2024 Impact Report
Govern For America
After one of the most contentious election cycles in American history I’ve found myself thinking with awe and gratitude of the 20 million state and local public servants who kept us moving forward this year. The ones who made our tap water safe to drink, our commutes home a little smoother, the lines on election day a little shorter, and much more.
It’s no secret that only 22% of Americans trust the federal government to do what is right. But what we don’t talk about is that 67% of people do trust local government to handle problems. State and local governments are where the rhetoric becomes reality. And they matter now more than ever, when government can wield extraordinary power to change people’s lives for better or for worse.
This is a critical moment for governments across the country to prove that they can deliver for people — to get curious about what people really want and build on what is working. I see why nearly 19 million people trusted GFA Fellows this year to drive $3.7 billion toward their communities, make government spending more transparent, and expand access to healthcare. In reading their stories, I think you will too.
As we enter 2025, our goal is to drive the conversation on how to build local governments that are more responsive to people’s needs. People want better outcomes from government, and investing in new models that support and inspire talented people to serve in state and local governments can help accomplish this.
Now more than ever is the time to lift up our public servants who are doing the work that matters to people, where it matters. I hope you’ll join us in supporting our public servants and celebrating them for everything they do for us.
In service,
Octavia Abell
Co-Founder & CEO, Govern For America
Mission
Govern For America’s mission is to build the next generation of public servants to create a more responsive government that better reflects and serves our communities.
Vision
We envision a world where public servants use their power in government and grounding in community to ensure public systems achieve greater opportunity for all people.
Tackling the Workforce Crisis in State and Local Government
Our nation confronts its toughest challenges through the actions of 20 million public servants in state and local governments across the country. Yet state and local offices struggle to recruit and retain public servants who reflect the diversity of their communities and can effectively meet their needs. This workforce crisis negatively impacts the services that state and local offices can deliver, burdens our communities, and diminishes public trust.
GFA has placed 93 Fellows across 41 agencies.
people impacted
in funding impact
total constituents
cumulative budget of states and cities where Fellows work
GFA-leveraged public dollars
Issue areas Fellows work on
[My Fellowship placement] is really special to me. I can see directly how the policies we’re working on or the strategies around affordable housing can have an impact on the people I see in my neighborhood or walking down the street.
How GFA Helps Government Serve Everyone
The GFA Fellowship is a two-year program that activates and supports emerging leaders from diverse backgrounds by providing training, mentorship, community, and placement in high-impact, full-time government jobs. GFA provides the support and training that Fellows need to make an outsized impact and develop a lifetime commitment to public service.
It’s like [the GFA Fellows] were created in a lab to be perfect for this environment. It’s really special. The GFA Fellows are going to make your program, your department better. As long as this city is a city, this is something that will be part of what we do.
Govern For America has set the standard for what it means to run a successful fellowship program, but what truly sets them apart is their system-wide vision of “people as policy.” As a thought leader in our field, GFA is shaping the future of public service in an evidence-based and scalable way.
GFA Engages Exceptional Leaders
This year, GFA attracted a record number of Fellowship applicants from a diversity of backgrounds, with 96% identifying as either first gen college students, Pell Grant recipients, LGBTQ+, BIPOC, women, or gender nonconforming.
GFA’s application process is designed to reach all generations of talent, with targeted innovations to engage with younger generations. Our process is driven by human interaction and enabled by digital solutions. Prospective candidates engage face-to-face with GFA staff and previous Fellows to comprehensively understand the Fellowship experience.
candidates considered
states
universities
Students often feel pigeonholed or unsure how to look for career opportunities beyond their local networks, and programs like the GFA Fellowship have served as a valuable tool in helping our students consider different paths into public service. GFA offers programs that both challenge and support our students as they take deep dives into policy development, public administration, and their first forays into their public service careers.
Everyone was coming to me like ‘GFA is amazing,’ and ‘I knew about them, but I didn’t realize how great they were.’ [GFA] left us feeling a little more hopeful about the world which had a big impact on our office.
