Job Description and Application Process

Fellowship Overview

The Fellowship is an intensive, two-year commitment aimed at developing recent college graduates’ professional and leadership skills through an assortment of job responsibilities, seminars and classes. Through participation in the program, Fellows gain a strong understanding of the role of philanthropy and the non-profit sector.

USGA Grants Initiative

The core work experience of a Fellow is helping to create opportunities in people’s lives through golf and its values by serving as a member of the USGA’s grant-making staff. Within this role, Fellows are responsible for reviewing grant applicants’ organizational, strategic, and developmental plans. This information, which is gathered through the grant application, correspondence with the organization, and pre-grant site visits, is summarized and presented by Fellows to the USGA Grants Committee. Fellows are then responsible for monitoring the USGA investment made in the portfolio of USGA-supported programs in their respective regions. In this role, Fellows act as consultants with supported organizations, ensuring that USGA funds are spent appropriately while offering solutions to issues that may arise during the grant period.

Direct Charitable Activities

In addition to providing grant funds to organizations that are working to provide opportunities in people’s lives through golf, the USGA itself conducts many activities with the same goal in mind. By participating in these outreach programs, Fellows have duel roles as both team members and leaders. Many outreach programs involve partnerships with leading organizations in the golf community. These programs enable Fellows to develop skills such as leadership, teamwork, program development, Web site administration, budgeting, and event management. Descriptions of such outreach programs can be viewed on the Fellowship Programs web page.

Professional Development

Beyond the typical job responsibilities, Fellows are continuously engaged in a professional development curriculum. Within this curriculum, Fellows participate in a non-profit management and fundraising course, a personal finance and investment class, leadership training, public speaking seminars, and structured office discussions concerning local, national, and global issues. Please view the Professional Development Curriculum web page to get full descriptions of these activities.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCES

Comprehensive Team-Building Activity:
Each year, Fellows and staff participate in a week-long experience focused on teambuilding and leadership. Typically, the trip involves an outdoor educational component centered on physical challenge. The field activity engages Fellows in leadership roles by placing the group into new and unique situations. The challenges faced together facilitate a forum for individual and group feedback building a foundation for an office culture of mentorship.

USGA Championships:
Each Fellow is assigned to work at least one of the 13 national championships conducted by the USGA. The Fellows’ responsibilities typically include assistance with media relations, overall championship operation and administration, and course set-up. Additionally, certain Fellows are assigned to lead a “Catch the Spirit” event at the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open, and the U.S. Senior Open. Fellows assist in leading the operation of these events thereby gaining valuable event management.

Communications:
To publicize the efforts of the USGA Grants and Fellowship Department, Fellows contribute to the USGA Annual Report, present key messages at conferences, and organize grant check presentations. In addition, Fellows provide content for USGA-operated web sites. In this capacity, Fellows continually update content as well as write and post articles relating to USGA-supported programs.

Third-Year Project:
As an option, second-year Fellows may develop a proposal for a third-year project. The approval of such a project is strongly dependent upon its alignment with the specific needs, objectives, and purpose of the USGA Grants and Fellowship Department.

Selection Criteria

USGA Fellowship candidates are generally recent graduates of four-year colleges or universities and must demonstrate each of the following:

• Strong leadership potential
• Interest in public service
• Desire for personal and professional growth
• Strong analytical, written, and verbal skills
• Appreciation for the impact participation in sport or other activities can have on the lives of underserved youth and individuals with disabilities
• Personal initiative and strong scholastic aptitude
• Commitment to teamwork and a collaborative working environment
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively
• Eligibility to work in the United States
  

Pay and Benefits

Starting Salary: $29,000
Starting Bonus: $1,500
Competitive benefits package offered
Specific relocation expenses will be covered per the Relocation Policy
Bonus awards will be considered every six months based on performance

Application Procedure

In order to be considered, the applicant must submit, in full, the following items:

• 1-2 page cover letter describing your interest in the USGA Fellowship Program and your career objectives
• Résumé or C.V.
• Official College transcript(s)
• Two letters of recommendation, which represent a range of academic, professional and/or personal references (please do not send recommendations from family members). One recommendation from a past employer/supervisor is preferred, if available.
• 3” x 5” note card with your name, email address, hometown, and how you found out about the Fellowship (e.g. - Career Center, eRecruiting, etc. – please include specific Web site or search service)
• If you are an international applicant, documentation of your eligibility to work in the United States must be provided with your application. International applicants who do not have proper documentation authorizing them to work in the United States will not be considered for the Fellowship Program.

*Please submit all materials together in one packet. Recommendation letters may be mailed separately, if necessary. All materials need to be mailed to the following address:

If chosen to move forward in the selection process, phone interviews will be conducted during the last week of January and first week of February of 2008. Finalists will be invited to a Selection Weekend to be held from February 28 to March 2, 2008.

Application Deadline

Hard copies of all application materials must be received at the USGA office by Tuesday, January 8, 2008. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all materials arrive at our office by this date. Facsimiles will not be accepted. Submitting application materials early is encouraged.

Contacts

Amanda Wilson, Gennessa Guzman, Matt Keys
Fellowship Recruitment & Selection Committee Leaders
Phone: 719-471-4810 (Amanda, ext. 22 / Gennessa, ext. 18 / Matt, ext. 41)
Email: fellowship@usga.org