Since 1985, the Foundation has awarded fellowships to highly motivated students in pursuit of a career in professional advocacy through government relations and lobbying. The Foundation considers its Bryce Harlow Fellows to be the future of professional advocacy — those who are committed to practicing the art and science of lobbying with the highest level of integrity.
Is the Bryce Harlow Fellowship Right for You?
You are a BRYCE HARLOW FELLOWSHIP candidate if you:
Seek a challenging career advocating policy positions to government officials on behalf of a client, corporation, trade association or interest group in an effort to influence legislation or a regulation;
Understand that sound, truthful, and sometimes technical arguments play a vital role in the development of good public policy;
Enjoy monitoring and interpreting policy developments within the executive and legislative branches of government that may be of interest in the future to your company or organization; and
Believe that professionalism, subject matter expertise, integrity and compliance with the laws are the basic tenets of a successful career in lobbying.
Fellowships are awarded to individuals who work full-time and undertake graduate level studies on a part-time basis. Graduate programs may include, but are not limited to, public policy, law, and business. The $9,000 award will help defray tuition costs and will be paid directly to the university in two installments. In addition to the monetary award, fellows also have a unique opportunity to participate in the Bryce Harlow Foundation Mentoring Program, an offering that pairs a fellow with one of the Foundation’s board members. Board members are highly visible in the Washington public policy arena and are successful business-government relations professionals. Past mentors have included senior executives at Target, Google, the National Restaurant Association, and Holland & Knight LLP. Mentors offer a diverse portfolio of expertise and are invaluable resources for fellows and alumni. Mentors champion a fellow’s career aspirations, providing professional development and career-specific networking opportunities in the business-government relations field.
“A wholehearted THANK YOU for the opportunity to be part of this amazing program. The Fellowship helped me grow as an advocate, and I learned so much from my mentors. I really appreciate the Foundation and look forward to staying in touch with the BHF community. ” — Ivan Thirion, Bryce Harlow Alumni Fellow
Bryce Harlow 2023-24 Fellows
Students selected as Bryce Harlow Fellows are encouraged to re-apply for the award during consecutive years in which they are eligible. The process begins early each year with the availability of on-line application materials and ends in August with the announcement of the new class of fellows.
Here’s what a few past and present Fellows have to say about the Fellowship:
Eligibility Requirements
In order to be eligible for the Bryce Harlow Fellowship:
Students must be accepted for admission to a graduate degree program at an accepted university. Those students attending a different university who meet all other criteria may contact the Foundation by email to be considered for the fellowship.
Students must plan to be enrolled in part-time graduate studies for credit at the participating university for the next academic year.
Students who are accepted to an accredited graduate program but have not yet started their first year are also allowed to apply for the fellowship. (Please include a letter of acceptance to graduate school in place of your graduate transcripts.)
Students must be employed full-time throughout the Fellowship year. Temporary work, part-time work, and internships do not qualify.
Applicants must demonstrate strong interest in and ability for a career in government advocacy and lobbying.
Applicants must grant the Foundation permission to publish their names, photos and employers.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Application Deadline
We are no longer accepting applications for the 2024-25 academic year. Please check back in January, 2025 to apply for the academic year beginning fall 2025.
Selection Process
The Bryce Harlow Foundation Fellowship Committee will review and select finalists from all of the applications received by the deadline. The committee will then interview the finalists, and make final fellowship decisions for the class of Bryce Harlow Fellows.
Selection Criteria
Strong applicants will demonstrate:
Strong and sincere interest in a career in government advocacy and lobbying
Professional achievement and leadership potential
Academic achievement and potential
Knowledge of the advocacy process and Bryce Harlow himself
Financial need
Notification
Applicants whose files have been received by the deadline will be notified of the Foundation’s decision by early August. The first installment of funds will be paid directly to the university in mid-August. The second installment of funds will be paid in December/January.
Mentoring Program, an offering that pairs a fellow with one of the Foundation’s board members. Board members are highly visible in the Washington public policy arena and are successful business-government relations professionals. Past mentors have included senior executives at Target, Google, the National Restaurant Association, and Holland & Knight LLP. Mentors offer a diverse portfolio of expertise and are invaluable resources for fellows and alumni. Mentors champion a fellow’s career aspirations, providing professional development and career-specific networking opportunities in the business-government relations field.
