Policy and Advocacy Summer Fellowship

The summer fellowship lasts 8 weeks and runs on two timelines to accommodate different schedules. In your application, you will indicate which timeline aligns with your availability and share any potential conflicts.

Timeline 1: June 9 – August 1, 2025
Timeline 2: June 16 – August 8, 2025

Note: Selected fellows will finalize start and end dates with their host organization, but are expected to work a minimum of 7 weeks full time and attend all summer professional development sessions. If you are available for less than 7 weeks in the summer, you should not apply.

Check your school’s academic calendar and review the timelines of any other previous or concurring commitments to ensure you have a full seven to eight weeks to dedicate to the fellowship.

LEE partners with government entities; elected officials; and high-impact policy, advocacy, and organizing organizations to host fellows around the country.

Fellows will have access to the list of host organizations in their regions after they are accepted to the fellowship.

We anticipate that we will have a mix of in-person, hybrid, and fully virtual placements based on host organization needs. When selecting regions, make sure you only choose locations where you would be willing and able to participate in person. If you are not interested in an in-person placement in your region, you should select virtual.

Every host organization will identify a project or set of responsibilities that will add value to the organization while ensuring that the fellow has an opportunity to engage in substantive and meaningful work related to policy and advocacy.

Examples of past projects:

• One fellow contributed to the Shelby County Municipal School District’s 2020-2021 Covid Reopening Plan. 
• Another fellow created a report highlighting survey results of over 400 parent voices sharing what they want in schools for Fall 2020. 
• A third fellow contributed to a voter guide for the 2020 Primary elections. 
• Two fellows conducted an in-depth analysis in 2023 on South Dakota social studies standards to measure the impact on South Dakota students, particularly indigenous students.

Applications close in January. Applicants will be notified if they have been invited to an interview with LEE in early March. Fellow finalists will interview with host organizations in April and will be confirmed by a host organization by May.

LEE ensures that every fellow receives a living stipend for the summer. 

Fellows receive a living stipend of $5,000 that can be used to cover basic living expenses, including rent, food, transportation, and utilities.

Fellows can expect to receive their stipend by the end of June.

Members with significant financial need will be eligible to apply for additional scholarship funding, made available to ensure that finances are not a barrier to participation. 

We will do our best to meet your demonstrated financial need but cannot guarantee coverage of all of your expenses. We encourage fellows to map out expenses and budget accordingly in advance of the fellowship, and to seek out additional funding or other ways to offset expenses as needed. In the past, fellows were able to apply for a small amount of scholarship funds.

• At least 7 weeks of full-time work with your placement organization.
• Attending all required training sessions.
• Completing all fellowship assignments and surveys.
• Optional: Participating in coaching and skill-building online courses.

If your availability doesn’t align with the two timelines, but you are available for a minimum of seven weeks, indicate the dates you are available in your application. 

We will review all applications and make an effort to accommodate your availability. If you are selected as a finalist, you will finalize your start and end dates with your host organization. 

In the application, you will be able to note any potential conflicts (i.e. planned commitments, vacations, etc.) and will be able to work directly with your host to align on those dates after you are placed. If you are available for less than seven weeks in the summer, you should not apply.

No – you may only participate in the Summer fellowship once. If you need support securing a full-time role in policy & advocacy, sign up for LEE Career Coaching!

Depending on the needs of your host, you may be working with other fellows at your placement. You’ll get a chance to expand your network through professional development calls with other fellows. We encourage all fellows to connect with each other across the cohort to build relationships and grow their network.

Our goal is to help you get your first full-time role in policy or advocacy! Many of our summer fellows go on to get their first role in policy or advocacy either right after the fellowship or within a year or two of completing the fellowship. After the fellowship you are considered “role ready” and we have many supports available to help get you into that role!

We do not offer relocation stipends or support with finding housing. We encourage you to only apply to regions where you currently live or are planning to live during the summer. If you are interested in doing the fellowship in a different region than where you currently live, you are responsible for finding housing and any associated relocation costs.