ABOUT ILF
"The main purpose of the ILF Foundation is to train our younger generations of Asian descent to be able to pay more attention and participate in the field of public affairs!"
Zhu Xiaozheng, Acting Executive Director
of the ILF Foundation
Since our founding in 2000, ILF has provided scholarships and leadership training for over a thousand select APA college students nation-wide. ILF has a network of national advisory boards and global advisory councils in 20 cities, comprised of professional, civic, business, and community leaders. We help prepare the young generation to become leaders in the public, business, academic, community, and professional fields. The ILF NC Chapter is committed to supporting the ILF mission at the state level. The members of our Advisory Board participate in a variety of functions locally as well as at the national level.
ILF's programs include the Civic Fellowship Program, Global Exchange Program, Business and Leadership Conference, and Leadership Activities. These programs offer a series of internships, lectures, seminars, and discussions on topics ranging from international business relations to public policy and the legislative process.
The Washington D.C. Civic Fellowship is the nation’s most prestigious APA civic leadership development program. Each Fellow participates in a supervised training program, including a public service internship to learn how to network and access government and public policy to help their communities. ILF also sponsors over one hundred additional college students each year for the Washington Leadership Program in conjunction with other leading APA organizations.
Every year, ILF hosts an exciting business and leadership conference, comprised of various events, policy discussions, and meetings with Members of Congress and other high-ranking officials. This conference also includes a Global Strategic Economic Forum, Business to Business matchmaking, and the ILF’s annual awards and scholarship gala. ILF also promotes and recognizes exemplary contributions to the APA community by individuals and organizations. Past Awards Gala honorees and speakers include the Honorable Elaine L. Chao, Secretary of Transportation and former Secretary of Labor; the Honorable Norman Mineta, former Secretary of Transportation, former Secretary of Commerce, and Honorary ILF Chairman; Mitch McConnell, U.S. Senate Majority Leader; Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House; Max Baucus, former U.S. Ambassador to China; Members of Congress Judy Chu, Grace Meng, Doris Matsui, Ted Lieu, and Amata Radewagen; Yoshimi Inaba, Executive Chairman of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.; Kanwal Rekhi, Founder of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) organization; international film star Jackie Chan; David Ho, prominent AIDS researcher; and Toby Dawson, Olympic medalist.
Click here to view all of ILF's national endorsements.
National Endorsements
The ILF has garnered bipartisan support at the national level including endorsements from Presidents Trump, Obama, and Bush as well as other high ranking officials such as Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell and Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi.