Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Activist Institute?
The Activist Institute is a semester-long program for students looking to join the growing network of progressive leaders across the country. 15-20 students live side-by-side in one of our Institute houses, each which are focused on a separate political issue. Each student is given an internship at one of our partnership organizations and spends the majority of each day at the internship. At the house, activities, workshops, and field trips are scheduled every day relating to the political issue of the house. Students are required to attend three activities per week to remain in the house. The idea is to give students a more holistic internship experience. At The Activist Institute, participants will learn practical organizing, advocacy, and strategic communications skills that will help them develop their leadership abilities as a new generation of progressive policy activists.
Where is The Activist Institute located?
The first Activist Institute house is located in Washington, D.C. and focuses on Energy, Environment, and Sustainability. We see a future in which there are Activist Institutes in major cities across the United States. Please see our Future Houses page for more information.
Who's behind the program and why are you doing this?
The Activist Institute is a project founded by Becca Russell-Einhorn and Rachel Fauber. The two met over the summer of 2009 while interning at the Center for American Progress in Washington DC. They both have a soft spot for intern culture and the city and believe every one should have the opportunity to be an intern and explore a new city.
Is the Activist Institute looking for funders?
As a non-profit organization, we exist through donations, grants, and with the help of student tuition. If you'd like to help us out, please see our donations page.
What sorts of organizations do you work with?
Our partner organizations vary. Most are also non-profit organizations, although a few are not. These organizations are big names with big ideas about how to push for change.
Is age or experience a factor in your selection process?
The Activist Institute accepts students who have finished at least one year of college and are either still in college, or have just finished their senior year.
Do I need to send in a resume and a cover letter?
Each applicant is required to include a resume and a cover letter along with their application. These documents can be sent toApplications@ActivistInstitute.org. Please see our application page for more information.
Can I apply if I'm not from the United States?
You can only apply if you have permission to work in the United States as it will be nearly impossible to secure you an internship without a work permit.
Do you require previous internship experience?
We do not require previous internship experience, but we do look for applicants with competitive resumes. Previous internships can help make an applicant competitive, but so can on-campus work. We're looking for motivated students with a strong work ethic.
How much does it cost to attend The Activist Institute?
The Activist Institute is priced at $2,000 for an 11-week summer semester and $3,000 for a 16-week spring or fall semester. Please see our tuition page for more information.
Why do you encourage your applicants to fundraise for tuition?
Living in a city for a summer or a semester is expensive. We try our best to make this experience affordable, but there is still a cost. We want our Institute to be available to students of all income levels, so we encourage all of our students to fundraise for their tuition as a way of evening the playing field.
Do you provide need-based financial aid?
We do have some financial aid available. We evaluate each applicant on a case-by-case basis. Please see our tuition page for more information.
When is the deadline to apply and what's the overall timeline?
Applications open on September 1st and close on December 1st. Students are notified by e-mail on or before December 30th about their application status and individuals are notified if they have been chosen for phone interviews. Phone interviews take place between January 1st and February 1st. Students are notified on February 1st if they are accepted to an Institute and then are notified in the coming months about their internship placement. Please see our Selection Process for a more complete answer.
What will a typical day be like for an Activist Institute Fellow?
Our students wake up early in the morning and eat breakfast from a variety of bagels, toasts, cereals, and teas that are laid out each morning by the house masters. They pack their lunches from our lunch selections and head off on public transportation (or bikes) to their internships. After eight or nine hours at their internships, they are free to roam about the city, although they must participate in three house activities a week. Dinner is always provided and is cooked family-style in the house and eaten family-style in the living room. After dinner the house activity takes place. Lectures, workshops, and film screenings take place inside the house, while other activities take place across the city at other non-profits, museums, etc.
Where will we all live?
Good question. The house, of course!
Who can I contact if I have more questions?
Send your questions to Info@ActivistInstitute.org or visit our Contact Us page.
