Nancy Pelosi Fellowship

Explore pathways to international public service, forge long-lasting connections, and develop skills to prepare for a future career in U.S. diplomacy.

Are you interested in a fully funded summer internship in 2025 in Washington, D.C., where you will rub elbows with professionals at the center of global diplomacy?

Not just a summer internship program, this fellowship provides opportunities to explore pathways to international public service, develop skills for a career with the U.S. Department of State, and forge long-lasting connections.

Program Description

The Nancy Pelosi Fellowship is funded by the U.S. Department of State and administered by The Washington Center (TWC).

Your paid summer internship in Washington, D.C., will be at a foreign affairs think tank, foundation, or international NGO. You’ll get an insider’s view of how these organizations generate research, analysis and advice to support policymakers on domestic and international issues.

Get ready for a transformational experience in Washington, D.C., with opportunities to interact with diplomats at the U.S. Department of State, receive personalized mentoring, attend professional development workshops and participate in career enhancing activities.

Eligibility

This fellowship is designed for talented students interested in international public service and who demonstrate financial need. To be eligible to apply for the 2025 cohort, you should be a rising sophomore at the start of the Summer 2025 internship program. You must also meet the following criteria:

Be a U.S. citizen.
Be enrolled in a degree-seeking program and be a rising sophomore at the start of the Summer 2025 internship.
Hold a minimum 3.2 GPA (or higher) on a 4.0 scale.
Demonstrate financial need.
Exhibit outstanding leadership and academic achievement.
Have an interest in completing up to two paid summer internship rotations approximately one year apart.
Be able to obtain a secret security clearance for a potential second summer internship with the Department of State.

Program Benefits

Students selected for this program will receive:

A paid five-week summer internship with a foreign affairs think tank, foundation, or NGO to gain direct professional experience with an organization dedicated to global service and engagement.
Full financial support for travel and temporary housing expenses.
Professional development workshops and career-enhancing activities provided by the Washington Center during the summer internship and the following semester.
Mentoring from senior-level diplomats at the U.S. Department of State.
Direct insight into the service elements, benefits, challenges and requirements of a Foreign Affairs career and an understanding of entryways to the Foreign and Civil Service career tracks at the U.S. State Department.
Opportunities to forge lasting connections and develop skills to prepare for future work as foreign affairs professionals and diplomats.
The opportunity to apply for a second paid summer internship the following year with an office of the Department of State through the well-established Student Internship Program (SIP).

Housing and Living

Fully furnished housing in Washington, D.C. is provided by TWC. Housing accommodations can and typically do require shared living arrangements with other interns. Every effort is made to arrange housing near essential amenities like grocery stores, public transit and medical facilities.

Dates and Deadlines

January 18 – March 10, 2025: Applications accepted
April 2025: Notification of finalist selections sent via email
April/May 2025: Finalists participate remotely in interview and selection process
July – August 2025: Five-week paid internship and career enrichment programming in Washington, D.C.
October 2025: Fellows may apply to the U.S. Department of State’s Student Internship Program (SIP)
May-July to August-September 2026: Successful SIP applicants participate in the Department of State’s Student Internship Program

How to Apply

The application for the Nancy Pelosi Fellowship 2025 cohort is open January 18 – March 10, 2025. The deadline to submit your application is March 10, 2025, at 11:59 pm (EST). Late applications will not be considered.

The link to access the application will be added here when the application is open.

Below are the required application documents that you’ll need to submit with your application.

Application Documents

Proof of U.S. Citizenship: U.S. passport, birth certificate or naturalization papers.
Transcript: An unofficial copy of your college/university transcript.
Statement of Professional Interest (300-500 words): Describe an issue in your community, country or the world that you are passionate about addressing. Why is this issue important to you, and how do you think it could be improved through engagement with public service?
Fellowship Essay (500-750 words): Reflect on a time when your life experiences shaped your actions or way of thinking. How does your unique identity inform your approach to leadership?
Resume: Maximum two-page resume that highlights your leadership skills.
Most Recent Financial Aid Award Letter: If you are receiving financial aid this academic year, you are required to submit a Financial Aid Letter listing your current level of financial aid (including grants and/or loans).
Most Recent FAFSA Submission Summary: If you are receiving financial aid this academic year, you are required to submit your FAFSA Submission Summary. If you are not receiving financial aid this academic year, you must complete the FAFSA 2024-25 to generate a FAFSA Submission Summary.
Statement of Financial Need: Use this as an opportunity to address any financial hardship or impactful adversity you may have experienced that affects your overall financial standing.
Recommendation Form: Your recommender may be a high school or college/university teacher, advisor, coach or mentor, or a community leader, who can explain why you are uniquely qualified for this fellowship.

For Employers

Washington, D.C.-based organizations, including think tanks, foundations, and non-education institutions dedicated to global engagement and public service, will play a key role in this fellowship program by providing the first summer internship experience. If your organization is interested in being a part of this exclusive network of partner organizations, please email Tina Gaddy at tina.gaddy@twc.edu to learn more.