Paul A. Volcker Government Internship Award: $3,000 Stipend for Students and Recent Graduates in Government Internships

The Paul A. Volcker Government Internship Award provides financial support to students and recent graduates who are pursuing internships or fellowships in government. The award offers a $3,000 stipend to help recipients gain valuable public-sector experience while developing their professional careers.

Applications are accepted three times each year, corresponding with the fall, spring and summer semesters.

For students interested in public service, government and public-sector careers, the award provides an opportunity to gain practical experience while receiving financial support during their internship.

About the Paul A. Volcker Government Internship Award

The Paul A. Volcker Government Internship Award is designed to support students and recent graduates undertaking qualifying government internships.

The award recognizes the importance of gaining practical experience in government and public service. Through the program, eligible applicants can receive a $3,000 stipend while completing an approved government internship.

The award is particularly intended to help students who may face barriers to accessing internship opportunities, including paid internships.

Award Benefits

Successful recipients receive:

• $3,000 stipend to support their government internship experience.
• An opportunity to gain practical public-sector work experience.
• Exposure to government operations and public service.
• An opportunity to develop professional skills and experience relevant to future careers in government and public service.
• Participation in a cohort of other award recipients during the relevant semester.

The award can therefore provide both financial assistance and professional development for students pursuing careers connected to public service.

Who Is Eligible to Apply?

Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements established for the award.

To qualify, applicants must:

• Be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program; or
• Be a junior or senior in an undergraduate program; or
• Have graduated within the last two years.
• Have already secured a government internship.

Applicants must have a qualifying government internship in place in order to be considered for the award.

Priority Consideration

The program gives priority to applicants who have historically experienced barriers to accessing internships or paid internship opportunities.

This includes:

• First-generation students
• Nontraditional students
• Pell Grant recipients

Meeting one of these priority characteristics does not replace the core eligibility requirements. Applicants must still meet the program’s requirements, including securing an eligible government internship.

What Counts as a Government Internship?

A key requirement of the award is that the internship must be with a qualifying government organization.

The internship employer must be one of the following:

• A local government office or agency
• A state government office or agency
• A federal government office or agency

Internships with organizations that do not fall within these categories are not eligible for the award.

Internship Time Requirements

The program also establishes minimum requirements for the amount of time interns must work.

For part-time fall and spring internships, the internship must:

• Require at least 10 hours per week
• Last for a minimum of 12 weeks

For a summer internship, the internship must:

• Require at least 15 hours per week
• Run for a minimum of 8 weeks

Applicants should ensure that their internship satisfies these requirements before applying.

Internships That Are Not Eligible

Not every internship qualifies for the Paul A. Volcker Government Internship Award.

In particular, the program states that:

• Internships at a university are not eligible.
• Internships at a nonprofit organization are not eligible.

The employer must instead be a local, state or federal government office or agency.

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How to Apply

Applicants can submit their applications through the official application form.

The application collects several categories of information, including:

1. Applicant Information

Applicants will be asked to provide their personal and relevant application information.

2. Professional Experience

Applicants must provide their professional experience, including a resume.

3. Short Answer Responses

Applicants must respond to three short-answer prompts.

Each response should be between 100 and 300 words maximum.

These responses provide applicants with an opportunity to explain their experiences, motivations and interest in public service.

4. Internship Information

Applicants must provide information about their secured government internship.

This information is important because the eligibility of the internship is a central requirement of the award.

Application Deadlines for 2026

The Paul A. Volcker Government Internship Award accepts applications during three cycles each year: summer, fall and spring.

The 2026 application schedule is:

For applicants seeking consideration in the fall 2026 cycle, the deadline is September 14, 2026.

The next listed cycle is the spring cycle, with applications opening on October 16, 2026 and closing on November 20, 2026.

What Makes a Strong Application?

The program indicates that strong applications should be:

• Well organized
• Thoughtfully composed
• Clear and authentic
• Motivated by a genuine interest in public service

Applicants should present a compelling narrative explaining the values that drive their public-service aspirations.

The program is particularly interested in seeing:

• Clarity in communication
• Authenticity
• Motivation
• An understanding of public-service values
• Resilience
• Determination
• A demonstrated commitment to public service

Applicants should therefore use their written responses to clearly communicate why public service matters to them and how their internship connects to their longer-term goals.

When Will Applicants Hear Back?

Applicants can generally expect to receive a decision approximately three weeks after the application deadline.

Award recipients typically receive their funds no later than one month after decisions are announced.

Applicants should therefore monitor their communication channels after submitting their application and ensure that the information provided in their application is accurate.

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Conditions for Award Recipients

Selected recipients have several responsibilities associated with accepting the award.

Each award recipient must:

1. Sign an acknowledgement letter.
2. Complete a W-9 form.
3. Provide a headshot for promotional purposes.
4. Provide a biography for promotional purposes.
5. Participate in a virtual check-in with the awardee cohort for that semester.
6. Complete an exit survey.

These requirements are intended to help the program support awardees throughout their internship experience and gather feedback about the program.

Application Preparation Tips

Applicants should ensure that their application clearly connects their government internship with their interest in public service.

Before submitting an application, applicants should:

• Confirm that their internship is with a local, state or federal government office or agency.
• Verify that their internship meets the required weekly hours and duration.
• Prepare an updated resume.
• Carefully answer all three short-answer questions.
• Stay within the 100–300 word limit for each response.
• Clearly communicate their motivation for pursuing public service.
• Highlight experiences that demonstrate resilience, determination and commitment.
• Review the application carefully before submitting it.

Application Link

Interested applicants can access the application form through the official award application portal:

Apply for the Paul A. Volcker Government Internship Award

Conclusion

The Paul A. Volcker Government Internship Award offers a valuable opportunity for eligible students and recent graduates who have secured government internships and want to gain practical experience in public service.

Through a $3,000 stipend, the award helps provide financial support while recipients undertake qualifying internships with local, state or federal government offices and agencies.

The program also places priority on students who have historically faced barriers to accessing internships, including first-generation students, nontraditional students and Pell Grant recipients.

Applicants should carefully review the eligibility requirements, confirm that their internship meets the program’s definition of a government internship and prepare thoughtful responses that demonstrate their commitment to public service.

For the fall 2026 cycle, applications close on September 14, 2026. The following spring cycle opens on October 16, 2026, with a deadline of November 20, 2026.

For more global grants, scholarships, fellowships, internships, jobs, conferences, competitions, and other career opportunities for young people, visit the Opportunities for Youth (OFY) website at www.opportunitiesforyouth.org.