Pathways to the C-Suite Internship Program

*Spring 2027 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 18 to May 8, 2027.

Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. 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.

PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU ARE ONLY ALLOWED TO SUBMIT FOR ONE INTERNSHIP TRACK, EITHER CONGRESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES (STATE FARM COMMUNICATIONS INTERNSHIP, WALMART EMERGING LEADERS’ INTERNSHIP) OR PATHWAYS TO C-SUITE INTERNSHIP. THEREFORE, PLEASE REVIEW THE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITY OVERVIEWS AVAILABLE HERE: Internship Programs.

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:

Info Session Dates and Registration Links:
Session 1
Use the link below to register for the information session on August 20th at 6:30 PM EST
Registration Link: Meeting Registration – Zoom

Session 2
Use the link below to register for the information session on September 1st at 6:30 PM EST:
Registration Link: Meeting Registration – Zoom

Session 3
Use the link below to register for the information session on September 29th at 6:30 PM EST:
Registration Link: Meeting Registration – Zoom

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
• Interns should be a graduating Senior with graduation date no later than December 2026 or recent graduate (within the last 2 years) when the internship program starts
• Interns must have U.S. citizenship or a permit to work in the U.S. for the duration of the program (January 16 – May 8, 2027)
• Interns must have availability to participate full-time upon acceptance
• Interns cannot yet have obtained a graduate degree
• Interns cannot be actively enrolled in graduate studies
• 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 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, *October 04, 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. (150 one hundred and fifty words maximum; not including sources; Arial font, size 12, single-spaced. Please note that the citation style is at the discretion of the candidate.
• 2 letters of recommendation; uploaded by applicant (must be uploaded directly to the application portal); letter must be on a formal, professional letterhead, signed and include contact information (hard copy letters will not be accepted). *Please note that this is the only method of submission; therefore, recommenders are not allowed to submit recommendations directly to the Leadership Institute. *
• 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 unofficial transcripts are accepted.

PLEASE NOTE: *This is a two-step process. You must first complete the General Application to then gain access to the opportunities (C-Suite, State Farm, Walmart), which will also need to be completed in full, for your application to be considered. *

• If, for any reason, you are unable to access the opportunities, 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 Spring 2027 Internship should be submitted to Human Resources in writing no later than October 04, 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 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.