Innovation Fellowship

A fellowship for Gen Z and millennial lawmakers

About the Innovation Fellowship

The Innovation Fellowship is an immersive two-year experience designed for young lawmakers passionate about shaping a better future through innovative policy-making. Each Innovation Fellowship will invite 10-15 cross-partisan young lawmakers to dive deep into solutions to critical problems, frame the next steps in the context of long-term outcomes, and identify opportunities for action in their state. In a culture of continuous learning, Fellows have access to experts, research, best practices, and each other — making their contributions to the legislature all the more powerful.

Upon completing the Innovation Fellowship, each lawmaker will have successfully introduced a bipartisan piece of legislation in their area of focus, backed by insights from policy experts and collaborative support from fellow legislators nationwide. This transformative experience empowers young lawmakers with the expertise, connections, and strategic foresight needed to effect significant and innovative policy changes in their states.

In 2025, the Innovation Fellowship will have four tracks: Civic Innovation, Energy & Environment, Prenatal-to-Three, and Criminal Justice.

Purpose

To invite lawmakers to learn from and connect with experts in their fields in an intimate setting where they can pose state-specific questions and get policy support.
To connect lawmakers from across the country interested in a particular policy area and provide them a space to support one another.
To turn policy research and knowledge into actionable legislative solutions.

Eligibility

Program Timeline

The program starts with a Futures Thinking Forum, where you will learn the basics of strategic foresight—a skill used by both Fortune 500 CEOs and the military to make decisions when the future is uncertain. During the first half of the year, you will be invited to monthly virtual meetings with experts from industry, academia, think tanks, and advocacy organizations who will dive deep into their research and share bipartisan perspectives. Over the course of the Fellowship, each lawmaker is invited to craft legislation related to their study area and recruit bipartisan support for their bill.

The first year of the Innovation Fellowship will conclude with an experiential learning trip. Past Seminars included a visit to the National Renewable Energy Lab in Golden, CO, and a Democracy Roundtable hosted in partnership with the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library outside Malibu, CA. You will see policy in action and identify ways legislation can impact communities.

The second year of the Innovation Fellowship builds on the foundational knowledge and networks established in the first year. This phase is designed to provide ongoing support and guidance to young lawmakers as they transition from the conceptual stages of policy-making to the practical aspects of passing and implementing legislation.

Quarterly workshops led by policy experts will help Innovation Fellows refine their legislative proposals. These workshops will cover advanced topics such as stakeholder engagement, policy impact analysis, and strategic communications. Fellows will have opportunities to present their legislative proposals, receive feedback, and strategize coalition-building across party lines.

Schedule

Futures Thinking Forum | Wednesday, November 19-20 | Washington, DC
Monthly Meetings | One-hour virtual meetings
- Each month, individual cohorts of fellows will meet with experts in their field to learn about their policy focus and have the opportunity to ask in-depth questions in a closed-door environment.
- Upon acceptance, a Doodle Poll will determine the date and time based on cohort availability.
  - January
  - February
  - March
  - April
  - May
  - June
July 2025 Future Summit
- Each year, Future Caucus hosts the largest gathering of young lawyers in the country. As Innovation Fellows, you are pre-accepted to join us for the 2025 Future Summit.
August Monthly Meeting
September 2025 Experiential Learning Trip
- Past Seminars included a visit to the National Renewable Energy Lab in Golden, CO, and a Democracy Roundtable hosted in partnership with the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library outside Malibu, CA.
Quarterly Meetings | 2.5-hour virtual meetings

Learning Outcomes

Utilize Strategic Foresight: Understand and apply the basics of strategic foresight to make informed decisions in uncertain futures. Analyze trends and anticipate future challenges in policy-making to craft resilient solutions.
Enhanced Coalition-Building Skills: Develop strategies to foster cross-party alliances and diverse partnerships. Learn issue-specific best practices for effective collaboration and bipartisan action.
Deepened Policy Expertise: Gain in-depth knowledge in specialized policy areas. Engage with experts and access cutting-edge research to inform policy decisions.
Innovative Policy Solutions: Identify critical problems and frame solutions with long-term outcomes in mind. Design and implement innovative, actionable policy plans that address pressing state issues.
Strengthened Legislative Impact: Enhance legislative effectiveness by exchanging best practices with fellow young lawmakers.

Capstone Project

Throughout the course of the Innovation Fellowship, we invite lawmakers to put their study into practice by introducing a bipartisan bill specific to their area of study. First, we will spend time brainstorming effective bipartisan solutions in the policy area you are focused on. Next, we will connect you with resources and expertise to help inform the bill language. Then, we encourage you to recruit a member of the other party to sign on as a sponsor or co-sponsor so that you have bipartisan support for your bill before introducing it.

Apply for the 2025-2026 Innovation Fellowship

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