Internships
FairVote's Internship Program
FairVote is a non-partisan non-profit organization that seeks to make democracy fair, functional, and fully representative. We believe there are simple, common sense ways to strengthen our democracy and ensure all voices are heard, all views are respected, and every vote counts.
Our internship program is based in Takoma Park, Maryland, offering participants the opportunity to work on projects that advance reforms at the local, state, and national level. Interns build skills and learn through assignments and attending workshops and seminars. We also often have guest speakers in our office and organize field trips to relevant sites in Washington, D.C. such as Capitol Hill.
Our internships are substantive and interns' work is often featured in our educational, advocacy, and outreach activities. Our internships include the flexibility to work in a field in which the intern is most interested, be it research, activism, communications, administration, or design.
Internship Categories
Development and Fundraising: These interns will support our development team in activities involving fundraising, which is experience that is often particularly helpful for future work in the nonprofit sector. Interns will be involved in a range of such work, including social media and research and writing relating to grant applications, stewardship of current donors, and outreach to prospective donors. Strong research and writing skills are required, and experience fundraising and organizing events is desirable.
Nonprofit Administration: Interns will assist office management in various administrative, financial, human resources, and technology management activities that support FairVote's work. Interns will be exposed to a diverse range of duties and responsibilities, which will vary considerably depending on the time of year and election cycles. Suitable backgrounds include accounting, business administration, management, and information technology. These interns will receive compensation based on experience, skills and need.
Electoral Systems and Reform Research: Interns will work closely with staff to provide research support. Tasks may include preparing original research, drafting reports, contributing to blogs, and analyzing election results. Interns should be current undergraduate or graduate students, or recent grads with a commitment to voting rights and electoral structural reform. Social sciences, research, and statistical analysis experience is highly preferred.
Advocacy and Supporter Engagement: Interns will work closely with staff on various outreach activities, such as assisting electoral reform advocates at the local, state, and national levels and online and grassroots organizing. Applicants should possess a commitment to electoral reforms and voting rights issues highlighted on the FairVote and RepresentWomen websites. Strong communication skills and an outgoing personality are highly preferred.
Constituent and Media Relations: Interns will assist the communications team in developing digital messaging and fostering relationships with journalists. Harnessing the power of social media, interns will provide FairVote supporters relevant and engaging content. Interns will also maintain accurate journalist/media information and monitor traditional and new media sources for content. Strong writing skills are required. Visual design, communications, or media relations experience is highly preferred.
Law and Policy: Interns will work closely with fellows and staff in performing research, writing legal memos, and assisting with statutory drafting and analysis. Suitable applicants will possess excellent research and writing skills, an interest in policy work, and a demonstrated commitment to voting rights and structural election reform.
Please note: applicants must have completed their 1L year.
RepresentWomen: Interns will work closely with research and communications staff to explore the role that PACs play in the financing of female candidates. The project, which is a collaborative effort between FairVote, RepresentWomen, Common Cause and the Center for Responsive Politics, will involve social science research, data analysis, report and blog writing as well as tasks related to messaging and dissemination of our findings. Strong research and writing skills are required, and experience analyzing data and/or working in communications is desirable.
Applicants with Special Skills: We occasionally offer stipends to interns with special skills, such as the demonstrated ability to film and edit short videos, work with online databases, design promotional materials and websites, and perform advanced statistical work. These interns will receive compensation based on experience, skills and need.
Applying
Applications for internships are accepted and reviewed on an ongoing basis. For non-summer internships, we encourage you to apply at any time, although our preference is December 1 for spring internships and August 15 for fall internships. For the highly competitive summer internship season, please apply by March 1, although we may review applications after that date.
Basic Qualifications:
-
Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Google Docs
-
Strong writing and analytical skills
-
Ability to work in teams and be a self-starter
- Interest in electoral reforms studied and supported by FairVote.
Applications should consist of a cover letter, a resume, a writing sample (ideally no more than 5 pages) and, if available, references. Email your application to hr@fairvote.org. Note: Scholarships are available for highly qualified candidates, based on financial need.
