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Fellows Receive
Dedicated Mentor
For the duration of the fellowship, your mentor will serve as your primary point of contact and coach.
Salary and Benefits
Fellows receive full-time competitive salary and benefits. Salaries vary based on several factors, including the cost of living in or around the host community.
Travel Expenses
Fellows are required to attend the ICMA Annual Conference. Hosts are expected to cover travel expenses. Hosts are also encouraged (but not required) to support travel and accommodation to at least one of the following events: ICMA Regional Conference, Emerging Professionals Leadership Institute, NFBPA Annual Forum, LGHN Conference, and/or state manager’s conference.
Professional Development
Fellows are expected to participate in several scheduled professional development calls with ICMA throughout their fellowship. Along with access to ICMA’s free coaching resources, fellows receive complimentary registration to the ICMA Annual Conference and an ICMA Regional Conference during their first year. They are also granted free access to ICMA’s Applied Knowledge Assessment.
ICMA Membership
Fellows receive a complimentary 2-year ICMA membership with access to all qualifying member benefits, including a free subscription to PM magazine.
2025 LGMF Timeline
- Application Opens: September 27, 2024
- Application Closes: December 20, 2024
- Finalist Notified: Early February 2025
- Interviews and Placement: February - July, 2025
- LGMF Orientation: Held the Saturday before the ICMA Annual Conference begins
Selection Process
The LGMF Advisory Board will review all applications submitted by the deadline. ICMA will notify all applicants if they have been selected as a finalist once the advisory board submits results. Applications will be scored on resume/applicant experience, letters of recommendation, transcripts, personal statement, and management case study.
Seventy percent of the total score is based on the personal essay and case study; demonstrated passion, and subject knowledge.
Finalists' applications will be routed directly to host local governments for review. Local governments will contact finalists directly to schedule interviews. If you are contacted by a local government, it is strongly recommended that you prepare for the interview as you would for any other employment opportunity.
What's Next?
ICMA will notify all selected finalists of their status in February. Finalists' applications will then be routed directly to host local governments for review. Local governments will contact finalists directly to schedule interviews. Interviews begin as early as February and continue through August in some instances. If you are contacted by a local government, prepare for the interview as you would for any other job opportunity. In general, fellowships begin in the summer/early fall (after graduation for current students) or at an alternative time as agreed upon by the fellow and the local government. We are continually recruiting host governments and will update the full list of available locations as they join the program. Hosts have joined as late as July in the past and still hired fellows. You can check progress in host-recruiting any time online by visiting the LGMF Placement Regions page.
Direct any other inquiries to lgmfprogram@icma.org or visit the LGMF webpage. Good luck!