You’re a recent college graduate (or about to be one), dedicated to serving others and looking to build your skills and network in civic education, nonprofit work, or the realms of politics and policy. Join Close Up for our Civic Fellowship, a life-changing year of engaging young people in the political process, breaking down the barriers of polarization, and making your mark as an aspiring educator, issue advocate, or nonprofit leader. This unique civic engagement fellowship gives you the tools and experience to make a lasting impact while growing professionally.
Applications for the 2025-2026 Civic Fellowship are now closed, but we encourage you to fill out an interest form if you’d like to apply in 2026!
Have you already graduated from college? Looking to begin your career sooner? Check out our Civic Program Instructor position!
Get to know our 2025/26 Civic Fellows!
Cameron (Cam) Baker
American University
Annie Elburn
Salisbury University
Logan Feinberg
American University
Alex Fisher
Boston College
Olivia Francisco
Saint Michael’s College
Punnammal Gross
College of William & Mary
Jared Jones
Brown University
Melanie Joseph
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Myrissa McFolling-Young
University of Delaware
Sophia Olivia
Xavier University
Phillip Pritchett
Kennesaw State University
Gabriella (Gabby) Ramasci
American University
Matt Shinnick
Georgetown University
Henry Su
American University
Mackenzie (Kenni) Turner
Indiana University
The Civic Fellow Experience
As a Civic Fellow, you’ll become part of Close Up’s tightly knit team of civic educators, working together to serve young people of all backgrounds in a fast-paced environment.
You’ll earn a salary and benefits as you:
- Lead civic education programs in our nation’s capital for diverse students from across the country, helping them discuss and debate the issues that matter to them.
- Meet and build relationships with elected officials, nonprofit leaders, and policy experts.
- Work closely with Close Up’s partners, from Bank of America to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, to serve participants in special-focus youth summits, including those for Native American students and migrant and immigrant youth.
- Lead students in explorations of historical cities up and down the east coast, including New York City, Philadelphia, and Williamsburg.
- Participate in professional development sessions with skilled educators.
- Collaborate with Curriculum leaders to produce content for students across our programs.
What You Gain
A competitive salary
Generous benefits (including medical and dental insurance)
An extensive network of alumni, schools, and leaders in politics, policy, and the nonprofit world
Eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program
Comprehensive training and coaching
Leadership and skill development
Expertise in civics and educational systems and practices
Eligibility for the Close Up Civic Educator Award
Frequently Asked Questions
What will my year as a Civic Fellow look like?
What is the day-to-day life of a Civic Fellow?
The Civic Fellowship is an immersive experience for people who appreciate teamwork and are excited by the intensity of a fast-paced environment. Most of the time, you’ll be staffing multi-day civic education programs in Washington, D.C., leading high school or middle school students through study visits to monuments and memorials, meetings with elected officials, and engaging simulations, discussions, and debates. Your work with students will provide you with the firsthand knowledge needed to assist in efforts to study and improve the civic learning outcomes of our work with diverse students.
What would my hours be?
The hours of this position vary and it’s not your typical 9-5. When you’re staffing a student program, the hours align with those of the specific program (often Sunday through Thursday, with days beginning at breakfast around 8am and ending at room check around 10:30pm).
What are the students like?
Close Up serves young people from all communities and backgrounds, regardless of race, religion, gender, socioeconomic level, or academic standing. Our participants come from all 50 states, U.S. territories, rural and urban communities, the left, the right, and everywhere in between. This diversity is what makes our programs great, opening students’ eyes to new perspectives and ways of thinking.
What benefits will I receive?
In addition to a salary (paid twice per month), Civic Fellows receive:
- Generous benefits (including medical and dental insurance, no-cost life/AD&D insurance, FSA plan, retirement plan, all meals while working on program, mass transit subsidy, monthly cell-phone stipend, and the opportunity to earn free graduate credit)
- Sick leave and built-in, paid breaks around Thanksgiving and at the end of December
- Exposure to elected officials, policy experts, and issue advocates
- An extensive network of alumni, schools, and leaders in politics, policy, and the nonprofit world
- Eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program
- Comprehensive training and coaching
- Leadership and skill development
- Expertise in civics and educational systems and practices
- Eligibility for the Close Up Civic Educator Award
Can I take this position if I’m still a college student?
About Close Up
Close Up is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, civic education organization that informs, inspires, and empowers young people to become active citizens. Since 1971, we have partnered with school districts nationwide to serve more than one million students and educators through experiential learning programs in our nation’s capital and in local communities, professional development, and curriculum design and consulting. Our goal is to connect what students learn in class to the real world around them and help them articulate their own views, listen to those of others, and engage with people of different backgrounds with tolerance and understanding. To learn more, visit www.CloseUp.org.
