CBCF Congressional Summer Internship Program

The summer-long Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Incorporated (CBCF) Congressional Internship Program places rising college sophomores, juniors, and seniors, as well as recently graduated persons in the offices of Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Members. To take part in this opportunity, interns must be permanent residents in the district of a CBC Member or attend an academic institution in the district of a CBC member. Through this 9-week Congressional internship program, participants gain practical and meaningful work experience on Capitol Hill and obtain first-hand experience working in offices to assist in the process of effectively running a Congressional office and supporting the policy-making process.

Interns receive housing and a $3000 stipend. Interns interact with Congressional staffers, explore various aspects of the policy-making process, and build skills to prepare them for careers both within and beyond the policy arena. Throughout the internship, participants also take part in business networking, team-building events, and leadership development sessions to enhance their professional and leadership skills.

CBCF staff will offer 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:

Session 1
Use the link below to register for the information session on January 13th at 6:30 PM EST:
https://cbcf.zoom.us/meeting/register/83DSPQ5-TEShNXYjXkoZwQh

Session 2
Use the link below to register for the information session on February 10th 6:30 PM EST:
https://cbcf.zoom.us/meeting/register/NXt-6dNORTia6_zKAtnC5gh

Session 3
Use the link below to register for the information session on March 10th at 6:30 PM EST:
https://cbcf.zoom.us/meeting/register/wRo-IkwbTlehMhuhgW3vag

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 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale

• Interns must have U.S. citizenship or a permit to work in the U.S. for the duration of the program (Saturday, May 23, 2026 to July 24, 2026)

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

• Interns should be a Sophomore, Junior, or Senior or recent graduate (within the last 2 years)
• 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.

The completed online application must be submitted by 11:59 pm ET, March 27, 2026. 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)

• Choose a social justice policy issue (e.g., criminal justice reform, voting rights, the school-to-prison pipeline, public education, housing, racial discrimination in the workplace, etc.) that you believe is most relevant to the Black community and should be championed by members of the Congressional Black Caucus through legislation. Discuss the current effects of this issue on the Black community and identify specific aspects the legislation should address to create a positive impact. Be sure to cite your sources. (75 words maximum; Arial font, size 12, single-spaced.)

• 2 letters of recommendation, submitted electronically on formal, professional letterhead and include contact information (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)

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.

Requests for Accommodations
Interns 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, or any other trait, characteristic, or class for which applicable law requires the CBCF to provide reasonable workplace accommodations.

Accommodation requests for the Summer 2026 Internship should be submitted to Human Resources in writing no later than March 27, 2026.

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 Summer Congressional Internship is a highly competitive program. 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 regarding 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.

CBCF is a non-partisan 501©(3) equal opportunity organization that provides scholarships, internships, and fellowships to eligible applicants.