The John J. McCloy Fund of the American
Council on Germany was established in 1975 as a tribute to Mr. John J.
McCloy; former U.S. Military Governor and High Commissioner in Germany,
and founder of the ACG. Gifts from the German government and the Alfried
Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach Foundation recognizing Mr. McCloy's
contributions to German-American relations allowed for the establishment
and then expansion of this Fund and the Fellowship Program.
The McCloy Fellowship program began in 1976, giving young American and
German professionals an opportunity to broaden their experiences and to
establish relationships with their transatlantic counterparts. Over 550
people from the fields of agriculture, the arts, environmental affairs,
government, journalism, labor, and urban affairs have participated in
these exchanges.
This program awards and funds approximately thirty fellowships annually,
with fifteen each provided to Germans and Americans, all of whom travel
to the others’ country for individual research or to participate in an
organized program. The duration of each Fellowship is approximately four
weeks. Recently, priority has been given to citizens of the former
German Democratic Republic. In almost every case, the Fellowship
represents the first exposure to America by these young Germans. Current
professional areas of award and the agencies that assist in organizing
the programs include:
Agriculture, with the American Farm Bureau Federation and its German
counterpart, the Deutsche Bauerverband.
Environmental Affairs, organized with the Dartmouth College
Environmental Studies Program
Journalism, with assistance from Columbia University’s School of
Journalism and the Journalism program at Ruhr Universität.
Urban Affairs, with programs organized with the U.S. Conference on
Mayors and its German sister, the Deutsche Städtetag.
New challenges facing the transatlantic partnership and the
American-German relationship confirm the importance of the McCloy
Fellowship program. The globalization of the economy and the
transformation of both German and American societies in the 21st
requires the continual renewal of German-American ties. It is crucial
that new generations of leaders have the opportunity to establish
personal and professional ties with their transatlantic counterparts.
Meanwhile, young Germans from eastern and western areas of the country
have the opportunity to deepen their interchange with each other as well
as with Americans.
