25 Internship Opportunities with Center for American Progress: "Think Tank in Washington D.C."
Communication Internship
To promote American progress' work, the Communications team distils complex ideas into digestible messages and uses traditional and new-media strategies to make sure that American Progress' messages reach leaders in Washington, advocates across the country, and every day Americans. Press interns learn many of the basic skills it takes to become a communications professional in nonprofit from a front-row seat. They are assigned day-to-day activities to help integrate them into the work, including monitoring news stories, researching targeted press lists, and preparing and disseminating releases, staff events, and media trainings.
Development/Strategic Planning Internship
The Development department works to ensure the long-term stability of the organization. Development interns learn many of the basic skills it takes to become a development professional in a progressive nonprofit from a front-row seat. They are involved in all core activities of the team and are assigned day-to-day activities to help integrate them into the work. These may include managing American Progress’ donor database, staying updated on the activities of the organization’s various policy teams, researching activities of the progressive philanthropic community and infrastructure, researching and learning about potential donors, assisting with events and fundraisers, and other duties as assigned.
Domestic Policy Internship
The Domestic Policy team focuses on five key policy areas: education, health care, immigration, poverty, and women’s health and rights. Domestic Policy interns are typically matched with the analyst group working on an issue of particular importance and/or interest to them. Interns learn many of the basic skills it takes to become a public policy professional in a progressive nonprofit from a front-row seat. They are involved in all core activities of the team and are assigned day-to-day activities to help integrate them into the work. Responsibilities may include: web-based research and writing in their issue area, compilation and analysis of data and data trends, and support for policy events. Interns are also encouraged to take full advantage of the many events at American Progress, as well as events, briefings, and hearings that take place on the Hill and throughout Washington, D.C...
Economic Policy Internship
Economic Policy interns serve as fully engaged members of the team and are vital to the work that they do. Interns will have the opportunity to delve into a variety of projects and gain valuable knowledge and understanding of key issues facing the nation. Though not limited to this list, the Economic Policy team's work is likely to encompass the following: labor markets, retirement security, higher education, housing, budget and tax policy, international economic policy and trade, economic mobility, and the general state and future of the economy.
Economic Policy interns learn many of the basic skills it takes to become a public policy professional in a progressive nonprofit from a front-row seat. They are involved in all core activities of the team and are assigned day-to-day activities to help integrate them into the work. Interns may engage in research, writing, project support, and preparatory work for policy events. Interns on the Economic Policy team are also encouraged to take full advantage of the many events at American Progress, as well as events, briefings, and hearings that take place on the Hill and throughout Washington, D.C...
Energy and Environment Internship
Interns working with the American Progress Energy and Environment team have the opportunity to complete substantive work across the team’s four main focuses: international energy and climate policy, domestic energy and climate policy, oceans policy, and public lands policy. Within this framework, interns will develop skills and experience to contribute effectively to the national climate and energy conversation on the clean energy future, natural resources management, conservation, and adaptation and resilience as they relate to climate change.
Policy Areas Covered by Internship:
- International Climate Policy
- Domestic Energy Policy
- Ocean Policy
- Public Lands and Natural Resource Policy
Ethnic Media Internship
American Progress is committed to taking its message to diverse communities. To that end, the Ethnic Media team does targeted and comprehensive communications work to reach communities of color. The Ethnic Media team works closely with American Progress’ policy and events teams and maintains working relationships with national ethnic media outlets, including Spanish-language media. In addition, the Ethnic Media team produces a number of original products and organizes several events each year.
Ethnic Media interns learn many of the basic skills it takes to work at a progressive nonprofit from a front-row seat. Interns for the Ethnic Media team must be fully bilingual and have the ability to compose or translate short articles, press releases, and advisories into Spanish; conduct research in both languages; and help book American Progress’ experts. Experience using Twitter is also highly desired.
