Urban Leadership Fellows Application

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The Municipal Forum of New York, Inc. Urban Leadership Fellows Program

The Urban Leadership Fellows (ULF) Program is sponsored by The Municipal Forum of New York, Inc., and managed by Futures and Options. The purpose of the six-week, paid program is to enable New York City high school seniors to gain valuable hands-on work experience and training in the Municipal Finance industry.

This is a competitive program with limited spaces available. The deadline to apply to the program is February 25th, 2026. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

Please attach the following documents when submitting your application:
- Your resume
- Your transcript
- A 500 word personal essay that explains:
  - Why you are interested in an internship in the municipal finance industry
  - Your background in business, finance, law, government and/or public policy
  - Your long-term career goals
Interviews will take place in February and March.
Candidates will be notified of their acceptance into the program by the end of April.

Selection Criteria

The ULF Program is open to high school SENIORS only. Program participants will be selected from those who meet the following criteria:

Graduating high school senior who resides in New York City
Strong interest in a career in finance, business, law, government, and/or public policy
Availability to work full-time and in-person for the six-week duration of the paid internship in addition to attending a few workshops in May and June
A 3.0 GPA or higher
Excellent computer skills
A well-written essay
Strong verbal and written skills
Eligibility to work in the United States
Submission of a complete online ULF application to Futures and Options
Participation in a one-on-one interview

By checking this box I am agreeing that I meet the selection criteria and intend to complete the application process.*

I agree.

Student Responsibilities

Students will work and attend workshops in-person 40 hours per week for six weeks starting Monday July 7th and ending Friday August 15th 2025. This will include mandatory trainings and orientation events during the months of May and June and career-readiness workshops during the program, including a field trip to Albany.

Hours of work: Interns work about 40 hours per week, with their specific hours determined by the site supervisors. Interns are expected to be on time each day and work the required number of hours. Appropriate attire is determined by each internship site and supervisor. Certain placements may have a remote or hybrid component.

To enrich their experience, ULF students will also be paired with mentors working in public finance whom students can turn to for professional advice as they enter careers in business and finance. Mentors and students will participate in events and communicate throughout the program. Additionally, mentors will provide input to students on their assigned work-based challenges and other projects.

Orientation and Pre-Program Trainings and Events

In addition to attending career development workshops during the summer program, students are required to participate in the following activities in May and June before their internships begin:

Futures and Options program orientations 1 & 2
Excel training
Business writing workshops
The ULF Program opening breakfast with Municipal Forum leaders and mentors

Contact Information

Futures and Options 111 Broadway, Suite 1602, New York, NY 10006 P. 212.601.0002; F. 212.601.0005 www.futuresandoptions.org   Kassidi Goehner, Senior Program Coordinator kgoehner@futuresandoptions.org

Required Documents

All applicants under 18 years of age, must submit a working card before they can schedule an interview

If you do not have your working card and are under 18, you should begin the process to obtain this document as soon as possible. Please read the steps below or visit the NYC DOE website.

Fill out the working card application with section 1 completed and signed by a parent. You will also need:
- Birth Certificate
- Certificate of physical fitness completed by a NY State physician
Submit all materials to the designated person in your high school. You can also speak with a guidance counselor or a school administrator for further assistance on obtaining your working card.

We look forward to reviewing your application and helping you gain work experience!

This application is for the Urban Leadership Fellows Internship Program

I have read all of the requirements and have collected the needed documentation to complete this form.*

I agree

Name*

First name Last name

What name do you prefer to be called?*

This name will be used in our communication with you.

Home Street*

Apt Number*

Home Borough*

State*

ZIP code*

Confirm mailing address*

From time to time, Futures and Options may mail you program-related paperwork. Please confirm your mailing address.

Yes, this is my mailing address

No, I have another address for mailing

Mailing Address*

The best number to reach me at is:*

Home Phone #*

Cell Phone #*

This is my personal cell*

Yes

This is a family cell phone # which is shared, but I can receive calls and messages at this number*

Yes

The best times to reach me at are (Check all that apply):*

8am - 10am

10am - 3pm

3pm - 7pm

My personal email address*

This should not be a school email address

My school email address*

Emergency Contact Information

At least one of the emergency contacts must be a parent or guardian

Emergency Contact 1 Name*

Emergency Contact 1 Email*

Emergency Contact 1 Address*

Emergency Contact 1 Phone*

Relation 1*

Relation 1 Other*

Emergency Contact 2 Name*

Emergency Contact 2 Email*

Emergency Contact 2 Address*

Emergency Contact 2 Phone*

Relation 2*

Relation 2 Other*

High School information

High School Name

Expected Year of High School Graduation*

Please enter a number from 2024 to 2030.

Current Grade Level*

What is your GPA?*

Please enter a number from 0.00 to 5.99.

