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2026 - 2027 Fellowship for Talent Development Application

2.Application

Chambers of commerce are increasingly tasked to mobilize efforts to improve the cradle-to-career talent pipeline in their communities. The ACCE Foundation has opened the application for the 12th cohort of its Fellowship program to help chambers take the first step or deepen their impact in talent and workforce development.

The Fellowship for Talent Development will help chamber professionals understand their local talent development ecosystem and how they can strengthen the talent pipeline through systems change and programmatic efforts. Fellows will then create a regional action plan that addresses a talent challenge in their community. Under the guidance of the Foundation, they will measure impact through qualitative and quantitative indicators. By the end of the program, Fellows will be better positioned to help their communities adapt to the new realities of work.

The Fellowship runs from Sept. 2026 – March 2027. Fellows will:
  • Participate in monthly webinars and check-ins.
  • Create a roadmap to implement strategies that address a talent development challenge in the community. Watch previous regional action plans here on YouTube.
  • Attend a convening in Arlington, Va. from Nov. 5 - 6. The Foundation will cover the cost of two nights at the convening hotel. Breakfast, lunch and snacks will be provided. Fellows must cover travel expenses to and from Arlington.
Applications are due Friday, July 24 at 5:00 p.m. PT. Applicants will be notified of their status by Friday, August 7 and are required to pay a $1,500 program deposit by Friday, August 21. Fellows who successfully complete the program will receive a $500 refund in March 2027. There is space in the application to indicate if a scholarship is needed to waive the full program deposit. Scholarship recipients must pay a $500 program deposit that will be refunded upon program completion in March 2027.
1.Contact information
2.Number of years in the chamber industry.
3.Please submit your headshot.(Required.)
No file chosen
4.Please submit your bio.(Required.)
5.Why do you want to participate in the Fellowship for Talent Development?
6.Describe any education or talent development effort(s) you would like to advance in the next one to three years in your chamber or community.
7.What are your community's three biggest education and talent development challenges?
8.Is improving education and talent development a part of your chamber’s strategic plan?
9.How many years have education and talent development been a priority for the chamber?
10.Please indicate your level of proficiency in each of the following areas. I know how to...
Not yet / need to learn this
Developing
Competent
Proficient
Advanced / could teach others
Identify the stakeholders in my community working on talent development
Engage stakeholders in my community working on talent development
Build inclusion into talent development strategy and actions
Implement talent development programs and events
Analyze workforce and education data to identify community strengths and gaps
Ground the chamber's talent development strategy in data
Manage up with chamber leadership
Bring groups together around a shared vision
Translate between education and employers
Find funders/investors and build lasting relationships with them
Communicate the chamber's talent development work to different audiences
11.Of the areas above, which three are you most interested in developing further?
12.Please indicate the extent to which your chamber is actively working in the following areas of focus to advance its education and talent development efforts. Select all that apply.
We don’t work in this area and have no intention of getting involved
We don’t work in this area but would like to learn how to get involved
We work in this area but would like to learn how to do this better
We work in this area and are confident in our approach
Unsure
Early Childhood Education
K-12: Career Exposure
K-12: Work-Based Learning
K-12: Educator Support
K-12: Out of School or Supplemental Education Programs
K-12: Social-Emotional Learning or Foundational Skills
K-12: Career Pathways
Postsecondary: Higher Education Attainment/Completion
Postsecondary: Certificates and Credentialing
Postsecondary: Work-Based Learning
Postsecondary: Career Pathways
Existing Workforce: Upskilling or Reskilling
Existing Workforce: Talent Attraction
Existing Workforce: Talent Retention
Existing Workforce: Removing Barriers to Employment (e.g. transportation, housing, smart justice, childcare)
Ecosystem Change
13.Please describe any additional workforce initiatives not captured in the chart above.
14.In your current role, please let us know the areas of focus with which you are most involved and least involved with.
I am not involved or do not contribute.
I am the least involved.
I am occasionally involved in this area.
I am the most involved.
Early Childhood Education
K-12: Career Exposure
K-12: Work-Based Learning
K-12: Educator Support
K-12: Out of School or Supplemental Education Programs
K-12: Social-Emotional Learning or Foundational Skills
K-12: Career Pathways
Postsecondary: Higher Education Attainment/Completion
Postsecondary: Certificates and Credentialing
Postsecondary: Work-Based Learning
Postsecondary: Career Pathways
Existing Workforce: Upskilling or Reskilling
Existing Workforce: Talent Attraction
Existing Workforce: Talent Retention
Existing Workforce: Removing Barriers to Employment (e.g. transportation, housing, smart justice, childcare)
Ecosystem Change
15.Is there anything else you would like us to know as we consider your application?
16.The Fellowship program deposit is $1,500. $500 will be refunded if Fellows meet the graduation requirements. Please indicate your program deposit status below.(Required.)
17.To graduate from the Fellowship, Fellows must:
  • attend at least 80% of webinars and check ins
  • attend the in person convening
  • submit a talent development-related regional action plan
  • provide key performance indicator results to ACCE Foundation staff after the Fellowship is complete.
Please indicate below that you understand and will meet these expectations.(Required.)