financial circumstances and living expenses vary, stipends may or may not cover the full costs associated with participating in the seven-month fellowship. We encourage applicants to plan and budget accordingly. Applicants invited to Selection Day will receive additional information about stipend eligibility and consideration.

The Coro network frequently offers affordable housing options to incoming Fellows. Coro does not guarantee housing or provide housing financial assistance. Incoming Fellows from outside the region and/or requiring more assistance are prioritized for available options.

Due to the program’s intensive full-time nature, Fellows are not permitted to be employed (full-time or part-time) during the fellowship. Application Process & Key Dates Complete the online application , including biographic and demographic information, resume/CV, two letters of recommendation, two essays, and a video testimonial.

Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all requirements are met, including recommendation letter submissions. Review the Application Guide for detailed instructions and tips for crafting strong responses. Application Process Steps Step 1 : Submit an online application with all required materials.

Step 2 : Coro alumni, staff, and partners review and score applications. Aggregated scores determine which applicants are invited to Selection Day as Finalists. Step 3 : Coro notifies applicants of status.

Finalists receive financial aid applications, Selection Day invitations, and information about next steps. Step 4 : Attend Selection Day, a full-day immersive experience determining which applicants receive fellowship invitations. Each Coro center operates its own Selection Day.

In most cases, selected finalists attend at their first preference location. Application portal opens: September 10, 2026 Application deadline: January 2027 Applications are reviewed after the deadline, with finalists notified by February of their status and invitation to Selection Day.

Los Angeles Selection Day: Saturday, March 6, 2027 Bay Area Selection Day: Saturday, March 13, 2027 The center marked as first preference receives priority for invitations, though candidates may receive invitations from other centers. Applicants to either of Coro California’s two Centers (Bay Area or Los Angeles) are encouraged to hold both Selection Day dates in case they’re invited to participate as finalists.

Meet the Cohort and Past Organizations Meet the Cohort - Los Angeles Meet the Cohort - Bay Area Select Past Participating Organizations Stinehart Reed Reserve Fund Breslauer, Rutman and Anderson Inc. Explore Coro California’s Civic Engagement Hub Access voter resources for California’s general election on November 3rd: trusted, nonpartisan information for you, your organization, and the communities you serve.