WASHINGTON, DC – The International Leadership Foundation (ILF) is now accepting applications for the Summer 2024 Civic Fellowship Program. Every year, ILF identifies approximately 30 outstanding Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) college students to spend 8 to 10 weeks interning at a federal agency in Washington D.C. during the summer term. Students are also placed in the U.S. Congress, D.C. based nonprofits and think tanks.

Further, ILF provides scholarships as well as professional development. ILF Civic Fellows receive a stipend upon successful program completion to help offset costs for their travels to Washington, D.C., housing and living expenses.In addition to their full-time federal internships, Fellows attend professional and leadership development workshops and seminars. They also have the opportunity to hear from prominent AANHPI public service leaders through a series of fireside chats and panel discussions.

“Developing the next generation AANHPI leaders is at the heart of our mission,” said Linh Hoang, Executive Director of ILF, “We help college students acquire the skills, experience, and insights necessary to become effective leaders. The ILF Civic Fellowship is a unique opportunity to jumpstart their careers and leadership journey.”

Please see our recent testimonials from ILF Civic Fellows who successfully completed the program:

“Foreign policy, national security, physics, and space exploration have all been (disparate) personal interests since before college, but ILF allowed me the opportunity to step back and reflect on where I wanted to go career-wise. It provided a community where I could connect with and befriend like-minded people who wanted to go in unconventional directions. Though the spectrum of career options I faced during college was very broad, the summer of ’19 was a prism of sorts that helped direct and focus my scattered interests.”
Alex Qi, 2019 ILF Civic Fellow
Placement: Aerospace Industries Association
Current Position: Corporate Strategy, Ventures and Partnerships, Northrop Grumman

“Interning at the House Foreign Affairs Committee as an ILF Civic Fellow was the opportunity of a lifetime. My experience with ILF not only reinforced my passion for public service, but also provided me with a network of peers and mentors who have been integral to my professional development.”
Grace Xu, 2021 ILF Civic Fellow
Placement: U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee
Current Position: Business Analyst, McKinsey & Co

“ILF embedded me into a network of young APIDA interested in public service–in an American political landscape where I find myself squinting at times to find representation like me, this made my vision tangible. Once I solidified my commitment to service, researching international accountability mechanisms with USAID exposed me to the possibility that I can take my American experiences abroad. My plans are constantly evolving based on my most recent experience, but for now, I am looking to influence English education policy in South Korea.”
Gabriella Son, 2022 ILF Civic Fellow
Placement: U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
Current Position: Fulbright Scholar in South Korea

Application Requirements:

• Undergraduate students who identify as AANHPI are encouraged to apply.
• Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship, minimum of 3.0 GPA, and current undergraduate student in good standing at their prospective university.
• Additional documents such as an official transcript, resume, and at least one letter of recommendation are also required.

Applications are open now and must be submitted by Friday, January 5, 2024 at 5pm ET. *Please be mindful of this deadline due to school closure and the holiday break to obtain transcripts and recommendations.

To learn more or submit an application, please visit www.ilfnational.org/fellowship.

Important note: Applicants should expect that summer internships will be on-site in Washington, DC. However, some or most internships may be virtual, depending on each federal agency’s policy. ILF will keep applicants informed during the application and placement process.

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Want to learn more? Join us for three Zoom Info Sessions with ILF Civic Fellowship staff members to learn more about the Civic Fellowship Program and the application process. Come and have your questions answered. This session is for students and university/college staff members as well as those that work with AANHPI students in the nonprofit and government sectors.

Click here to RSVP to receive the Zoom links. We will send out the link closer to the event dates.

• Thursday, November 9th at 4pm HST/6pm PST/9pm EST
• Wednesday, November 29th at 4pm HST/6pm PST/9pm EST
• Wednesday, December 20th at 11am HST/1pm PST/4pm EST