Executive Internship
The American Progress Executive Office is responsible for directing and overseeing all policy developments and educational and communication outreach at the organization. Exposure to all aspects of the organization’s work—educational efforts, policy initiatives, and administrative organization—will provide interns with unique insight into the workings of a fast-paced, nonpartisan public policy research institution dedicated to finding progressive and pragmatic solutions to significant domestic and international problems.
Executive Office interns will learn many of the basic management and policy-related skills it takes to work at a progressive nonprofit from a front-row seat. Interns perform a variety of activities, including short web-based research assignments, maintenance of the department’s event folders, and assisting with the preparation of meetings for the board of trustees and board of directors. Interns will have the opportunity to attend most American Progress-sponsored events, including policy forums with leading experts on critical issue areas and progressive film screenings.
External Affairs Internship
The External Affairs team amplifies American Progress’ policy voice by forging relationships with progressive groups, think tanks, scholars, community leaders, and elected officials at the federal, state, and local levels. The department raises awareness of the organization and its work, while connecting staff with progressive allies.
External Affairs interns learn many of the basic skills it takes to work at a progressive nonprofit from a front-row seat. The External Affairs team is looking for students with interest in all of the areas listed below. Interns will also collaborate with External Affairs-related policy teams, including Half in Ten, LGBT Progress, and the Crime and Firearm Policy team. Ideal candidates should have a strong interest in the intersection of policy and outreach.
Faith and Progressive Policy Internship
The Faith and Progressive Policy Initiative of the Center for American Progress works to identify and articulate the moral, ethical, and spiritual values underpinning policy issues, ranging from economic inequality to reproductive and sexual justice to immigration, among others. The initiative helps shape a progressive stance in which these values are clear and increase public awareness and understanding of these values.
The Faith and Progressive Policy Initiative also works to safeguard the healthy separation of church and state that has allowed religion to flourish in the United States, promotes a society and government that strengthens the common good and respects the basic dignity of all people, and informs the organization’s efforts to promote a strong, just, and free America that ensures opportunity for all. The initiative hosts events and convenings, writes policy and analytical pieces for the website, conducts research, writes and commissions papers, and works with the American Progress’ policy experts to examine the moral and ethical issues at stake in progressive policies.
The Faith and Progressive Policy team is looking for interns with excellent research and writing skills, as well as energy and commitment to progressive values. Interns learn many of the basic skills it takes to be a policy professional at a progressive nonprofit from a front-row seat.
Generation Progress Internship
Welcome to the coolest internship experience. Ever. In addition to getting substantive work experience, Generation Progress interns get access to special events such as film screenings and conferences and the opportunity to use words like “substantive” on a daily basis.
Generation Progress interns learn many of the basic skills it takes to work at a progressive nonprofit from a front-row seat.
Other benefits include:
- The chance to learn valuable skills and work for progressive change.
- A fun working environment with a staff of 20-somethings.
- A community of 80+ interns like you.
- As many Generation Progress t-shirts as you can steal.
- The chance to Facebook like it's your job (because it is).
- An invitation to join the Leftfielders softball team.
Guns and Crime Internship
The Guns and Crime team focuses on gun violence prevention and other issues related to crime in the United States. More than 33,000 Americans die each year as a result of firearm injuries, and American Progress advocates for common-sense gun violence prevention policies to reduce the number of deaths and nonfatal firearm injuries that are a result of weak firearm regulations and laws.
Interns assist the team with coalition building and advocacy work, as well as with various research projects. The Guns and Crime team focuses on the intersection of gun violence and a variety of other issues, such as background checks, domestic violence, policing, and gun trafficking. Interns have a front-row seat to learn many of the basic skills that it takes to work as a policy professional at a progressive nonprofit organization.
Immigration Policy Internship
The American Progress Immigration Policy team provides leadership on research, advocacy, policy, and communications in all aspects of immigration policy in the United States. The team crafts and supports positive immigration reforms and refutes negative and biased anti-immigrant sentiment and policy. The team works closely with a broad coalition of advocacy organizations, as well as congressional and government offices to promote real solutions to the nation’s immigration challenges.