Kaitlyn has been an exceptional addition to our team from day one. Her contributions to her projects and her ability to step into new roles — like supporting the team when we lost our PIO — demonstrate a maturity and intentionality that are impressive.
Knowing I had GFA as a ‘middle man’ to match me with a role I’d be interested in and as an advocate, to make the process as seamless as possible, relieved me of any possible hiccups I could‘ve experienced had I not had GFA on my side.
Fellowship applicants reflect the communities they serve
have lived experience similar to the communities they serve
women or nonbinary applicants
LGBTQIA+ applicants
BIPOC applicants
first generation applicants
Current GFA Fellows are a diverse community of changemakers
have lived experience similar to the communities they serve
women or nonbinary Fellows
LGBTQIA+ Fellows
BIPOC Fellows
first generation Fellows
The Fellowship Program
In 2024, GFA Fellows impacted more than 19 million people across the country and contributed to $3.7 billion in community investment.
supervisors of graduated Fellows reported increased leadership competencies over duration of the Fellowship
Fellows recommend the Fellowship to a peer
program Alumni agree the leadership skills gained during the Fellowship have benefited their careers
How GFA empowers Fellows to deliver results in government through leadership delevelopment, financial resources, and ongoing support
Regular comprehensive coaching
Quarterly training aligned with 9 Leadership Core Competencies (Learn more)
Collaborative projects with a cohort of emerging leaders and peer coaching
Access to GFA's network of public policy experts and government leaders
Competitive salary and benefits package
Additional development and relocation support
Alumni engagement for career advancement
Networking events
Access to university partnerships for financial assistance for learning or degree programs
average Fellow salary
Crystal Foretia
Crystal Foretia is transforming how Maryland’s Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) trains incoming employees to combat systemic racism and promote equitable service to their communities. She led a historical investigation into the segregationist history of Maryland’s youth justice system, unearthing a legacy of administrative mismanagement and operational inequities. The findings from her research are being incorporated into training programs and curricula for new employees to ensure that past injustices are not repeated.
Lance Wood
Lance Wood has been helping communities across Michigan secure funding for drinking water and wastewater system upgrades. As a project manager, he helped secure over $200 million in low-interest loans by guiding projects through the State Revolving Fund application process. These loans funded critical water system improvements, including the replacement of lead service lines, enhanced flood control infrastructure, and a safer water supply for over 200,000 Michiganders.
GFA Partners With 41 Agencies
We’ve grown our network of government partners to 41 agencies across 11 States, and all Fellow supervisors report seeing Fellows have an impact in their roles.
Partners investing in our model
of supervisors agreed their Fellow is having an impact on the local community
of government partners invest in GFA’s program fee
The GFA Fellows are civic-minded already. They want transparency. They’re bringing something that the government needs right now more than ever. That’s really the only way to get trust back, and I think this generation more than any can bring it back, especially to local government.
GFA’s Community is Changing How Things Get Done in Government
GFA is activating a powerful network of changemakers in state and local government. Our mobilization framework tracks the ripple effects of our community’s impact, engaging others in the field through our core programs and beyond. Whether it’s our Fellows motivating the public servants they work with around a vision for their agency’s future or our CEO advising government programs on talent retention strategies, our model drives change and inspires others to replicate impact across all levels of public service.
of GFA’s partner government agencies say they have implemented changes to better support and prioritize early career talent recruitment and development as a partial result of GFA’s guidance.
As a supervisor, I have felt very supported throughout the GFA Fellowship program. Our Fellow has been actively involved in creating new programs, services, and policies across our state and their knowledge, skills, and unique perspectives have tremendously helped improve our work. We are truly grateful for our GFA Fellow!
Sharing What Works
GFA is changing the narrative around public sector talent. This year we tracked more than 55 instances where GFA team members engaged with government agencies, industry associations, academic institutions, and peer organizations as speakers, committee participants, advisory board members, and expert reviewers on topics related to government leadership, workforce development, talent, and equitable training.