The Activist Institute is a semester-long program for students looking to join the growing network of progressive leaders across the country. 15-20 students live side-by-side in one of our Institute houses, each which are focused on a separate political issue. Each student is given an internship at one of our partnership organizations and spends the majority of each day at the internship. At the house, activities, workshops, and field trips are scheduled every day relating to the political issue of the house. Students are required to attend three activities per week to remain in the house. The idea is to give students a more holistic internship experience. At The Activist Institute, participants will learn practical organizing, advocacy, and strategic communications skills that will help them develop their leadership abilities as a new generation of progressive policy activists.
Where is The Activist Institute located?
The first Activist Institute house is located in Washington, D.C. and focuses on Energy, Environment, and Sustainability. We see a future in which there are Activist Institutes in major cities across the United States. Please see our Future Houses page for more information.
Who's behind the program and why are you doing this?
The Activist Institute is a project founded by Becca Russell-Einhorn and Rachel Fauber. The two met over the summer of 2009 while interning at the Center for American Progress in Washington DC. They both have a soft spot for intern culture and the city and believe every one should have the opportunity to be an intern and explore a new city.
Is the Activist Institute looking for funders?
As a non-profit organization, we exist through donations, grants, and with the help of student tuition. If you'd like to help us out, please see our donations page.
What sorts of organizations do you work with?
Our partner organizations vary. Most are also non-profit organizations, although a few are not. These organizations are big names with big ideas about how to push for change.
Is age or experience a factor in your selection process?
The Activist Institute accepts students who have finished at least one year of college and are either still in college, or have just finished their senior year.
Do I need to send in a resume and a cover letter?
Each applicant is required to include a resume and a cover letter along with their application. These documents can be sent toApplications@ActivistInstitute.org. Please see our application page for more information.
Can I apply if I'm not from the United States?
You can only apply if you have permission to work in the United States as it will be nearly impossible to secure you an internship without a work permit.
Do you require previous internship experience?
We do not require previous internship experience, but we do look for applicants with competitive resumes. Previous internships can help make an applicant competitive, but so can on-campus work. We're looking for motivated students with a strong work ethic.
How much does it cost to attend The Activist Institute?
The Activist Institute is priced at $2,000 for an 11-week summer semester and $3,000 for a 16-week spring or fall semester. Please see our tuition page for more information.
Why do you encourage your applicants to fundraise for tuition?
Living in a city for a summer or a semester is expensive. We try our best to make this experience affordable, but there is still a cost. We want our Institute to be available to students of all income levels, so we encourage all of our students to fundraise for their tuition as a way of evening the playing field.
Do you provide need-based financial aid?
We do have some financial aid available. We evaluate each applicant on a case-by-case basis. Please see our tuition page for more information.
When is the deadline to apply and what's the overall timeline?
Applications open on September 1st and close on December 1st. Students are notified by e-mail on or before December 30th about their application status and individuals are notified if they have been chosen for phone interviews. Phone interviews take place between January 1st and February 1st. Students are notified on February 1st if they are accepted to an Institute and then are notified in the coming months about their internship placement. Please see our Selection Process for a more complete answer.
What will a typical day be like for an Activist Institute Fellow?
Our students wake up early in the morning and eat breakfast from a variety of bagels, toasts, cereals, and teas that are laid out each morning by the house masters. They pack their lunches from our lunch selections and head off on public transportation (or bikes) to their internships. After eight or nine hours at their internships, they are free to roam about the city, although they must participate in three house activities a week. Dinner is always provided and is cooked family-style in the house and eaten family-style in the living room. After dinner the house activity takes place. Lectures, workshops, and film screenings take place inside the house, while other activities take place across the city at other non-profits, museums, etc.
Where will we all live?
Good question. The house, of course!
Who can I contact if I have more questions?
Send your questions to Info@ActivistInstitute.org or visit our Contact Us page.
