Public Policy & International Affairs (PPIA) Fellowship Program

What Public Policy & International Affairs (PPIA) Fellowship Program does

Public Policy & International Affairs (PPIA) Fellowship Program is a 501(c) nonprofit founded in 1980 and headquartered in Washington, DC (712 H Street NE #1214). The organization prepares emerging leaders for careers in public service through a portfolio of interconnected programs, with its flagship being the Junior Summer Institute (JSI) — a fully-funded, seven-week summer fellowship hosted at Harvard Kennedy School, Princeton School of Public & International Affairs, and the University of Michigan Ford School of Public Policy. PPIA Fellows receive graduate-level coursework in policy, economics, statistics, and leadership, along with a summer stipend, housing, and coursework materials. The program is targeted at undergraduate juniors graduating between December 2026 and August 2027. PPIA also operates the Future Leaders Expo (in-person DC career fair), the Virtual Graduate Fair, the Explorer Seminars (three-day immersive programs at 50+ undergraduate partner institutions), and the Summer Policy Academy (a three-week Volcker Alliance-sponsored program spanning Washington DC and UC Berkeley, University of Minnesota, or University of Washington). Completing the lifecycle, a 50+ institution Graduate School Consortium offers PPIA alumni application fee waivers and consideration for $5,000+ fellowships at partner schools including Harvard, Princeton, and Michigan.

The business model is donations-based: PPIA generates revenue from alumni, individual supporters, foundations, and corporate partners, and is currently running a $5 million Opportunity Campaign to fund fellowships, scholarships, and program expansion. The organization serves a multi-sided customer base — undergraduate students (primary), alumni (5,500+), graduate school partners, and employers — and reaches them through a community-led GTM motion anchored in partner-institution networks, the Cohort Captain peer engagement program, alumni chapters in six regions, and digital channels including LinkedIn, Instagram, and a Digital Story Toolkit. There is no participant cost for the JSI fellowship. Phase 5 of PPIA's 2025 strategic plan contemplates future revenue-generating offerings that monetize the organization's expertise alongside its mission delivery. The organization operates with 25 staff and is led by Executive Director Josh Diosomito, who assumed the role on June 1, 2025. AI/ML capabilities are not part of the offering; technology is limited to a web application portal (SmarterSelect) and a planned Alumni Digital Platform for 2025-2026.

Name

Public Policy & International Affairs (PPIA) Fellowship Program

Legal name

Public Policy & International Affairs Program

Website

https://ppiaprogram.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PPIA is a 501(c) nonprofit fellowship program founded in 1980 that prepares emerging undergraduate leaders for public service careers through the fully-funded Junior Summer Institute at Harvard, Princeton, and Michigan, a 50+ graduate school consortium, and a 5,500+ alumni network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Service Fellowship Programs

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in Education (EDADALAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Project Preparation Facilities & Technical Assistance Windows (BPADAOAI)

Keywords

• Public policy fellowships
• Leadership development programs
• Graduate school preparation
• Nonprofit fellowship programs
• Public service education

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: PPIA is a nonprofit organization that generates revenue primarily through donations from alumni, individual supporters, foundations, and corporate partners. The Opportunity Campaign aims to raise $5 million to support fellowships, scholarships, and program expansion.
2. Future Revenue Generation: Per Phase 5 of the strategic plan, PPIA plans to monetize expertise through revenue-generating offerings while continuing to deliver on its mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

PPIA is a 501(c) nonprofit organization that operates a portfolio of fellowship and leadership development programs preparing undergraduate students for graduate study and careers in public service. Its flagship is the fully-funded, seven-week Junior Summer Institute (JSI) hosted at Harvard, Princeton, and the University of Michigan, providing graduate-level coursework in policy, economics, statistics, and leadership. Supporting programs include the Future Leaders Summit Expo, the Virtual Graduate Fair, the Summer Policy Academy (with the Volcker Alliance), and the Explorers Program.

Product overview

The PPIA Fellowship Program is an educational nonprofit offering a portfolio of interconnected programs that prepare emerging leaders for careers in public service. The core offering is the Junior Summer Institute (JSI) – a fully-funded, seven-week summer fellowship at Harvard, Princeton, and University of Michigan that provides graduate-level preparation for undergraduates. This is complemented by the Future Leaders Summit Expo (in-person career fair in DC), the Virtual Graduate Fair, the Summer Policy Academy (Volcker Alliance-sponsored three-week intensive), and the Explorers Program (three-day introductory seminars at partner schools). The program maintains a Graduate School Consortium of 50+ partner institutions offering fee waivers and fellowship consideration. Supporting infrastructure includes the Alumni Directory, Digital Story Toolkit, Peer Referral Program, and Cohort Captain Portal for ongoing engagement. The 2025-2026 roadmap introduces a Leadership Academy, multi-tiered Mentorship Program, and Alumni Digital Platform to provide continuous support throughout alumni careers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Junior Summer Institute (JSI): A seven-week, fully-funded summer program at Harvard, Princeton, or University of Michigan that prepares undergraduates for graduate study and careers in public service.
• PPIA Future Leaders Expo
• Explorer Seminars
• Summer Policy Academy
• PPIA Virtual Graduate Fair

