What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lonnie Dounn Congressional Fellowship position at J Street?
Position Title: Lonnie Dounn Congressional Fellowship
Reports to: J Street U Operations and Programming Coordinator
Location: Washington, DC (in person)
Internship duration: June-August 2026 (8 weeks total)
Hours: Full-time
Fellowship Stipend: $600 weekly living stipend
Looking to make change and make connections in Congress and Israel policy? Apply for J Street’s Lonnie Dounn Congressional Fellowship!
The Position
J Street is seeking undergraduate students to participate in its 2026 Congressional Fellowship Program. Successful applicants will have the opportunity to work in the offices of members of Congress and learn about the inner workings of the House of Representatives or Senate.
Fellows will be part of a cohort which will participate in special seminar programming with J Street staff. In these seminars, Fellows will gain a deeper understanding about the major role Congress plays in shaping US-Israel policy.
Responsibilities May Include
Fellowship Stipend Amount and Time Commitment
The fellowship is a full time, 40 hour per week time commitment. Fellows will receive $600 weekly living stipend for a total of $4,800 over the course of the 8 week fellowship.
Further assistance with housing expenses is available as needed.
To Apply for the Position
We are excited to receive applications from a broad range of applicants as we grow our organization to better reflect the diversity of the communities that care about our mission. While we will prioritize applications from current J Street U students, all motivated pro-Israel pro-peace students are encouraged to apply. Applicants are considered on a rolling
basis.
Please Submit The Items Listed Below
At J Street we value an inclusive, welcoming, and diverse workplace. We are an equal opportunity employer committed to understanding and valuing each other’s perspectives at all levels of the organization thereby creating a culture that allows us to better serve our employees, and the communities we work with. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law. This policy applies with regard to all aspects of one’s employment and fellowship, including hiring, transfer, promotion, compensation, eligibility for benefits, and termination.
Admission decisions will be made on a rolling basis. We encourage applicants to submit their materials as early as possible to ensure ideal placement in a Congressional office. Applicants who move on to further consideration may be contacted for a telephone interview after review of their application, and may need to submit additional materials.
Please note: Upon admission into the program, you may be required to compose and submit additional materials (for example, recommendation letters, office-specific cover letters, writing tests or online applications) for the Congressional offices at which your candidacy is under consideration.
Reports to: J Street U Operations and Programming Coordinator
Location: Washington, DC (in person)
Internship duration: June-August 2026 (8 weeks total)
Hours: Full-time
Fellowship Stipend: $600 weekly living stipend
Looking to make change and make connections in Congress and Israel policy? Apply for J Street’s Lonnie Dounn Congressional Fellowship!
The Position
J Street is seeking undergraduate students to participate in its 2026 Congressional Fellowship Program. Successful applicants will have the opportunity to work in the offices of members of Congress and learn about the inner workings of the House of Representatives or Senate.
Fellows will be part of a cohort which will participate in special seminar programming with J Street staff. In these seminars, Fellows will gain a deeper understanding about the major role Congress plays in shaping US-Israel policy.
Responsibilities May Include
- Supporting the day-to-day function of a Congressional office by performing tasks such as
- Constituent support and outreach
- Researching bills and letters circulating in Congress
- Attending hearings and briefings
- Performing administrative and organizational tasks
- Attending seminars and professional gatherings organized by J Street.
- Drafting a report cataloging experiences in the Fellowship
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Excellent organizational skills
- Strong relational and interpersonal skills
- Careful attention to detail
- Interest in and/or knowledge of Congress
- Interest in and/or knowledge of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Fellowship Stipend Amount and Time Commitment
The fellowship is a full time, 40 hour per week time commitment. Fellows will receive $600 weekly living stipend for a total of $4,800 over the course of the 8 week fellowship.
Further assistance with housing expenses is available as needed.
To Apply for the Position
We are excited to receive applications from a broad range of applicants as we grow our organization to better reflect the diversity of the communities that care about our mission. While we will prioritize applications from current J Street U students, all motivated pro-Israel pro-peace students are encouraged to apply. Applicants are considered on a rolling
basis.
Please Submit The Items Listed Below
- Cover letter that explains why you are interested in this unique experience
- Resume
- List of three references
- Answer the prompt in the following section
At J Street we value an inclusive, welcoming, and diverse workplace. We are an equal opportunity employer committed to understanding and valuing each other’s perspectives at all levels of the organization thereby creating a culture that allows us to better serve our employees, and the communities we work with. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law. This policy applies with regard to all aspects of one’s employment and fellowship, including hiring, transfer, promotion, compensation, eligibility for benefits, and termination.
Admission decisions will be made on a rolling basis. We encourage applicants to submit their materials as early as possible to ensure ideal placement in a Congressional office. Applicants who move on to further consideration may be contacted for a telephone interview after review of their application, and may need to submit additional materials.
Please note: Upon admission into the program, you may be required to compose and submit additional materials (for example, recommendation letters, office-specific cover letters, writing tests or online applications) for the Congressional offices at which your candidacy is under consideration.
Salary : $600
