Led by DeVos Institute Founder and Chairman Michael M. Kaiser and President Brett Egan, the DeVos Institute Executive Fellowship serves executives of arts, culture, heritage and humanities non-profit organisations worldwide. It provides training and guidance in strategic planning, leadership, fundraising, marketing, board governance, human resources, and financial planning coupled with peer learning, networking, and time for personal reflection.
Fellows attend a four-week residency in July for three consecutive years (7 July –1 August 2025; 6–31 July 2026; and 5–30 July 2027) and engage in cohort-based activities between residencies. It introduces a new cohort and matriculates a returning cohort each summer, allowing each Fellow to engage with five cohorts over the three-year engagement. A total of 5–7 Fellows are selected to begin the programme each year.
The fellowship is designed to be pursued through the context of each Fellow’s current organisation. As such, applicants must:
- Currently serve as the Executive Director, CEO, President, or equivalent or a member of the senior management team of an arts, culture, heritage or humanities non-profit in a full-time, paid, and permanent capacity.
- Be in an organisation that has a minimum of three full-time staff members (or equivalent), three years of consistent programming history, and an operating budget of at least the equivalent of 250,000 USD/220,000 EUR.
- Have an excellent command of business English, orally and written.
- Be able to commit to the full term of the Fellowship
Fellows receive air and ground transportation, lodging during the Fellowship, per diem to cover living expenses during the Fellowship, and visa sponsorship (for international applicants).
