Since 2000, ILF has provided scholarship and leadership training to over 10,000 Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) and Asian students; cultivating emerging leaders in the public, business and nonprofit sectors. Amongst ILF’s many civic leadership training programs, the ILF Civic Fellowship Program for undergraduate students is its flagship program. The ILF Civic Fellowship Program is on a mission to foster the next generation of AANHPI leaders in public service by promoting civic awareness, public engagement, and increasing the effectiveness of the AANHPI communities. Fellows learn how politics, the policy-making process, and public service are integrated in governance and how to make the federal government work for the community. Supported by ILF staff and organization leadership, the Fellowship aims to engage with outstanding AANHPI college students from across the nation and help cultivate their leadership potential.

The Civic Fellowship Program trains and develops AANHPI college students from across the nation. We focus on strengthening policy interests, enhancing leadership potential, and building on skills with the goal of fostering future public service leaders. Fellows learn how politics, the policy-making process, and public service are integrated in governance; in order to learn how to make government work for their communities. The Fellowship consists of an 8- to 10-week public service internship in a federal agency or congressional office, individual mentorship, a plethora of seminars and workshops, and a scholarship. The seminars and workshops focus on their professional and civic development, with an emphasis on civic engagement and career, personal, and leadership development.

ILF Civic Fellowship provides an 8 to 10-week public service internship at federal agencies, scholarship, and a variety of seminars and workshops on civic engagement and career, personal, and leadership development. Started with just 6 Fellows, the ILF Civic Fellowship Program has since grown and provided internship placements and scholarships to 500+ alumni from across the country. We currently select approximately 30 students in every summer class.

ILF has previously placed fellows with the Dept. of Treasury, U.S. Agency for International Development, Minority Business Development Agency, EXIM Bank, National Institute of Health, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, Federal Aviation Administration, Dept. of Labor, Small Business Administration, Hudson Institute, and several Congressional and Senate offices.

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.