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Our Impact
Our fellowship stands as a testament to impactful, youth-driven innovation in public policy, striving to be among the most influential in its field.
550+
Fellows graduated from the program.
200+
Fellows' capstones published.
3.2M
Viewed the Fellows' Capstones.
80%
Of YIP Leadership started in the Fellowship.
6-8%
Acceptance rate average.
The fellowship program is a two-month development opportunity designed for young, emerging leaders who are passionate about learning how to engage with and develop public policy and create positive social, political, economic, and environmental change.
Throughout this program, fellows collaborate with their peers, YIP department executives, political and educational leaders, and community stakeholders to analyze and develop innovative solutions to current issues in a wide variety of mediums. Fellows will collaborate with their peers and mentors to gain a deeper understanding of the various sub-sectors related to their fields of focus while honing their project management, policy analysis, and development skills.
The fellowship empowers young leaders on their policy journey. Each session is crafted to be unique and impactful, giving fellows invaluable knowledge, skills, and experiences that will shape their future through workshops and discussions (often in collaboration with YIP’s other departments). Fellows will work on numerous fronts and focus on topics including social change, urban renewal, public policy reform, SMART infrastructure/technology initiatives, and education to create a brighter and more collaborative future for all.
January 4th
Application due date for the Winter cohort of the 2025 Fellowship.
DUE
2025 Cohorts
Winter - January 18th to March 22nd
Spring - April 13th to June 7th
Summer - June 15th to August 23st
Fall - September 21st to November 8th
Dates
Explore
Prior to applying, check out some former fellow profiles as well as the capstones.
Apply
Apply for the fellowship by filling out the short form on the left. We look forward to reading your applications!
Results
About two weeks after the deadline to apply passed, results will be sent out by our admissions board.
How often does this program take place?
Our programming for 2025 consists of four cohorts:
Winter: January - March
Spring: April - June
Summer: June-Late August
Fall: Early September-November
The applications are rolling for all cohorts when open. See the form for which ones are currently open.
What does the day-to-day look like?
In short, there is no day-to-day; the program was created in 2021 during the pandemic by our CEO: around busy schedules! There are two mandatory weekly synchronous meetings every week on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings. The program also includes one independent group policy review project with a synchronous presentation and one independent individual capstone project.
Most fellows report approximately 3-5 hours in terms of weekly commitment including all synchronous meetings and asynchronous work. Don't let time be the barrier to participating!
How does the program work?
After qualified applicants are selected to participate in the fellowship program, they embark upon an immersive journey of personal, professional, and political growth through engaging seminars, thought-provoking debates, interactive workshops, and exclusive guest speaker opportunities. Throughout the program, fellows will also work with their peers on writing an original policy brief and presenting it, as well as developing their own original capstone project. Fellows receive ongoing guidance and mentorship throughout the program to ensure that they are building a unique skill set of policy analysis, communication, articulation, nonpartisan thinking, debate, and problem-solving. We like to think that what you get out of the fellowship, is what you put into it!
What are your prices?
Who is elegible?
The fellowship program is open to all high school and undergraduate students ages 14-22 with interest or experience in social impact, community organizing, civic engagement, design thinking, advocacy, and, of course, discourse! The fellowship is open to international applicants, but meetings are scheduled based on U.S. time zones and the workshops largely focus on U.S.-oriented public policy and political systems.
What happens after?
Fellows are given priority consideration and direct access to YIP's C-suite and SVPs in terms of hiring and other positions. They also get direct access to recruiters for other positions within the Institute's broad partnership network through our new Alumni Relations program! Additionally, your capstone project will be posted on this page! Feel free to check out some of the older ones — which can take any form including essays, illustrations, videos, websites, presentations, infographics, and material policy proposals. The creative limitations of these projects are nearly nonexistent.
