The Local Government Management Fellowship (LGMF) is a career-development opportunity designed to attract recent MPA/MPP (or related programs) graduates to be placed in full-time management-track local government positions. Finalists are selected based on academic performance, demonstrated leadership potential, commitment to public service, communication skills, initiative, creativity, and positive attitude. They then interview for 12-month fellowship appointments at local governments across the country, during which they receive direct mentorship from a senior government leader at the organization. (Appointments may be extended beyond the one-year term.) Since the program's launch in 2004, many alumni fellows are now in chief administrative officers or assistant chief administrative officers; many others are in senior positions in local government. See where fellows are now. 

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible to participate in the Local Government Management Fellowship, an applicant must:

• Be a recent graduate or student enrolled in a public administration, public policy, or related field master's degree program.
• Satisfy all of the requirements for their degree program by August 31 of the year of the fellowship.
• Have no formal local government management work experience.
• Be eligible to work in the United States.
• Complete the LGMF application by the closing date.

Salary and Benefits Packages

Salary and benefits packages for fellows vary based on a number of factors and are determined by the host city. Both will be discussed with fellows at the end of the interview process, if they are to be offered a position with the host city.

ICMA Benefits

Those individuals placed in an LGMF host community receive:

• Complimentary ICMA membership for two years.
• Complimentary registration to the ICMA Annual Conference.
• Scholarship funds to support travel and registration to an ICMA Local Government Reimagined Conference.
• Complimentary access to ICMA's Management Assessment.
• Complimentary subscription to PM magazine.

Become a Fellow  Host a Fellow 

Questions? Contact ICMA at lgmfprogram@icma.org.

Related Content:

• Become a Fellow
• Frequently Asked Questions (Fellows)
• Recorded Webinar on LGMF Application Process
• LGMF Placement Regions
• Where Fellows Are Now
• Fellow Directory
• Sign Up to Host 
• Share a Fellow