Undergraduate Public Service Scholarship

The Undergraduate Public Service Scholarship supports female undergraduate students who are applying to or have secured an unpaid internship in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Internships in Maryland and Virginia qualify, as long as they are near Washington, D.C. Applicants must be rising juniors, seniors, or be recent college graduates (graduated no more than 10 months from the application deadline). There is no requirement regarding the applicant’s major or focus of study, as long as the internship focus requirements are met. We anticipate accepting four applicants each year as scholarship recipients, or “scholars.” This number may be adjusted according to the volume of applications received.

If you have been accepted to a graduate program but have not yet started, please apply to the Undergraduate Public Service Scholarship. However, if you have questions or specific circumstances that should be considered, please contact us.

Internships must focus on government, public service, nonprofit endeavors, and/or women’s rights. The intention of the scholarship is to cover the cost of living and some travel expenses for those who otherwise would not be able to afford such an opportunity. Applicants must therefore demonstrate financial need within their application.

The financial award consists of $1,600 per month (4 weeks) for the length of the individual’s internship, and will be calculated for each accepted scholar individually. Each scholar is assigned at least one mentor to lend guidance on entering and navigating her profession and Washington. Additionally, the Foundation is happy to informally connect the scholar with others that we feel would be useful contacts outside of the assigned mentor(s), as another opportunity for networking within her chosen profession or interest.

The B.A. Rudolph Foundation is committed to the principle of diversity in all areas. In that spirit, we are particularly dedicated to reaching applicants from a broad spectrum of qualified people. Applicants with diverse backgrounds, experiences, ability and perspectives are encouraged to apply.

Eligibility Criteria

1. Female or identifies as female.
2. Either a rising junior, rising senior, or recently completed her undergraduate degree (graduated no more than 10 months from the application deadline).
3. Applied or accepted to an internship located in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Internships in Maryland and Virginia qualify, as long as they are near Washington, D.C.
4. Internship must be centered on public service: government, public service, nonprofit endeavors, and/or women’s rights. Due to our 501(c)3 nonprofit status, we cannot support internships for specific political campaigns, political action committees, the Democratic National Committee, or Republican National Committee.
5. Commencing internship on or after May 1^st, completing internship no later than September 30^th of the same year, and lasting at least five weeks (applicants with internships starting shortly before May 1, or ending shortly after September 30 may apply, but to be considered it should be a summer internship, not spring or fall). The Foundation can fund a maximum of 12 weeks of the scholar’s internship.
6. All internships must be full-time (at least 30 hours per week).