Current Fellowship Opportunities

Albuquerque’s housing prices have soared for renters and owners alike. The City has a bold vision to develop 5,000 affordable housing units by 2027. The FUSE Executive Fellow will advance this goal by developing a program to finance Accessory Dwelling Units, develop a housing plan for the International District, and establish an annually recurring affordable housing trust fund for the City. As a result, Albuquerque will have more affordable, dignified homes for low-income residents.

Albuquerque, New Mexico has a vision for closing the racial wealth gap. In order to achieve this goal, it is partnering with a FUSE Executive Fellow to support the launch of two new offices and expand a guaranteed income initiative from a pilot into a full program. As a result of this work, Albuquerque residents from all backgrounds will have more economic opportunities and build wealth for their families.

This project aims to advance innovative housing solutions in Atlanta, particularly focusing on multifamily homeownership and down payment assistance programs. By institutionalizing these initiatives, the city will empower underserved communities, foster equitable access to housing, and enhance the overall livability of the city, ensuring sustainable long-term impact.

The City of Atlanta is working to address significant racial wealth disparities and ensure that all residents benefit from neighborhood revitalization initiatives equitably. The FUSE Executive Fellow will develop a comprehensive neighborhood wealth-building strategy to support economic inclusion and protect legacy residents. Ultimately, this work will create pathways to prosperity, strengthen community resilience, and foster long-term equity in Atlanta’s underserved neighborhoods.

Baltimore City is working to expand homeownership opportunities as a pathway to economic stability and generational wealth, particularly for low-income residents and communities of color. The FUSE Executive Fellow will develop a strategic framework to unify and expand homeownership coaching resources. Ultimately, this initiative will empower Baltimore residents to achieve long-term homeownership, thereby fostering community stability and economic resilience for future generations.

The City of Cleveland, Ohio is advancing its 10-year Equitable Housing Plan to address historical housing inequities and expand homeownership opportunities for low- to moderate-income residents and communities of color. The FUSE Executive Fellow will develop strategic recommendations to align housing production initiatives with financial services that increase access to capital for homebuyers and homeowners. Ultimately, this work will help the City increase affordable homeownership opportunities, build inter-generational wealth, and create a more inclusive and equitable future for all residents.

The City of Cleveland, in partnership with FUSE, plans to revitalize its 10-year housing plan, titled “Cleveland 2030: A Housing Equity Plan,” to foster equitable homeownership growth among underrepresented populations. Under the direction of the Department of Building & Housing, the FUSE Executive Fellow will play a central role in catalyzing and aligning cross-sector stakeholders to address discriminatory housing practices, support existing homeowners, and aid first-time buyers. By integrating the HUD Equity Plan, enhancing data collection and reporting, and expanding community and legislative engagement, the project aims to develop concrete steps to improve housing stability and affordability. Ultimately, this initiative will contribute to sustainable and equitable community development for Cleveland’s most underserved residents.

The City of Durham offers generous down payment assistance to low- and moderate-income households seeking to purchase their first home, but many eligible residents are unaware of or not utilizing this opportunity. The FUSE Executive Fellow will spearhead a comprehensive outreach strategy, encompassing data-driven marketing campaigns, targeted community engagement, and strategic partnership development to amplify program visibility and accessibility. Additionally, the Fellow will recommend enhancements to strengthen the program’s long-term effectiveness. As a result of this work, more Durham families will avoid displacement, gain housing stability, and build inter-generational wealth.

Durham’s vibrant real estate market reflects the city’s growing appeal and economic vitality. To ensure this prosperity benefits all current and future residents, the City is exploring innovative uses for over 1,000 owned real estate parcels, many of which could be converted into affordable residences. The FUSE Executive Fellow will assist the City in identifying and assessing lots for conversion, engage nonprofit developers to build affordable homes and create a sustainable operating plan to scale this initiative city-wide. Ultimately, this project aims to create new pathways for more Durham families to build intergenerational wealth through homeownership or affordable residential solutions.

This project focuses on creating a recommendation and implementation plan for the Durham, NC, Water Management Department to utilize its two water treatment and two wastewater facilities to reduce energy use which will, in turn, reduce residents’ utility bills. The FUSE Executive Fellow will work with site superintendents, directors, and sustainability groups to optimize existing and emerging technology towards these goals. This will ultimately address and reduce inequity in affordability, sustainability, and water/energy conservation for the residents of the city of Durham.

In collaboration with Office of Housing and Development, the Kansas City Land Bank is dedicated to fostering intergenerational wealth through increased homeownership in historically underserved communities. The FUSE Executive Fellow will project manage the transformation of city-owned properties into affordable homes in targeted neighborhoods and develop a replicable playbook for citywide implementation. Ultimately, this project will create pathways for intergenerational wealth, reduce blight, enhance public safety, and increase property tax revenues.

The FUSE Executive Fellowship is an opportunity to develop and implement unique solutions to a community’s most pressing challenges. For 12 months, FUSE Executive Fellows work within local government to bring innovative approaches to a specific project. Each fellowship is designed to leverage private-sector experience to deliver results that have a lasting impact.

