Program Assistant Fellowship at Friends Committee on National Legislation

Chosen applicants work as full-time staff members of FCNL from September 2025 through July 2026, collaborating with key staff members to build expertise in advocacy from a public interest perspective. Benefits include salary, health care, paid vacation, and sick leave.

Fellows work under the title “Program Assistant” and work directly with FCNL staff, gaining first-hand knowledge of the legislative process and the organizing and communications work that is necessary for policy change.

The mission of this program is to provide young adults with an opportunity to start their careers in Washington, DC, and in the world of policymaking/advocacy. This might mean that a young adult is beginning their professional journey with us, or it might mean that a young adult has experience in other areas and comes to us with a desire to learn new skills. We will seek candidates who have shown a marked interest in pursuing FCNL core values through their work/studies (war-free world, Earth restored, equitable and just society, individual potential fulfilled). We will also seek candidates from ethnically, religiously, and racially diverse backgrounds. 

This program will provide a deeper understanding of faith-based advocacy, professional development opportunities, and hopefully a connection to our Quaker roots/values. This program will also seek to develop a cohort of Program Assistants, facilitating opportunities to build community between participants.

TYPICAL RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

• Advocacy: Supports an assigned portfolio to lobby Congress and build grassroots campaigns to encourage constituents and members of Congress to take action by providing them with information on critical issues.
• Outreach: Help build democracy by organizing campaigns and workshops that empower people around the country to engage with elected officials in Washington.
• Communication: Draft action alerts, letters, and background reports to keep constituents informed and to express FCNL’s position to Congress and the administration
• Research: Attend congressional committee hearings and coalition meetings and analyze documents and reports.
• Connect Faith and Action: Live your values by advocating for issues of peace and justice.

In the Fellowship program, you can work as a Program Assistant. These policy positions will work closely with our legislative teams on lobbying members of Congress, attending coalition meetings, writing bill analyses, training grassroots members to lobby, etc. The issue areas Program Assistants can expect to work on include:

• Justice Reform
• Sustainable Energy and Environment
• Middle East Policy
• Peacebuilding
• Nuclear Disarmament and Pentagon Spending
• Militarism and Human Rights
• Economic Justice
• Migration Policy
• Native American Advocacy

Please note in any given year we may have different portfolios available.

Minimum Qualifications:

• An 11-month commitment is expected – candidates must be eligible to work in the U.S. without sponsorship from September 2025 – July 2026.
• Demonstrated research, analytical, and writing skills.
• Strong interest in a career in lobbying, public policy, or advocacy.
• Highly motivated and proven ability to manage numerous tasks and deadlines.
• Readiness to take initiative and responsibility.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 1-2 years of relevant experience in public policy analysis, political and social action, peace and justice education, community organizing, volunteer community service, or lobbying.
• Familiarity with congressional procedures
• Collaborative and consultative approach to preventing and solving problems

Job Commitments:

• Available to live within commuting distance to Washington, DC for the entirety of the Program Assistant Fellowship.
• Commit to attending the entirety of the Fellowship. Program Assistants are responsible for making their own housing arrangements - FCNL does not cover the cost of housing.
• Engage with Quaker spaces, which includes visiting at least one Quaker Meeting to connect with our faith-based network and become familiar with Quaker practices
• Available for in-person support at Annual Meeting/QPPI conference November 13-17, 2025 and Spring Lobby Weekend conference in March 2026.

Compensation & Benefits:

• PA's are paid hourly $24.85 on the basis of a 37.5 hour work week
• Relocation reimbursement within the scope of our policy
• Employer retirement contributions
• Employer-paid healthcare, dental, and vision insurance
• Generous paid time off
• Commuter Benefits with WMATA and Capital Bikeshare
• Monthly Internet & Telephone stipend
• Wellness Initiatives
• Professional development fund to advance your career
• And many perks through our Benefit Hub!

Application Materials:

• A cover letter telling us about yourself, why you want to work at FCNL, and what experiences you would bring to advance the work of FCNL. The first page should include a copy of your answers to the application questions.
• Resume (including education, work, extracurricular, and volunteer experience).

The deadline application deadline is January 2, 2025 12:59pm. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Non-U.S. applicants with a completed university education in the United States are eligible for this fellowship using Optional Practical Training (OPT).