Apply for the 2025 Victory Congressional Internships
Click here to apply for the Summer 2025 Victory Congressional Internship!
Applications are due by Sunday, January 5, 2025 at 11:59 pm PT.
Program Overview
The Victory Congressional Internship is developing the next generation of LGBTQ+ public leaders. Each semester, LGBTQ+ Victory Institute brings outstanding LGBTQ+ undergraduate students to Washington, DC, for an intensive leadership program, including:
- An 8 or 10 week Congressional internship with a member of the Congressional Equality Caucus or an LGBTQ+-friendly member of U.S. Congress to learn firsthand about the federal legislative process; and
- An educational and leadership development program to learn about careers in policy-making and engage with subject-matter experts in the District of Columbia working across sectors.
In December, students will attend the Victory Institute’s annual International LGBTQ+ Leaders Conference for three days of training, skills building, networking, and discussion alongside hundreds of openly LGBTQ+ leaders in government, politics, advocacy, business, and community organizations.
The Victory Congressional Internship prepares young LGBTQ+ people to become informed decision-makers and influential leaders who can change their communities and our world.
Information Sessions
Learn more about our Victory Congressional Internship programs by attending our information sessions:
- None upcoming — check back for more updates.
- Spring 2024 Information Session [Recording] – Watch here!
Out On The Hill
Learn more from the interns themselves! Each week of the Victory Congressional Internship, interns publish blog posts describing their experiences.
Apply for our Victory Congressional Internship Cohorts!
Application Components
Online Application will ask for the following:
- Professional Resume (one-page)
- Unofficial Transcript
- Two Essay Responses
- Professional Headshot
- Professional Biography
- Demographic Information
Sent directly via email:
- One Letter of Recommendation
You will need to submit one letter of recommendation – either from an academic institution or from someone who can speak to your leadership skills. Please have your recommender email the letter directly to Sarah Pope at sarah.pope@victoryinstitute.org.
Benefits
- Free housing accommodations in downtown DC
- Living wage stipend to cover other living expenses in DC equal to $15 per hour
- Airfare or other transportation to and from Washington, DC, at the beginning and end of the program
- Academic credit (depending on each participant’s college or university), and
- Airfare, shared hotel, and conference fees covered for the Victory Institute’s International LGBTQ+ Leaders Conference in December of the year of your program.
More Information and Frequently Asked Questions
Qualifications
The Victory Congressional Internship is open to undergraduate students of all genders, orientations, abilities, races, and political affiliations. Women, people of color, trans individuals, individuals with disabilities and individuals from low-income backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Must be LGBTQ+ to qualify. Note that “allies” of the LGBTQ+ community do not qualify.
All applicants must meet the following criteria to satisfy the Victory Institute and Congressional requirements:
- U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident or permit to work in the U.S. (Foreign students with F-1 visas are not eligible)
- 18 years of age before the day of arrival in Washington, D.C.
- Currently enrolled full-time in an undergraduate degree program, will have completed at least one year by the beginning of the program. Spring and Fall program participants must not graduate prior to the end of the program; Summer program participants can have graduated in the Spring before the start of the program or be a current undergraduate student with at least one year of coursework completed.
- Applicants from a diverse array of disciplines are encouraged
- Active participation in public and/or community service activities
For questions regarding the Victory Congressional Internship Program, please contact Sarah Pope, Director of U.S. Programs, at sarah.pope@victoryinstitute.org.
Program Alumni
Since 2011, the Victory Congressional Interns have brought critical LGBTQ+ voices to Capitol Hill each summer. Meet our Victory Congressional Interns from 2024, 2023 and 2022.
A comprehensive list of all Victory Congressional Interns from 2011 to the present is available here.
Supporters
LGBTQ+ Victory Institute extends our most sincere gratitude to our program supporters. Their partnership plays a vital role in bringing new young LGBTQ+ leaders to Washington, DC every semester to participate in the Victory Congressional Internship program.
If you are interested in learning how you or your organization can support the Victory Congressional Internship Program, please contact Curtis Sakow, Director of Corporate & Institutional Giving, at curtis.sakow@victoryinstitute.org.
