Program Assistant Fellowship 2026-2027

For more than five decades, FCNL has invested in young leaders who are passionate about advancing change. Through the Program Assistant Fellowship, participants work as full-time staff members of FCNL from September 2026 through July 2027 and collaborate with experienced advocates to build expertise in lobbying and advocacy from a public interest perspective.  

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, D.C., 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 professional development opportunities for its participants, a deeper understanding of faith-based advocacy, 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: Support 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.
• Hospitality: Program Assistants take weekly shifts at the front desk to ensure a proper welcome to all office guests and to receive any phone calls from constituents. 

In the Fellowship program, you can work as a Program Assistant on seven different teams. 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 portfolios that you can work with include: (You may be asked to work on more than one portfolio.)  

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

Minimum Qualifications:

• An 11-month commitment is expected – candidates must be eligible to work in the U.S. without sponsorship from September 2026 – July 2027.
• 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.
• Comfortable working in an office environment that reflects the Quaker testimonies of peace, equality, simplicity, and truth, and working within the Quaker, nonpartisan process of FCNL. 
• Commitment to involving, promoting, and respecting participants from various backgrounds and perspectives. 

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.
• Proficiency with Quorum, or similar experience, is a plus.
• Familiarity with congressional procedures.
• Collaborative and consultative approach to preventing and solving problems.
• Very well-organized, detail-oriented, thorough, and responsive.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and analytical skills. Able to timely manage priorities, projects, and workflow. 

Job Commitments:

• Available to live within commuting distance to Washington, DC for the entirety of the Program Assistant Fellowship. The person is expected to work in person on a hybrid basis from our Washington, D.C. office. More time in the office may be necessary, depending upon events in Congress, coalition partners, and the Administration. 
• Commit to attending the entirety of the Fellowship, ending July 2027. 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 12-14, 2026 and Friends Changemaker Weekend conference in March 2027. 

Compensation & Benefits:

• PA/Fellows are paid hourly $24.85 on the basis of a 37.5 hour work week
• Relocation reimbursement within the scope of our policy
• 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

Application Materials

A completed application will include:

• 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 the organization. The first page should include a copy of your answers to the application questions.
• Resume (including education, work, extracurricular, and volunteer experience).

The deadline for all applications and materials is January 5, 2026 at 5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time Zone. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

As part of our AJEDI commitment, FCNL strives to make market job offers that are market competitive while maintaining the equilibrium with internal equity of the team. We believe the world can be a better place when candidates do not have to negotiate their job offer and can trust the best possible offer is being made. For this reason, all FCNL job offers are final. FCNL is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity workplace. All Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

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