Interns learn many of the basic skills it takes to be a policy professional at a progressive nonprofit from a front-row seat. Interns are intimately involved in the day-to-day operations of the Immigration Policy team. They provide research support on a variety of issues related to immigration in the United States, help craft messaging and advocacy positions for American Progress, track important stories about the issue, and assist with events and organizational tasks.
Candidates must possess excellent oral and written communications skills and knowledge of basic research methods. Successful candidates will have an interest in helping to promote positive immigration reform and better the lives of all Americans, immigrant and citizen alike. Intimate knowledge of the field is not explicitly necessary, but some familiarity with immigration policy or advocacy is a plus.
Legal Progress Internship
Legal Progress is the legal policy program at the Center for American Progress. No matter the issue, the judiciary will continue to play an increasingly important role in the lives of hardworking Americans, as well as in the success of the progressive legislative agenda. Through legal and policy analysis, communications and public education, and convening key stakeholders, Legal Progress helps push the American legal system in a more progressive direction and educate the public about the courts’ effect on the issues they care about most.
Legal Progress considers interns with both undergraduate and law school experience. While both types of interns get hands-on experience with the program’s campaigns and policy work, each serves in a capacity that is tailored to their experience and will further their professional development. Interns learn many of the basic skills it takes to work at a progressive nonprofit from a front-row seat. Participants will have an opportunity to work with policymakers, legal experts, and allied organizations to help promote a progressive judiciary. Law school interns typically focus on legal research, contributing to the published reports that Legal Progress produces and participating in the program’s legal policy role at American Progress. Undergraduate interns contribute to the operations of the federal court and fair courts campaigns, become familiar with contemporary legal issues, and are immersed American Progress’ outstanding undergraduate internship program.
LGBT Issues Internship
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, or LGBT, research and communications interns serve as fully engaged members of the LGBT team at American Progress. The main focuses of the team’s strategic work include ending discrimination against LGBT workers, achieving relationship recognition rights, increasing LGBT people's access to health care, and advocating for anti-LGBT bullying initiatives across the country.
LGBT interns have the opportunity to delve into a variety of policy and research projects and gain valuable knowledge and understanding of key LGBT issues facing the nation. Interns learn many of the basic skills it takes to work as a policy professional at a progressive nonprofit from a front-row seat. LGBT research and communications interns engage in research, writing, preparatory work for events, and other needed support. Interns are encouraged to take full advantage of the many events at American Progress, as well as events, briefings, and hearings that take place on the Hill and throughout Washington, D.C..
National Security and International Policy Internship
The National Security and International Policy team seeks to advance a strong progressive vision for U.S.. foreign policy. The team works on a wide array of issues, ranging from defense and national security policy to foreign affairs and international development, and has a broad geographic scope, from China and Southeast Asia to the Middle East and Turkey to Mexico and the Americas. Major ongoing projects include a robust Middle East program; innovative work on U.S.. foreign policy toward China and in Asia; articulating a strong progressive vision on national defense; the cross-linkages of climate, migration, and security; and building sustainable security through greater global prosperity and effective international development.
Interns working with American Progress’ National Security and International Policy team have the opportunity to perform extensive research and make substantive contributions to the team’s mission and ongoing projects in progressive national security, foreign affairs, and global development.
Interns develop the skills and experience needed to contribute effectively to the national security and foreign policy conversation in several key issue areas. Interns are involved in all core activities of the team, learn many of the basic skills it takes to work as a policy professional, and are assigned day-to-day activities to help integrate them into the team’s work.
Candidates must possess excellent oral and written communications skills and knowledge of basic research methods. Successful candidates will have an interest in helping to promote progressive national security and foreign policy and familiarity with the team’s recent work. Candidates with language skills, particularly Arabic and Mandarin, are encouraged to apply.
Typical Responsibilities Include:
- Research on specific issues
- Drafting and editing memos, columns, event summaries, and reports
- Assisting in preparation for events and large meetings
- Attending and reporting on policy meeting, seminars, hearings, and lectures
Race Policy/Progress 2050 Internship
Progress 2050 is a project of the Center for American Progress that provides analysis on the intersection of policy and race and examines the implications of the demographic shift happening across the nation. The team’s work uses current and future U.S.. demographic trends as a foundation for progressive policies that advance equity.
