IDEA is proud to announce it is launching a new Summer Democracy Fellows program, offering students first-hand experience working in Washington, D.C. The program provides an opportunity to engage directly with policymakers and build knowledge about democratic innovations that elected officials can use to improve policymaking and increase the public’s trust.

IDEA Associate Director Amy Lee explains: 

“Our goal for these fellows is to get them embedded in different offices on the Hill where they can really experience what working in a congressional office is like,” says IDEA Associate Director Amy Lee. “It’s also a chance for IDEA to have someone working in an office who has knowledge about democratic innovations and can help the office get familiar with them. We know it will be a valuable experience for the students, and we also hope to use fellows’ feedback to tailor our work so that there are fewer barriers to offices innovating.”

Fellows will work in Senate, House, or committee offices and gain practical exposure to federal law-making processes. IDEA will provide travel funds, housing, and a stipend for Fellows, as well as providing mentorship, educational development opportunities, and support for professional networking. Placements may be in Democratic, Republican, or nonpartisan offices. Fellows must be available from the first week of June through the first week of August 2026.

IDEA Senior Fellow Maia Comeau adds:

"I’m so happy to be part of an organization that is really willing to invest in supporting Congress in so many ways,” IDEA Senior Fellow Maia Comeau says. “In addition to the Deliberative Town Hall field experiments, these Fellows will be another great way to introduce and incentivize innovation in Congress.”

Applications are now open. The deadline for applications is  Wednesday, December 17, 2025. Decisions are expected in early January 2026, and students will be matched with an office or committee in the spring.