Victory Empowerment Fellowship is a six-month leadership program run by LGBTQ+ Victory Institute for U.S.-resident LGBTQ+ leaders of color and/or transgender leaders. It develops campaign and policy-making skills through a national cohort.
The fellowship combines Candidate & Campaign Training in Denver, virtual convenings, the International LGBTQ+ Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., and mentorship from an out LGBTQ+ elected official. The 2026 cycle is closed, and the institute says 2027 applications will follow.
Benefits & funding
- Complete registration for the Candidate & Campaign Training and International LGBTQ+ Leadership Conference.
- Travel and shared lodging for both in-person events.
- Six months of mentorship from an out LGBTQ+ elected official.
- Virtual convenings and cohort-based programming.
- Some meals are not covered.
Eligibility
- Applicants must live in the United States; no nationality restriction is stated.
- Applicants must identify as transgender, nonbinary, genderqueer, or another non-cisgender identity, and/or be an LGBTQ+ person of color.
- Applicants must be at least 18 by the fellowship start.
- There is no education requirement and no stated minimum number of years of work experience.
- Fellows must attend the Denver training, the Washington, D.C. conference, virtual programming, and mentorship activities.
- For the 2026 cycle, in-person participants were required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Residence required
USA
Age requirement
≥ 18 yrs
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Application process
- 1Complete the online application with contact, demographic, and professional information.
- 2Upload a professional resume, a third-person biography of no more than 200 words, and a high-resolution headshot.
- 3Arrange for one recommendation letter addressing leadership and commitment to the LGBTQ+ community to be emailed directly to the program director.
- 4Submit two essays of 500–1,000 words each on LGBTQ+ community leadership and the applicant’s five-year goals.
- 5Confirm availability for all required programming and submit by the cycle deadline.
Program timeline
Application deadline
March 4, 2026, 11:59 p.m. PT
Travel to Denver
July 8, 2026
Candidate & Campaign Training in Denver
July 9–12, 2026
International LGBTQ+ Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C.
December 3–5, 2026
Not yet announced
2027 opening date