Summer 2021 Scholar Program

The Free the Facts (FtF) Scholar Program provides rising seniors, recent college graduates, and graduate students with the opportunity to propose, develop, and implement a project that serves the organization’s educational and leadership development objectives. 

About the 2021 Scholar Program

Scholar projects are like independent study courses; they are largely self-directed and expected to produce a tangible product that our organization can fold into or add to its current programmatic offerings. This year, we are accepting project proposals in the following areas:

• Policy Education - Projects designed to engage a high school and/or college-age audience and:
• Introduce or deepen audience understanding of how public policy is developed and/or assessed at the state and federal level;
• Introduce or deepen audience understanding of FtF’s core public policy issues (Social Security, Medicare/health care, student loans, the federal budget, pension programs);
• Introduce or deepen audience understanding of public policy topics/problems related to FtF’s core public policy issues. (Note that the applicant’s project proposal must clearly explain the relationship between the policy area to be addressed and FtF’s core issues.)
• Engagement and Expansion - Projects designed to: 
• Enhance online outreach and engagement with key audiences in the 14-35 year old demographic; 
• Broaden the FtF network geographically with an emphasis on college and university campus outreach; and/or 
• Enhance outreach and engagement with emerging young leaders in communities of color, including individuals attending Historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCUs) or students working with organizations committed to the inclusion and full participation of groups historically underrepresented in public policy development and public service positions.
• Early Career Development - Programming and initiatives designed to:
• Serve the early career needs of FtF leadership program alumni (Ambassadors, Scholars, Interns, and Fellows who have graduated from college); and
• Provide recent graduates pursuing a career in public service, public affairs, politics, and/or government at the state or federal level with professional skills development, continuing education related to their field, and opportunities to expand their professional network.

Examples of past Scholar projects include: implementing a new policy tour serving HBCU campuses, developing and recording a criminal justice reform podcast, and creating interactive quiz features for the FtF website.

Program Details

Free the Facts’ summer leadership programs will begin on June 9th and end on August 6th, 2021. However, Scholars may have the opportunity to extend their tenure with Free the Facts into the fall. 

Scholars will work approximately 30 hours a week at a stipend of $1,200 a month. In light of ongoing concerns about COVID-19, Scholars accepted for the Summer of 2021 will work remotely, collaborating with members of FtF’s senior leadership to refine their proposal and then implement their project. 

During their tenure, Scholars also have access to our professional network and exclusive programs and events that are only available to individuals participating in FtF’s leadership programs.

Application Process & Evaluation

Applications are judged based upon the proposed project's relevance to Free the Facts' mission of sharing policy information with Americans ages 14 to 35 and empowering them to participate in civic debate and public policy reform. In addition to their application, project proposal, and resume, applicants must provide 2 letters of recommendation. Applications for Summer 2021 will close on April 2nd.