Pathways to the C-Suite Internship

Spring 2025 CBCF Pathways to the C-Suite Internship Program

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Incorporated (CBCF) Pathways to the C-Suite Internship Program partners rising college seniors and recently graduated students with some of the nation’s top executives in the private sector to experience how public policy is influenced and developed at every level. Through the Pathways to the C-Suite Internship Program, participants gain practical and meaningful work experience in a corporate setting and obtain first-hand experience working with organizations whose top priorities include diversity employment retention, and internship-to-employment opportunities. This program will take place in person from January 13, 2025 to May 2, 2025. Interns will receive housing, and a $4000 stipend (paid biweekly in increments of $500) and are placed in a corporate sponsor’s office. Interns interact with senior-level business leaders, explore multifaceted business challenges, and build skills to prepare them for careers in corporate America. Over the course of the 16-week internship, participants also take part in business networking, team-building events, and leadership development sessions to enhance their professional and leadership skills.

CBCF will offer four information sessions to allow prospective applicants to learn more about our internship program. Should this be of interest, please register for the information session of your choice:

Info Session Dates and Registration Link:

August 22, 2024 at 6:00 PM
https://cbcf.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0udOCvrTgrH9Ozfc3px184qSAKDaIws3jm

September 3, 2024 at 6:00 PM
https://cbcf.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwof-uvqDsuGdKilthib477UdHo1FKLWO_H

September 18, 2024 at 6:00 PM
https://cbcf.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAvceygrDsrEtGbspsFNl3ja5DyomJws-jB

October 9, 2024 at 6:00 PM
https://cbcf.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZctfumuqT4rHNOQjDRSkvPITDeX0S65bfO9

Candidate Requirements

Note: You must use your full first and last name as your display name when creating your application account.

• Interns must have at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale

• Must be 21 years of age for the Pathways to C-Suite Internship

• Interns must have U.S. citizenship or a permit to work in the U.S. for the duration of the program (January 13 to May 2, 2025)

• Interns must have availability to participate full-time upon acceptance

• Interns cannot be enrolled in classes for the duration of the program (in some cases, the program can be used for credit with university approval)

• Interns must be current or rising college seniors by the start of the Spring program OR must have not graduated with a bachelor’s degree more than 2 years from the internship program start date

• Interns cannot yet have obtained a graduate degree

• Interns cannot be actively enrolled in graduate studies

• Interns must have a general familiarity with the federal legislative process, the U.S. Congress, the Congressional Black Caucus and its members, and related policy

• Interns must have superior analytical skills

• Interns must have outstanding oral and written communication skills

Note: Upon acceptance, interns must stay in provided CBCF housing, with a roommate, for the duration of the program.

Application Materials

*The completed online application must be submitted by 11:59 pm ET, November 1, 2024 *. The following items will be requested through the online application:

• 1 Video Recording in response to a provided prompt (located within the Conditional Application)

• 1 Essay Question Response (located within the Conditional Application)

• 2 letters of recommendation, submitted electronically (hard copy letters will not be accepted)

• Resume listing extracurricular activities, honors, employment, community service, and specific skills (2-page limit)

• Transcript (must be uploaded directly to the application portal)

• A recent photograph suitable for publication (i.e., a graduation photo or other professional-quality photograph in which the subject is formally dressed)

PLEASE NOTE: You must complete the General Application to gain access to the Conditional Application. If for any reason you are unable to access the conditional application, it may be because you are unqualified for the opportunity. Please reach out to internships@cbcfinc.org for assistance, as necessary. Note that application materials are not accepted via email.

COVID-19 Guidelines and Vaccination Policy

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) has carefully been following specific government guidance on making our workplace, and our working arrangements, COVID free in order to offer protection to our interns. For this reason, we encourage all of our interns to be vaccinated (boosted) against the COVID-19 virus. COVID-19 vaccines work well to prevent sever illness and hospitalization due to COVID. Vaccination also helps lower your chances of developing Long COVID. The CBCF will continue to monitor government guidelines as well as COVID-19 cases to determine if we need to make any updates to our COVID vaccination policy.

Requests for Accommodations

May request an approved exemption from the vaccination requirement as an accommodation for medical or sincerely held religious reasons:

May request an accommodation for a medical reason such as a disability (as defined by applicable law), pregnancy (or childbirth or a related medical condition), being a nursing mother, having a documented medical condition that contraindicates the vaccination, or any other trait, characteristic, or class for which applicable law requires the CBCF to provide reasonable workplace accommodations.

May request an accommodation for a non-medical reason, such as an objection to being vaccinated on the basis of sincerely held religious beliefs and practices.

Accommodation requests for the Spring 2025 Cohort should be submitted to Human Resources in writing no later than October 20, 2025.

Additional Note: Former interns, immediate relatives of a CBCF employee, CBC Member, CBC Spouse, a staff person of a CBC Member or Spouse, a member of the CBCF Board of Directors, Corporate Advisory Council Member of CBCF, or any CBCF-sponsoring entity are not eligible for CBCF internship programs.

Selection Process

The CBCF’s Congressional and Pathways to C-Suite Internship Programs are highly competitive programs. Applications are reviewed by a selection committee made up of program alumni, staff, and board members. Top candidates receive an invitation to interview. Applications are scored based on evidence of leadership and leadership potential, including community involvement, commitment to public service, and ability to challenge self.

Questions?

Please contact: internships@cbcfinc.org

Please do not contact the office in regard to your application status. Only qualified candidates will be directly contacted by program supervisors. Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we regret that we are unable to respond to all applicants.