Horizon Career Accelerator Funding Request

This is an optional component of the Horizon Career Accelerator application—please only fill out this form if you’re also applying for the Career Accelerator. Program acceptance is a prerequisite for funding consideration, but the two decisions are evaluated separately. You may be accepted into the Career Accelerator without applying for funding or even if your funding request is unsuccessful.

If you get accepted for the Career Accelerator, you can still submit a funding request then or anytime during the program, so you can also wait to submit your request until later.

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We hope to provide flexible career development stipends for candidates at any career stage interested in AI policy careers. We’re willing to consider funding amounts up to $50,000 total for eligible expenses that would meaningfully advance your public policy career.

You do not need to have a specific offer or opportunity already secured to apply for funding. But please note that if approved, actual funding disbursement is conditional on you securing a qualifying opportunity that aligns with your proposal.

For example, we’re open to funding expenses like:

1. pursuing un(der)paid policy roles (e.g. internships, short-term placements, research/project collaborations) in policy organizations like Congress, think tanks, federal agencies, or state governments

2. upskilling opportunities (e.g. visiting DC, attending conferences, paid online courses) 

3. policy career transition and exploration periods

4. independent study

5. relocation costs to move to DC

6. other funding needs that would meaningfully advance your public policy career (that are not excluded below)

We’re currently unable to fund expenses in the following categories:

1. Expenses above $50,000. (If you’re primarily seeking funding for a longer-term, full-time, fully-funded placement in the federal government or think tanks, apply for our Horizon Fellowship instead.)

2. Work equipment (e.g. laptops, monitors)

3. Non-policy work opportunities

4. Opportunities with 501(c)(4)s or other lobbying/campaign work

5. Academic scholarships to cover college or graduate school tuition

If you’re uncertain whether your funding need qualifies, or require further guidance on submitting your request, please reach out to us at accelerator@horizonpublicservice.org.

We will review and decide on funding requests by early June 2025, alongside Career Accelerator acceptance decisions. If you need a funding decision sooner, please indicate this clearly in your request. We may be able to expedite urgent funding decisions on a case-by-case basis, depending on our capacity.

If you exit without submitting, the application will not save your answers.