Interns learn many of the basic skills it takes to work as a policy professional at a progressive nonprofit from a front-row seat. Primary responsibilities may include doing research on issues affecting communities of color, census data evaluation, media tracking, and interacting with other experts internally and externally. In addition, interns may help plan events, conduct independent research and writing, and perform other day-to-day tasks as assigned.
Candidates must possess a desire to learn, excellent oral and written communications skills, and be flexible and adaptable to a broad array of assignments and situations. Some qualitative research experience preferred. No specific academic background is required, but the ideal intern has a general understanding of racial and ethnic communities, U.S.. history, and public affairs.
Research Team Internship
The American Progress Research team works on both rapid-response and long-term research and communications projects. The team’s core products are The Progress Report and ThinkProgress.
Interns learn many of the basic skills it takes to be a researcher and blogger at a progressive nonprofit from a front-row seat. The Progress Report, American Progress’ signature product, is a daily newsletter reaching more than 90,000 subscribers with a progressive analysis of the news. ThinkProgress is one of the web’s top progressive blogs, with original and continual research on the day’s hottest news. Research team interns do extensive research, write, edit, fact-check, monitor news stories, blog on ThinkProgress, and complete other tasks as assigned. The Research team looks for interns with strong research and writing skills.
Other duties may include conducting targeted research and reporting on policy meetings, seminars, hearings, and lectures. Whenever possible, interns are encouraged to write on the subject of their choice either as a contributor to a larger final piece or as an individual author of a column for the website.
Technical Support Internship
Are you the person your friends and family run to when their computer has issues? American Progress has dozens of Macs and hundreds of PCs, as well as its share of gremlins, so the Technical Support team can give you hands-on experience using professional-grade tools and techniques to fix the problems that arise while running a think tank that employs more than 200 people.
Join the Technical Support team as an intern and raise your skills to the next level. American Progress staff will help train you to become part firefighter, part nurse, and part CSI investigator—what it takes to be an IT professional. Your day will never be boring, and you will have time to play with new technology and share in the American Progress experience by attending presentations from policy experts and participating in the organization’s rich internship program.
Other duties may include conducting targeted research and reporting on policy meetings, seminars, hearings, and lectures. Whenever possible, interns are encouraged to write on the subject of their choice either as a contributor to a larger final piece or as an individual author of a column for the website.
ThinkProgress Internship
ThinkProgress is one of the web’s top progressive blogs, presenting original and continual research on the day’s hottest news. Interns do extensive research, write, edit, fact-check, monitor news stories, blog on ThinkProgress, and complete other tasks as assigned.
Interns learn many of the basic skills it takes to be a researcher and blogger at a progressive nonprofit from a front-row seat. ThinkProgress looks for interns with strong research and writing skills.
Other duties may include conducting targeted research and reporting on policy meetings, seminars, hearings, and lectures. Whenever possible, interns are encouraged to write on the subject of their choice either as a contributor to a larger final piece or as an individual author of a column for the website.
Video Internship
Do you want to film people such as former President Bill Clinton, Oscar nominee Ryan Gosling, and President Barack Obama? Get hands-on experience working with cutting-edge HD and DV cameras? Have the freedom to flourish in Final Cut Pro? American Progress is looking for an intern to join the Video team to expand the organization’s visual media offerings.
Interns learn many of the basic skills it takes to be a video journalist at a progressive nonprofit from a front-row seat. This internship is best suited for journalism students with a electronic media background who are looking for hands-on experience with a fast-paced team.
Send your resume and clip reels (if available) to Erin Green, American Progress Internship Program Director, at egreen@americanprogress.org or Andrew Satter, Director of Video, at asatter@americanprogress.org.
