Apply to the 2024-2025 White House Fellows Application
Founded in 1964 by Lyndon B. Johnson, the White House Fellows program is one of America’s most prestigious programs for leadership and public service. White House Fellowships offer exceptional emerging leaders first-hand experience working at the highest levels of the Federal government.
Selected individuals typically spend a year working as a full-time, paid Fellow to senior White House Staff, Cabinet Secretaries, and other top-ranking government officials. Fellows also participate in an education program consisting of roundtable discussions with leaders from the private and public sectors, and potential trips to study U.S. policy in action both domestically and internationally. Fellowships are awarded on a strictly non-partisan basis.
Purpose
The mission statement adopted in 1964 by the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships:
“The purpose of the White House Fellows program is to provide gifted and highly motivated emerging leaders with some first-hand experience in the process of governing the Nation and a sense of personal involvement in the leadership of society.”
It is essential to the healthy functioning of our system that we have in the non-governmental sector a generous supply of leaders who have an understanding— gained first hand— of the challenges that our national government faces. At a time when people feel increasingly removed and isolated from the centers of power and decision-making, such leaders can help their fellow citizens comprehend the process by which the Nation is governed. The White House Fellows Program is designed to give superbly qualified young Americans precisely those experiences.
The White House Fellowship has been and continues to be a non-partisan program. This tradition has been strictly maintained during both Republican and Democratic administrations and, through the cross-fertilization of ideas and experience, has resulted in an enriched practice of public policy for more than five decades.
The White House Fellows Foundation and Association will host a webinar on November 8, 2023 from 8-9 PM (ET) on the topic of “Demystifying the White House Fellowship Application.” To register for the webinar or to watch the recording, go to: www.whff.org
The Fellowship is extremely competitive; a well-prepared application and carefully selected references are key components to a successful application. Developing a clear, comprehensive, and competitive application is estimated to take at least 25 hours, so we encourage you to start this process as soon as possible.
We suggest you complete the ‘Personal Information’ and ‘Recommendation’ sections of the application first. We require that all recommenders use the online system. You are responsible for ensuring that your application and three letters of recommendation are submitted by the deadline.
The application has six major sections:
- Personal Information
- Recommendations
- Declarations
- Resume
- Essays
- Certification
Applications will not be complete until both the application and three recommendations have been submitted online. Only applications completed by the January 5, 2024 deadline will be considered. You must use the online system to apply. We do not accept any application submissions by post, fax, or email.
If you have any technical questions or need assistance, please email technical support at WHFApplication@opm.gov. If you have general questions about the program please email WhiteHouseFellows@who.eop.gov or call the program office at 202-395-4522.