JOIN THE TEAM

The Western Governors’ Foundation is seeking a highly motivated individual to assist with project development and execution. Focusing on leadership and the arts, the Foundation is committed to building upon the legacy of Western Governors through charitable works in our region.

Job title: Foundation Fellow

Apply: Email your resume and cover letter to acaplan@westgov.org by November 27, 2026.

Time commitment: Full time (40 hours a week)

Duration: January 4, 2027, through July 9, 2027

Compensation: Fellows will be paid a monthly stipend of $4,000. The stipend amount will be pro-rated based off of the days worked in the month, in the event the fellow does not work for the full month.

Work environment: This is a hybrid position, requiring the Fellow to be in office (1700 Broadway, Denver, CO) 3 days per week. The Fellow may also be required to come into the office on additional days for meetings and other foundation activities.

Job description and responsibilities

The Foundation Fellow will assist with the development and execution of the foundation’s two projects: the Western Governors’ Leadership Institute (WGLI) and Celebrate the West (CTW).

Western Governors’ Leadership Institute (WGLI): WGLI is a program designed to recognize, reward, and promote the effective exercise of leadership by young adults across the West. Every year the foundation selects young adults to represent their states, territories, and tribes as institute delegates. Delegates will attend a one-day leadership development forum, as well as the Annual Meeting of the Western Governors’ Association. The foundation covers all expenses associated with delegate participation.

Foundation Fellow responsibilities:

• Assist in outreach and program development efforts;

• Assist with applicant tracking;

• Communicate program information and logistics to WGLI Delegates;

• Liaise with WGLI forum venues, contractors and partners to coordinate meeting logistics;

• Assist with the planning and execution of a delegate retreat (WGLI event) April 2-4, 2027, onsite in Denver, Colorado;

• Travel to Vail, Colorado June 26 - July 1, 2027, to assist with the onsite execution of the 2027 Western Governors’ Leadership Institute.

Celebrate the West: Celebrate the West is a regional high school art competition hosted by the Western Governors’ Foundation. It is open to students whose Governors are active members of the bipartisan Western Governors' Association. To enter the competition, students must be enrolled in grades9-12 and create an original, two-dimensional piece of artwork inspired by their state or otherwise evocative of the West.

Foundation Fellow responsibilities:

• Assist in outreach and program development efforts;

• Monitor applicant entries and organize them by state or territory;

• Review entries to determine whether they meet minimum requirements;

• Maintain contact details of contest winners.

Qualifications

Required

• Strong written and verbal communication skills;

• Ability to travel to Vail, Colorado June 26 -July 1, 2027;

• Ability to work a Leadership Institute event in Denver, Colorado the weekend of April 2-4, 2027;

• Ability to work in a bipartisan environment;

• Strong organizational skills;

• Strong time management skills;

• Ability to come into the office as needed;

• Active interest in the betterment and success of the West;

• Strong work ethic and proactive work mentality.

Preferred

• Experience in logistics;

• Experience in communication and outreach, including but not limited to organizing and maintaining contact lists, and posting on social media on behalf of a company or organization;

• Strong interest in the exercise of leadership by young adults (Foundation project: Western Governors’ Leadership Institute);

• Strong interest in the promotion of the arts (Foundation project: Celebrate the West).