The California City Management Foundation has added a new funding source to the suite of resources for California’s city managers: the Judy L. Kelsey Memorial Fund. This annual program offers two $5,000 grants to local governments to fund summer internships starting the summer of 2020.

Half the funding for this program comes from the estate of Judy Lyn Kelsey, a longtime California city manager with a passion for uplifting others. At the beginning of her career, Kelsey interned in the City Manager’s Office in the City of San Dimas and participated in a grant program for the Los Angeles Police Department. She saw great value in these experiences and donated part of her estate to enable internships for individuals with a passion for local government. Her estate funds one $5,000 grant annually. CCMF is matching her gift to provide a second $5,000 grant.

The inaugural application process for this program launched in April. California cities and towns should apply online by the end of the day on Friday, May 1, 2020. A committee from the CCMF Board of Trustees will select up to two recipients based on the perceived socioeconomic need for an internship and anticipated impact of the intern’s work, among other criteria. Selected cities are required to deliver an end-of-internship report summary to CCMF highlighting the work performed as a result of the internship and providing proof that the $5,000 grant was exclusively and directly used to fund the internship.

CCMF aims to announce winners by Monday, May 11, 2020. Please note that the award will be granted to a city or town, not an individual intern. Please visit the Judy L. Kelsey Memorial Fund webpage for more information and contact jon@tripepismith.com with any questions.