Policy and Advocacy Summer Fellowship

Dates: June 2025 - August 2025

Time Requirement: Full-time, Monday - Friday, for 8 weeks

Application Deadline: The 2025 application closes on January 31st.

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Overview

 

Jumpstart your career in policy & advocacy while serving as a Policy & Advocacy Summer Fellow with a mission-aligned partner in equity.

This full-time, paid summer fellowship opportunity allows you to grow your leadership skills and apply your passion for equity, while challenging you to think like an equity-minded policymaker. You’ll be pushed by your host organization to develop meaningful plans and policies that impact children and communities. 

At the same time, you’ll gain the hands-on experience you need to launch a full-time policy or advocacy career in the future, receive professional development training and career coaching, and work with a cohort of equity-minded leaders from across the country. 

Fellows are placed with hosts in regions throughout the country and earn a living stipend for the eight-week experience.

Fellowship Outcomes

 

  • Launch your policy or advocacy career. After completion of the fellowship, you’ll be ready to pursue a full-time role in policy or advocacy. LEE’s career coaching and connections in the field can help you land that first role on the timeline that best meets your goals.
  • Develop your leadership. You’ll participate in cohort-based programming and networking events to develop your leadership skills, understanding of the policy landscape and the policymaking process, and clarify your next career steps.
  • Impact your community. You’ll be matched with one of our partner hosts to work on a project that will have a meaningful impact on children and communities. We partner with government entities, elected officials, and high-impact policy and advocacy organizations to host fellows around the country.
  • And More… Throughout the fellowship, you will build a community of equity-minded peers and network with local changemakers while learning how policy gets made.

Fellowship Details

 

Dates: June 2025 - August 2025

Time Requirement: Full-time, Monday - Friday, for 8 weeks

Application Deadline: The 2025 application closes on January 31st.

Hear from Past Fellows

 

Who Should Apply

 

  • Demonstrated interest in serving communities through a career in policy, advocacy, or organizing within the next 1-2 years. 
  • A clear understanding of how the fellowship will enable your next steps in your career.
  • A geographical, professional, or personal connection to the requested placement city.
  • Experience with research, writing, and analysis, and strong communication skills.
  • Previous professional experience and/or graduate degrees preferred, but not required.
  • You must be a LEE member to apply.
  • You must have not previously participated in LEE’s Policy & Advocacy Summer Fellowship.
  • You must be able to commit to a full-time fellowship during the summer.

Fellowship Hosts

 

Application Process

 

Fellowship Information Session: Thursday, November 21 | Register Here

Application Open: December 2, 2024

Application Deadline: January 31, 2025

Our 2025 application requires:

  • Background and contact information 
  • Resume
  • Short answer questions 
  • Regional preferences 

We’ll notify applicants of their status by early March 2025. Finalists will be advanced to an interview stage. 

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance completing this application, please contact us at pasf@educationalequity.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

Frequently Asked Questions

 

How long is the 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.

 

Where do fellows work?

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.

How is the fellowship impacted by COVID-19?

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.

What kinds of projects will fellows work on?

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.

When will I hear about the status of my application?

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.

Is the fellowship paid?

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.

Are there scholarships available?

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.

What does successful completion of the fellowship include?

  • 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.

What if my availability this summer doesn’t align with the fellowship dates?

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.

I have already participated in the Policy & Advocacy Summer Fellowship. Can I participate again?

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!

Will I be working with other fellowship members if accepted?

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.

What do fellows do post-program?

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!

Will the fellowship assist with relocation & finding housing?

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.

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