Through the CBCF’s 20-month fellowship programs, participants work with congressional members and committees, attend leadership development seminars, complete community service projects and produce policy papers.
During their first placement, fellows gain invaluable experience as they assist in the development of legislative and public policy initiatives within Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) member offices. Fellows work 40 hours per week on a range of staff assignments: legislative analysis, responding to constituent mail, drafting talking points and speeches for members, and coordinating logistics and public testimony for congressional hearings. During the second half of their program, fellows transition to a congressional committee, which complements their experience in a member’s office and provides them with a full view of the legislative process.
The CBCF offers four fellowship programs:
“I believe that I could be a valuable asset [to my community] as a direct result of my … background as a CBCF Fellow.”Thomas Cuffie
Science and Technology Fellow, 2012-2014.
- Congressional Fellowship
- Congressional Fellowship on Women in Health Sciences Leadership
- Donald M. Payne Foreign Policy Fellowship
- Small Business and Entrepreneurship Fellowship
Each fellowship cohort brings together individuals with diverse interests in policy areas in order to complement and enrich the experiences of all program participants.
Fellows are paid an annual salary plus benefits. Participants must reside in or relocate to the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and are responsible for their own travel, housing, and other living expenses.
Testimonials from Past CBCF Fellows:
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“Moving forward, I hope that my newfound understanding of Capitol Hill will help me to affect public policy on a local level in my hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. I recently heard that Mayor Kasim Reed and his administration are researching the technology sector, possibly with the aim of attracting tech companies to the city and retaining those already there. Should this project become a reality in the near future, I believe that I could be a valuable asset as a direct result of my intellectual property and telecommunications policy background as a CBCF Fellow.”
Thomas Cuffie, Science and Technology Fellow, 2012-2014. -
“During my remaining time on the Hill, I hope to learn more about the Executive budget process and implement a successful policy forum on disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) processes in Africa.”
Janelle johnson, Inaugural Donald M. Payne Foreign Policy Fellow, 2012-2014.
Current Fellowships
2018-2020 CBCF Fellowship
- Application Dates: September 9 – December 6, 2019
- Fellowship Dates: September 2020 – April 2022
CBCF Fellows work in congressional member and committee offices, attend leadership development seminars, complete a community service project and produce policy papers. During the first-year office placement, Fellows gain invaluable experience as they assist in the development of legislative and public policy initiatives in CBC Member Offices.
Apply Now
Small Business and Entrepreneurship Fellowship
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- Application Dates: September 9 – December 6, 2019
- Fellowship Dates: September 2020 – April 2022
The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Fellow will specialize in researching and analyzing minority access to capital and serve as lead of our minority access to capital summits.
Apply Now
What does it take to become a CBCF fellow?
Please note: Immediate relatives (defined as one’s parents, step-parents, siblings, spouse, children, step-children, foster children, in-laws, sibling in-laws, grandparents, great grandparents, step-great grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews) of a CBC Member, a CBC Spouse, a staff person of a CBC Member or Spouse, CBCF staff, a member of the CBCF Board of Directors, Member of CBCF, Corporate Advisory Council Member of CBCF, or any CBCF-sponsoring entity are not eligible for CBCF fellowship programs.