Other duties may include conducting targeted research and reporting on policy meetings, seminars, hearings, and lectures. Whenever possible, interns are encouraged to write on the subject of their choice either as a contributor to a larger final piece or as an individual author of a column for the website.
War Room Internship
The CAP Action War Rom team works on both rapid-response and long-term research and communications projects. The Progress Report, the War Room’s signature product, is a daily newsletter reaching more than 90,000 subscribers with a progressive analysis of the news.
CAP Action War Room interns learn many of the basic skills it takes to be a researcher and blogger at a progressive nonprofit from a front-row seat.
Other duties may include conducting targeted research and reporting on policy meetings, seminars, hearings, and lectures. Whenever possible, interns are encouraged to write on the subject of their choice either as a contributor to a larger final piece or as an individual author of a column for the website.
Web Producer Internship
Interns on the Web Technology team learn how journalistic content is managed and produced at a leading think tank and assist in the production and distribution of policy work on a broad range of issues. Interns learn how to effectively provide solutions to assigned projects and improve quality control of both utilities and content; deal effectively with a variety of situations and find appropriate solutions in a rapid-response environment; acquire experience and essential training for developing new and innovative ideas; and gain hands-on training in web and journalism best practices.
Interns learn many of the basic skills it takes to develop websites that enhance the policy work of a progressive nonprofit from a front-row seat. While technical skills and web experience are a plus, they are not required. This internship will provide a basic grounding in HTML and CSS with the opportunity for greater challenges with commensurate experience.
Responsibilities Include:
- Execute campaigns calling for action on current issues using Democracy in Action/Salsa and social media tools.
- Coordinate with the Editorial team to create, edit, and arrange multimedia in policy pieces and support the production and deployment of applications, interactives, and visuals.
- Apply and enforce content standards that define the character of the American Progress websites.
- Assist with diagnosis and analysis of technical problems and implementation of solutions.
- Collaborate with the Email, Social Media, and Events teams to launch new products and create effective online communications strategies.
Web Technology Developer Internship
Have you created your own mash-up or hosted your own blog? American Progress supports dozens of websites and blogs; you can help add features, launch new projects, and get involved in creating online campaigns.
American Progress is an open-source environment that uses WordPress, ExpressionEngine, Drupal, EzPublish, and Zope as platforms and PHP, Python, and JavaScript as its primary development languages. The Web Technology team is looking for motivated individuals who want to get their hands dirty expanding their web development skills and getting exposed to large, high-volume websites. At a minimum, applicants should feel comfortable writing HTML and CSS. Applications should include a link to work you have done using HTML and CSS.
Other duties may include conducting targeted research and reporting on policy meetings, seminars, hearings, and lectures. Whenever possible, interns are encouraged to write on the subject of their choice either as a contributor to a larger final piece or as an individual author of a column for the website.
Women's Health and Rights Internship
The Women’s Health and Rights Program, or WHRP, helps reframe the domestic debate on reproductive rights to better address fundamental issues of women’s health care and rights; develops innovative policy approaches to these issues; and integrates these critical issues into the broader progressive agenda and community.
Interns learn many of the basic skills it takes to be a policy professional at a progressive nonprofit from a front-row seat. Primary internship responsibilities include researching issues surrounding women’s health, including legislation and state health care policy, reproductive health care policy, Supreme Court rulings, and access to and disparities in health care. Interns conduct web-based research for working projects and preliminary research on areas of interest to the Women’s Health team. Interns also create compilations of and analyze data, write memos and assist in writing and reviewing larger projects, and report on webinars regarding women’s health or issues relating to women’s health.
In its work, the Women’s Health team recognizes, considers, and demonstrates intersections of identity and circumstance and their effect on access to and quality of care. Candidates should have a general understanding of the current issues surrounding women’s health, including some understanding of the relationship between the Affordable Care Act and women.
Other duties may include conducting targeted research and reporting on policy meetings, seminars, hearings, and lectures. Whenever possible, interns are encouraged to write on the subject of their choice either as a contributor to a larger final piece or as an individual author of a column for the website.