The City of Long Beach, CA’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is committed to addressing workforce disparities and ensuring equitable access to public health careers. The FUSE Executive Fellow will develop and implement workforce development strategies that accelerate efforts to promote diversity, improve recruitment and retention, and establish a resilient talent pipeline. Ultimately, this initiative will help DHHS build a workforce that reflects Long Beach’s diversity, fostering equitable public health services and long-term capacity to serve underserved communities.

While the Port of Long Beach is a major economic engine, the neighborhood around it does not benefit from it the way it should. The Executive Fellow will cultivate partnerships to unlock wealth creation and financial empowerment opportunities in West Long Beach. As a result of this work, neighborhood residents will have access to sustainable, equitable economic opportunities they have historically been denied.

The Mayor’s Office of Homelessness and Community Health in Los Angeles is working to integrate health and social services for unhoused individuals to address historical inequities, improve access to essential care, and reduce homelessness. The FUSE Executive Fellow will support the implementation to streamline comprehensive service delivery that includes housing, health/behavioral health and other social service delivery for the unhoused. Ultimately, this will help Los Angeles integrate housing and health, address inequities and foster greater stability and well-being for the city’s most vulnerable populations.

The Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government (LMG) aims to catalyze economic growth and equity by significantly increasing investment capital inflows from Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to its underserved and diverse neighborhoods. The FUSE Executive Fellow will conduct a comprehensive analysis of Louisville’s CDFI ecosystem, identify opportunities for innovative financial services, and develop a strategic plan to align local government policy with CDFI investments. This initiative seeks to stimulate entrepreneurship, expand homeownership, and create wealth-building opportunities in historically underserved communities. By enhancing Louisville’s capacity to attract and leverage CDFI investments, LMG aspires to close the gap with peer cities and foster a more inclusive economic landscape.

The Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government (LMG) aims to narrow racial wealth gaps by empowering small developers from underserved communities to launch and grow their businesses. The FUSE Executive Fellow will develop and pilot a comprehensive small developer education program while also identifying key resources, incentives, and policy pathways to amplify the initiative’s impact and sustainability well-beyond the fellowship year. This multifaceted approach will drive community investments, fuel entrepreneurship, and increase wealth in lower-income and diverse communities, ultimately contributing to a more equitable Louisville.

New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is working to roadmap the next 5 years of technology strategy in line with the latest Agency Long-term Vision, and integrate emerging technologies to address operational inefficiencies and improve service delivery. The FUSE Executive Fellow will develop a strategic roadmap that describes the next 5 years of investment, and leverage technologies such as generative AI and predictive analytics to enhance operational efficiency and customer service. Ultimately, this project will modernize DEP’s infrastructure, ensuring more equitable and reliable access to environmental services for all New Yorkers, particularly underserved communities.

New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is working to improve internal operations, enhance project efficiency, and optimize resource allocation for better project execution. The FUSE Executive Fellow will work to optimize processes, tools and methodologies for DEP’s newly designed Project Management Office (PMO) to support long term implementation success. Within the PMO, the Executive Fellow will lead the initiation, exploration and potential implementation of vital important new strategic projects, in addition to identifying future roadmap project activity. Ultimately, this work will help DEP improve operational efficiency, advance environmental justice, and deliver more equitable outcomes for all New Yorkers.

Salt Lake City (SLC), Utah, is working to implement a new City-wide Transportation Plan. One of the five goals of this plan is to address historical inequities and ensure that all residents, regardless of socioeconomic status, have equitable access to transportation options that are consistent with the community’s values and priorities. The FUSE Executive Fellow will work to develop strategic recommendations to equitably operationalize the updated City-wide Transportation Plan. Ultimately, this work will help Salt Lake City achieve tangible improvements in transportation equity, enhance access to opportunities for all residents, and foster a more inclusive and resilient community.

As Seattle grows, low-income residents are at risk for displacement. One way to prevent this and preserve the cultural and socio-economic diversity of communities is to assist tenants to become owners. The FUSE Executive Fellow will assist in the design of a program to organize tenants to purchase the rental units in which they live or collectively, with other tenants, purchase the building as a cooperative. As a result of this work, more Seattle renters will have the opportunity to increase security, stability and autonomy through ownership and the ability to remain in the City.

Seattle, Washington is pursuing a goal of inclusive, resilient growth. In order to achieve that, the City must prevent the displacement of low-income and BIPOC households. The FUSE Executive Fellow will promote this goal by analyzing and implementing key policies and programs. As a result of this work, the City will ensure all residents are able to participate in Seattle’s success, both now and in the future.

The District of Columbia (District) is advancing efforts to stabilize and expand Limited Equity Cooperatives (LEC) to address housing inequities, preserve affordable homeownership, and build intergenerational wealth for low-income and BIPOC residents. The FUSE Executive Fellow will develop tools and strategies to strengthen LEC governance, financial sustainability, and long-term viability, positioning the District as a leader in equitable and sustainable homeownership solutions.