Community Catalyst Program

Since 2017, the Open Gov Hub has run our Community Catalyst Program — a unique part-time, paid professional development fellowship. We call team members “community catalysts” because fellows plays a key role to connect ideas and people across our network on a regular basis, helping us fulfill OGH’s full potential of being a dynamic meeting place of social changemakers that enhances individual and collective impact.

THE WHAT

Open Gov Hub was founded in 2012 as the world’s first innovation hub focused on the theme of “open government” - making governments more open and accountable to their people. We fulfill our mission by fostering resource sharing and collaborations between 65+ mission-driven member organizations in Washington, D.C. - through running a 20,000 sq. ft world-class coworking space in downtown DC, offering ample other support services from members, and hosting a wide variety of events and meetings near-daily. We also support 13 affiliate civic innovation hubs worldwide. Learn more about our work and impact here.

Since 2017, the Open Gov Hub has run our Community Catalyst Program — a unique part-time, paid professional development fellowship. OGH is a small team that relies on support from a small group of talented, part-time fellows who we recruit a few times per year to work 5-15 hours/week in support key areas of work - like communications programs/events, research, or operations. Catalyst may key contributions to ongoing work as well as special OGH programs, like Defending Democracy and our Global Affiliate Hubs.

This is an ideal program to help catalyze career opportunities for young and mid-professionals - including recent graduates (undergrad or graduate), freelancers, consultants, and those making career transitions. Many previous Catalysts have gone on to be hired by Hub member organizations, like Global Integrity and Partnership for Transparency.

THE WHY

The Community Catalyst position at the Open Gov Hub provides a unique opportunity to add great value to an innovative organization and its world-changing network of members, leaving a lasting impact while enhancing your career and exponentially growing your network.

THE WHO

Are you…?

  • a naturally curious and motivated connector of people and ideas (ex: always looking to make introductions between people and linking disparate concepts)

  • passionate about social change and having a social impact-oriented career

  • highly skilled in one or more of the following areas: Communications, Events Planning, Project/Program Management, and/or Research

  • knowledgeable about and interested in key themes in our field, such as global and US democracy challenges; international development; nonprofit management; social entrepreneurship; hybrid work; coworking, and innovation hubs

  • exceptionally organized and highly proactive, with a professional and self-starter attitude

THE HOW

The ideal candidate is an extremely organized and proactive self-starter and a people person who is highly curious and eager to connect people and ideas; learns quickly and is highly motivated and able to work on projects that leave a lasting impact for Open Gov Hub and its members.

Given the unique nature of Open Gov Hub’s running a physical, mission-driven coworking space and the enhanced opportunities for networking and collaboration in person, Catalysts are expected to regularly work on-site in our world-class space in Washington, D.C. (though occasional remote work may be permitted).

What Previous Catalysts Say:

“Being a Community Catalyst was incredibly helpful to me as a full-time student, looking to form positive networks in a new city. The Hub gave me the space to learn and explore beyond my graduate program."

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"This was a great introduction to the international development field in D.C."

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"I loved the community of changemakers built around the Hub."

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"The program gave me a better sense of the type of organizations I want to work for as I move my career forward."

“Being a Community Catalyst was incredibly helpful to me as a full-time student, looking to form positive networks in a new city. The Hub gave me the space to learn and explore beyond my graduate program." 〰️ "This was a great introduction to the international development field in D.C." 〰️ "I loved the community of changemakers built around the Hub." 〰️ "The program gave me a better sense of the type of organizations I want to work for as I move my career forward."

Not looking for a fellowship but know some great talent? Please share this page!

Still have questions? Contact us at info@opengovhub.org