Products and services

• PPIA Junior Summer Institute (JSI) A fully-funded, seven-week summer fellowship program hosted at Harvard Kennedy School, Princeton School of Public & International Affairs, and the University of Michigan Ford School of Public Policy that provides undergraduate students with graduate-level coursework in policy, economics, statistics, and leadership, a summer stipend, free on-campus housing, and books/course materials to prepare them for graduate study and careers in public service.
• PPIA Future Leaders Summit Expo A one-day in-person event held in Washington, DC where students connect with graduate schools, employers, and public service leaders to explore policy career pathways.
• PPIA Virtual Graduate Fair An interactive virtual event connecting students with top graduate programs and leading employers in public service through real-time engagement and information sessions.
• Summer Policy Academy A three-week fully-funded academy sponsored by the Volcker Alliance, combining one week in Washington D.C. with two weeks at UC Berkeley, University of Minnesota, or University of Washington, focusing on policy analysis, data, and persuasive writing for equity, sustainability, and justice.
• PPIA Explorers Program (Explorer Seminars) A three-day immersive experience hosted at 50+ undergraduate partner institutions that introduces undergraduates to public service through real policy challenges, inspiring speakers, and hands-on collaboration, serving as an entry point to the PPIA leadership pathway.
• Graduate School Consortium Partners A network of 50+ graduate schools in public policy, public affairs, and international affairs that partner with PPIA, providing application fee waivers and fellowship consideration for PPIA Fellows, including flagship JSI host institutions Harvard, Princeton, and Michigan.
• Leadership Academy An upcoming career-stage development program offering tracks from Emerging to Civic Catalyst, including peer coaching, mentorship, project labs, regional roundtables, and alumni-led workshops to build skills and amplify impact.
• Alumni Mentorship Program A multi-tiered mentorship initiative offering micro-mentoring (3 months for undergraduates), career coaching (6 months for job/grad school navigation), and graduate pathways (9-12 months for career transitions) to support alumni throughout their careers.
• Alumni Digital Platform A centralized hub enabling alumni to find mentors, access job and speaking opportunities, register for webinars and regional meetups, and join interest groups and policy communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5,500+ alumni network
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Volcker AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Volcker Alliance sponsors the Summer Policy Academy (NextGen Service Corps), a 3-week program spanning Washington D.C. and partner universities. This is a core partnership for expanding PPIA's leadership development programming and represents shared commitment to strengthening public service pathways.
• Schwarzman ScholarsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchwarzman Scholars serves as a Signature Sponsor and pathway partner, connecting PPIA alumni to additional graduate opportunities in global affairs and public policy.
• Harvard Kennedy School of GovernmentflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHarvard hosts one of three PPIA Junior Summer Institute programs. The 7-week fully-funded fellowship prepares students for graduate study in public policy, with curriculum covering economics, quantitative analysis, race and public policy, and policy design.
• Princeton School of Public & International AffairsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrinceton has hosted the PPIA Junior Summer Institute for nearly four decades. The program builds analytical, quantitative, and writing skills while providing early exposure to graduate-level study expectations.
• University of Michigan Ford School of Public PolicyflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichigan hosts one of three PPIA Junior Summer Institute sites, offering fellows graduate-level coursework in public policy, economic policy, and education policy in an immersive 7-week summer experience.
• Graduate School Consortium (50+ Partner Schools)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor50+ universities with public policy, public affairs, and international affairs programs that participate in the PPIA Graduate School Consortium. Partners receive access to diverse, well-prepared applicant pools and provide application fee waivers and fellowship consideration for PPIA Fellows.
• Alumni Chapters NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional alumni chapters in Chicagoland, Northern California/Bay Area, New York City, Pacific Northwest, Southern California, and Washington, DC serve as local hubs for networking, career growth, and community connection among PPIA graduates.
• Partner Schools (Undergraduate Institutions)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor50+ undergraduate institutions that host 3-day Explorer Seminars, nominate promising students, and help spread awareness of PPIA's leadership pathway. These schools enable PPIA to reach students earlier and expand its national footprint.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Posse Foundation: Posse identifies and trains diverse cohorts of public-service-oriented undergraduates for leadership through partner universities. Highly comparable mission and cohort-based, fully-funded fellowship model aimed at diversifying leadership pipelines.
• McNair Scholars Program (TRIO): Federal TRIO program preparing first-generation and underrepresented undergraduates for graduate study, with summer research and mentorship components. Directly comparable in preparing diverse undergraduates for graduate school and research careers.
• Coro Foundation: Nonprofit that trains emerging public leaders through immersive, cohort-based fellowship programs in cities across the U.S. Comparable mission, cohort model, and public-service leadership focus.
• The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Study: Provides immersive internship and academic seminars in Washington, DC for undergraduates exploring public-service careers. Similar experiential learning model and DC-based public-policy pipeline focus.
• Ralph Bunche Summer Institute (APSA): APSA's flagship diversity pipeline program that introduces undergraduates to political science and prepares them for graduate study and academic careers. Closest like-for-like competitor in policy-specific diversity pipeline programming.

Broad incumbents

• Aspen Institute: Major public-policy think tank operating multiple fellowship and leadership development programs (e.g., Aspen Fellows). Broader in scope than PPIA but operates in the same leadership/public-policy fellowship category.
• Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI): Provides fellowships, internships, and leadership programs for Latino/a students pursuing public-policy careers. Comparable in mission and serves an overlapping applicant pool for public-service pathways.
• Congressional Black Caucus Foundation: Operates scholarships, fellowships, and leadership programs for students of color pursuing public service. Larger, more diversified nonprofit operating in PPIA's diversity-pipeline space.

Emerging players

• Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF): National nonprofit providing scholarships and support for AAPI students. Less direct policy focus than PPIA but operates in the same diversity-in-higher-education access space.
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund: Largest U.S. nonprofit supporting Hispanic American higher education. Adjacent rather than directly competing, but a comparable scholarship- and pipeline-focused nonprofit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ppiaprogram
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/ppiaprogram
• Instagraminstagram.com/ppiaprogram

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Public Policy & International Affairs (PPIA) Fellowship Program