ILF Civic Fellowship Program

Program Overview: The International Leadership Foundation (ILF) identifies approximately 30 outstanding Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) college students annually to participate in an 8-10 week summer internship program in Washington D.C.

Geographic Scope: Washington D.C., with placements at federal agencies, U.S. Congress, D.C.-based nonprofits, and think tanks

Focus Areas:

• Federal government internships
• Congressional placements
• Nonprofit and think tank work
• Public service and civic engagement
• Leadership development

Eligibility Requirements:

• U.S. citizenship required
• Minimum 3.0 GPA
• Current undergraduate student in good standing
• AANHPI heritage (students who identify as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander)
• Applicants at all undergraduate levels (sophomores, juniors, seniors)

What is Provided:

• Stipend upon successful program completion to help offset travel, housing, and living expenses in Washington D.C.
• Full-time federal internship placement
• Professional and leadership development workshops and seminars
• Fireside chats and panel discussions with prominent AANHPI public service leaders
• Network and community of peers and mentors
• Leadership training

Applicant Responsibility:

• Fellows are responsible for securing their own housing and managing living expenses (though stipend helps offset these)
• Travel arrangements

Required Application Documents:

• Official transcript
• Resume
• At least one letter of recommendation

Program Details:

• Summer internship program (8-10 weeks)
• Internships may be on-site or virtual depending on federal agency policy
• Includes professional development workshops
• Includes leadership development seminars
• Opportunity to network with AANHPI leaders

Contact Information:

• Email: fellow@ileader.org
• Phone: 202-204-3019
• General inquiries: ilf@ileader.org
• Address: Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW #700, Washington DC 20004

Organization Background:

• International Leadership Foundation (ILF) is a non-profit organization
• Mission: Cultivate civic-minded future AANHPI leaders in public service
• Promotes civic engagement, leadership, empowerment, and economic prosperity of the AAPI community
• Has provided scholarships, leadership training, and educational programs to over 10,000 AAPI students
• Based in Washington, D.C.

Application Process

Submission Requirements:

1. Official transcript
2. Resume
3. At least one letter of recommendation
4. Application form (submitted online)

Deadline: Friday, January 3, 2027 at 5pm ET

Note: Applicants should plan ahead due to school closures and holidays affecting transcript and recommendation letter timelines.

Application Portal: www.ilfnational.org/fellowship

Information Sessions: ILF offers Zoom info sessions for prospective applicants, typically held in November and December. Participants can RSVP to receive Zoom links.

Contact for Questions:

• Email: fellow@ileader.org
• General inquiries: ilf@ileader.org
• Phone: 202-204-3019