The Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) is an American non-profit and non-partisan organization founded in 2003 by members of the Congressional Hispanic Conference.
[1] The 501(c)(3) organization was begun by Florida Representatives Lincoln Díaz-Balart, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Mario Díaz-Balart with Cuban-American congressperson Diaz-Balart as its first Chairman.
[2] The CHLI's purpose is to serve as an educational arm of the Conference to bring awareness, access and opportunities for Americans of Hispanic and Portuguese descent.
[1] It was formed to act as a balancing "counterweight" to the Democratic Party majority of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute.
[3] The CHLI Global Leaders Internship and Fellowship provides 15-week summer internships for undergraduates in congressional and corporate affairs offices in Washington D.C.[4] The program is funded through a partnership between CHLI and the Ford Motor Company.