At what time of day do you get out of school?*

COVID Vaccination Status. Please check the box that applies to you.*

Some of our ULF internship sites require their staff and interns to be vaccinated for COVID. Please provide information on your COVID vaccination status below.

I am fully vaccinated.

I have received my first vaccination dose and will receive my second vaccination dose soon

I am not vaccinated.

Program Information

How did you hear about Futures and Options?*

Have you participated in a Futures and Options program before?*

If yes, which program did you participate in?*

Name of other program?*

If yes, when did you participate in the program?*

Please indicate if you are a participant in any of the following programs:*

For Windows: Hold down the control (ctrl) button to select multiple options. For Mac: Hold down the command button to select multiple options.

In addition to the ULF program, Futures and Options offers other exciting Summer Internships in a wide range of industries. Check the box that applies to you.*

Yes, If I am not selected to participate in the ULF program I would like to be considered for the Summer Internship Program

What career fields are you most interested in? (Select a maximum of 5)*

For Windows: Hold down the control (ctrl) button to select multiple options. For Mac: Hold down the command button to select multiple options.

What type of internship are you open to? Select all that apply.

For Windows: Hold down the control (ctrl) button to select multiple options. For Mac: Hold down the command button to select multiple options.

Essays

Please answer the following questions in complete sentences.

In ~500 words, please share:

Why are you interested in the ULF Program?
Why you would like to have an internship in the municipal finance industry?
Your background in business, finance, law, government and/or public policy( including classes, clubs, internships, and/or the development of your interests)
Your long-term career goals

Please Upload Your Essay Here.*

Must be in PDF or Word Doc Form.

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, Max. file size: 100 MB.

What academic classes have you taken (at your high school, through a college program, at a private institution, etc.) that are relevant to the field of business, finance, law, government and/or public policy? How have they prepared you to work with a municipal finance firm?

Have you had an internship or externship before? If so, where did you work?  Briefly describe your responsibilities?*

Describe your skills and personal traits that would help you succeed in your internship. Please be specific.*

Do you have volunteer experience? Briefly describe where you volunteered, your responsibilities and what you feel you learned from the experience.*

Have you thought about what you will do after high school? If so, please briefly describe your plans following graduation.*

Please Upload Your Transcript*

Accepted file types: jpg, jpeg, png, pdf, Max. file size: 100 MB.

Please Upload Your Resume*

Resume must be in PDF or Word Doc format.

Accepted file types: jpg, jpeg, png, pdf, doc, docx, Max. file size: 100 MB.

Please Upload Your Working Card Here

Upload your Working Card if you have it now. If you do not have it, review the instructions on how to obtain a working card above. You must have your working card prior to interviewing with Futures and Options staff.

Accepted file types: jpg, jpeg, png, pdf, Max. file size: 100 MB.

By checking this box, I certify that I have read and agreed to the above mentioned internship participant requirements.*

I agree to the internship participant requirements

Personal information

Date of birth*

What are your pronouns?*

Other pronouns*

What is your gender?*

Other gender*

Self-Identified Race*

How do you racially identify?*

What is your ethnicity?*

Country of Birth*

Other country of birth*

Are you the first generation in your family to attend school in the United States?*

How many adults live in your household?*

Please enter a number from 1 to 20.

What is the approximate combined income of your parents/guardian?*

Does your household receive SNAP benefits (food stamps) or have received SNAP within the past 12 months? (Don't include WIC or any food banks)**

Yes

I don't know

Are you an NYCHA resident?*

Is English your first language?*

Yes

What is your primary language spoken at home?*

Do you speak a language other than English?*

How many languages do you speak?*

Language 1*

Language 2*

Language 3*

Proficiency level of language 1*

Proficiency level of language 2*

Proficiency level of language 3*

Skills

The following questions about skill levels in specific areas help us create programming and later will help us match each student to a suitable internship. The experience levels that you select does not impact your eligibility to be accepted to The Internship Program.

Please indicate your skill level for the questions below with 0 indicating no experience and 5 indicating a lot of experience.

Word*

Excel*

Please describe your previous experience with Microsoft Excel:

i.e. taking a training course, using it at a previous job or internship, no previous experience, etc.

Powerpoint*

Google Suite*

Outlook*

Professional Communication Software (I.e Teams, Zoom, Slack)*

Graphic Design platforms (i.e. Canva, Adobe Express, Visme, etc.)*

Video editing platforms (i.e. Adobe Premier Pr, iMovie, Pinnacle,etc)*

Conducting online research*

Using Social Media for Market Research*

Working with youth as a mentor or teacher*

I am a current senior in high school with access to working papers, a transcript, letter of recommendation, and proof of US employment eligibility.

I certify that the above statement is true.

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