Longterm Commitment To Public Service
Sonali Alluri, 2023 Cohort
As a Health Policy Advisor at the Saint Louis County Executive’s Office, Sonali Alluri is working with community partners and county agencies to develop programs that reduce the impact of the opioid epidemic. She has spearheaded proposals that offer solutions ranging from career advancement opportunities for those affected by opioid use to expanded access to mental health resources for youth and others at risk of arrest due to unmet needs related to poverty, drug use, and homelessness. To make these initiatives successful, Sonali is breaking down silos between departments and engaging hundreds of direct beneficiaries and changemakers, fostering deeper community involvement in the county’s public health approach.
[Because of the Fellowship], I am able to understand the complexities of local government while also feeling immensely proud for the direct impact work I get to be a part of and how I get to serve the community.
The Fellowship allowed me to realize my lifelong dream of becoming a government worker. As someone who has directly benefited from some of the successful government support programs, I look forward every day to paying it forward and supporting my fellow citizens in ways only the government can.
D’Mitri “JR” Farthing, 2022 Cohort
D’Mitri I. Farthing Jr. played a key role in Missouri’s efforts to bridge the digital divide as part of his work with the Department of Economic Development's Office of Broadband Development. In 2024, he contributed to the submission and approval of Missouri’s 200+ page Digital Opportunity Plan, securing over $20 million in federal funding to expand digital access statewide. This grant will support the state’s first digital opportunity expansion program, which is expected to receive over 150 applications aimed at benefiting approximately 4.8 million Missourians, especially those in underserved communities.
Carolyn Wu, 2021 Cohort
As a Performance and Data Analyst, Carolyn is leveraging her skills to ensure communities in DC do not experience gaps in critical services as federal funding sources phase out. Carolyn works with public safety agencies on their strategic plans, performance measures, and data collection to ensure that programs make DC safer. During the recent budget cycle, DC faced a significant funding cliff due to the sunsetting of federal ARPA dollars funding over 250 projects. She and her team collected performance data to advocate for continued funding for the highest-impact programs. Their efforts preserved over $30 million, ensuring continued access to initiatives that promote student safety in high-crime areas, provide victim services, and support violence interruption programs.
Govern For America gave me the framework, confidence, and interpersonal skills I needed to make a sustainable impact in district government. My experience as a fellow in GFA gave me an invaluable foundation to excel in my career as a public servant.
Our Partners
We’re grateful to the partners who make Govern For America’s work to build a government that works for all of us possible.
GFA Board of Directors
Emeritus Board Members
GFA is grateful to our past Board Members for their years of support.
Strengthening leadership with lived experience
This year as part of our commitment to ensuring that decision-makers at GFA have lived experience with our work, GFA recruited two Fellowship alumni to serve on our Board.
Serving on the board of Govern For America has been a powerful reminder of why this work matters. In a deeply polarized world, it’s incredibly reassuring to be part of a community reimagining public service through the transformative power of data and its connection to our lives. What gives me hope is the vision of our GFA leaders — they are proving every day that government can work for the people, that trust can be rebuilt, and that real change isn’t just possible — it’s already happening.
I am a product of Govern For America, and I attribute a lot of my success to the support and resources that GFA provided me. Across changing political landscapes, GFA has the power to continue connecting people and government, and I am excited to bring my perspectives to the Board to support this work at a time when it’s so needed.
Financials
Revenue
| Foundations | $1,551,827 |
| Individuals | $140,790 |
| Program Services | $44,300 |
| Other | $0 |
| Total | $1,735,917 |
Expenses
| Programs | $1,346,773 |
| Operations | $453,979 |
| Fundraising | $318,010 |
| Total | $2,118,762 |
Join the Movement
In 2025, state and local governments will play a critical role in making our communities healthier, safer, and more resilient. Join GFA in building a government that works for all of us. Support our work or connect with us today to join the movement.
Let’s stay connected
Thank you!
