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Marshall Memorial Fellowship
General Information
The German Marshall Fund of the United States
www.gmfus.org
The German Marshall Fund of the United States
The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) is a non-partisan American public policy and grantmaking
institution dedicated to promoting better understanding and cooperation between North America and Europe on
transatlantic and global issues.
GMF does this by supporting individuals and institutions working in the transatlantic sphere, by convening leaders and
members of the policy and business communities, by contributing research and analysis on transatlantic topics, and by
providing exchange opportunities to foster renewed commitment to the transatlantic relationship. In addition, GMF
supports a number of initiatives to strengthen democracies.
Founded in 1972 through a gift from Germany as a permanent memorial to Marshall Plan assistance, GMF maintains a
strong presence on both sides of the Atlantic. In addition to its headquarters in Washington, DC, GMF has seven offices in
Europe: Berlin, Paris, Brussels, Belgrade, Ankara, Bucharest, and Warsaw. GMF also has smaller representations in
Bratislava, Turin, and Stockholm.
Marshall Memorial Fellowship
General Overview
Founded in 1982, the Marshall Memorial Fellowship (MMF) was created by the German Marshall Fund of the United
States to introduce a new generation of European leaders to America's institutions, politics, and people. In 1999, GMF
launched a companion program to expose future U.S. leaders to a changing and expanding Europe.
Through formal and informal meetings with a range of policymakers, the Marshall Memorial Fellowship (MMF) provides
a unique opportunity for emerging leaders from the United States and Europe to engage with counterparts across the
Atlantic in five cities. GMF awards over 100 Fellowships each year to the best and brightest from all professional sectors,
including business, politics, media, and nongovernmental organizations. The MMF program features a network of over
2,000 alumni who remain engaged through annual conferences, regional meetings, online communications, and
involvement in other GMF program areas.
Beginning with the four original countries - Denmark, France, Germany, and the Netherlands - Fellows now come from
across the United States and from 37 European countries. GMF works closely with partners in more than 50 cities on both
sides of the Atlantic to make the MMF program possible.
The German Marshall Fund is pleased to acknowledge the 30th anniversary of the Marshall Memorial Fellowship
program, which is being celebrated throughout 2012.
Program Itinerary and Financial Information
American and European Fellows travel during one of three 24-day programs organized each year: spring
(February/March), summer (June/July), and fall (October/November). They meet formally and informally with a range of
policymakers and prominent members of the business, government, political, NGO, and media communities. Partner
institutions and individuals in each city provide Fellows with a local perspective on the transatlantic and domestic issues
on the agenda. Along the way, each Fellow has the opportunity to explore his or her professional interests beyond the
group programs, which focus on a range of domestic and international policy areas.
Itineraries for American Fellows typically start in Brussels, proceeding then to a city in northern Europe, southern
Europe, and eastern Europe. A different GMF office hosts each group for their program conclusion. Cities visited in past
years include Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Berlin, Copenhagen, Lisbon, Rome, Turin, and Warsaw.
European Fellows begin their Fellowship in Washington, DC and conclude in New York. In addition, they visit three
American cities of various sizes, including several nights with a host family in the South or Midwest. Recent programs
have included visits to Atlanta, Cleveland, Detroit, Denver, Lincoln, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Seattle.
Fellows are required to attend all meetings and briefings throughout the program. Participation in meetings and
cooperation with and consideration towards colleagues -- both American and European -- are absolutely critical to the
success of the Fellowship and the future of the program.
All travel is paid by the German Marshall Fund, including international and domestic airfare, hotels, car rentals, and train
tickets. Fellows also receive a stipend intended to cover a portion of programmatic-related expenses such as meals, some
local transportation, and incidentals (based on moderate expenditures).
Nomination and Application Process
Candidates must first be nominated by a recognized professional or community leader or by an MMF alumnus/a.
Nominators should be in a position senior to the candidate and should be able to evaluate the candidate's leadership
potential. Candidates may not self-nominate. Nominators may only nominate one person per calendar year, may not also
submit a letter of recommendation for the candidate, and should not also be applicants in the same selection year. Family
members of applicants, MMF selection partners, current MMF selection committee members, and GMF staff may not
serve as nominators or provide letters of recommendation. Former MMF selection committee members may not apply for
the Fellowship.
Once the nomination is submitted, the candidate will receive instructions for completing the online application.
Application materials currently include an application form, essays, a resume/CV, and two letters of recommendation.
Please note that candidates may only apply twice for the Fellowship and may not apply in consecutive years, with the
exception of candidates having only one year of eligibility remaining within the age range. Applications submitted prior
to 2012 will be disregarded.
Eligibility Criteria for Candidates
The Marshall Memorial Fellowship is a unique and intensive educational and cultural experience, the success of which
depends largely on the individuals selected to participate. In addition to the criteria listed below, strong candidates will
be intellectually curious, mature, thoughtful, flexible, independent, and resourceful team players.
All candidates for the Marshall Memorial Fellowship program must:
- be no younger than 28 (inclusive) and no older than 40 (inclusive) on January 1st of the travel year.
- be citizens or permanent residents of one of the following countries: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Republic of Macedonia, Malta,
Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
- be available to travel during the designated periods in the year of travel. Candidates who anticipate any
inability to participate during the designated timeframe must apply in future selection cycles, as deferrals are
rarely granted.
- be available for 24 consecutive days of travel. Please note that Fellows will spend the majority of their time in
Fellowship meetings and activities and will not be able to work during the program.
- speak English proficiently.
- have not had recent, prolonged, professional travel experience in Europe or the United States.
- have an outstanding record of achievement in their profession and a proven commitment to sustained and
effective civic/community involvement: GMF accepts candidates in all professional backgrounds, including
politics, government, the media, business, and the non-profit sector. Successful Fellows will be individuals who
have demonstrated a strong potential for leadership within their professional sector and their community.
- exhibit a potential for further leadership growth.
- demonstrate the commitment and ability to remain engaged in the Marshall Memorial Fellowship alumni
network and within broader German Marshall Fund programming.
- possess a passport valid at least six months beyond the assigned Fellowship dates.
Please contact GMF staff with any questions:
Staff coordinators – United States
Anne Marie Brogan, Program Associate [email protected]
John Paul Diego, Program Coordinator [email protected]
Staff coordinators – Europe
Filip Vojvodic Medic, Program Officer [email protected]
Melanie Whittaker, Program Associate [email protected]