2024 applications now closed
Selected students will have the opportunity to work in person or remotely with our amazing partner organizations.
These paid, career-focused 8-10 week internships will provide students with hands-on experience in public policy, communications, event planning, and advocacy with non-profit organizations and government agencies.
Applicants must be University of Delaware students entering their sophomore, junior or senior year. Some sites accept graduate students, which are designated with a (*) after their name.
If you have any questions, please email us at bideninstitute@udel.edu.
Application requirements:
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
- Resume
- Cover letter
- Two (2) references
Qualifications:
- Excellent writing, editing and research skills.
- Superior communication and interpersonal skills.
- Detail-oriented, well-organized, and reliable.
- Able to work independently and take initiative.
- Excellent technical skills and social media savvy.
- Strong organizational, planning, and management skills.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and G-Suite.
- Clear grasp of the policy and lawmaking process.
- Ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment in formulating and recommending policy positions.
- Ability to adapt and respond quickly to changing landscapes and to work well under pressure and deadlines.
- Experience managing multiple projects and the ability to handle competing deadlines.
- Ability to project confidence and competency when working with senior members of the legislative and executive branches.
2024 internship host sites
View detailed descriptions of the 2024 internship host sites below. Please note that internship sites are subject to change each year.
Department/Unit: Development, Communications or Programs
Description: Active Minds is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization changing the culture around mental health. Through our presence at more than 1,000 high school and college campuses, in corporate settings, and with a wide-reaching public audience, Active Minds is creating communities of support and saving lives. Founded in 2003 by Alison Malmon after the tragic suicide of her brother, Brian, Active Minds is dedicated to supporting a new generation in ending the silence, helping to make mental health as highly valued as physical health. Through our many programs – including the emotionally gripping Send Silence Packing® traveling exhibit and our compelling Active Minds Speakers – we are changing culture and behaviors related to mental health across the country.
Responsibilities: As a small nonprofit, Active Minds relies on the help of our interns tremendously as they work directly on important initiatives and projects as well as assist staff on a variety of administrative tasks. Interns have the opportunity to do substantive work, gain experience in the nonprofit sector, and help change the culture around mental health. Depending on intern interest and organization needs, the intern will be assigned to one of the following teams: Development, Communications or Programs.
This internship is remote, but the intern will engage with staff through virtual meetings and participate in full staff meetings.
Some of the common skills required to succeed include:
- Research, writing, editing projects
- Administrative and data entry support
- Assisting with small and large-scale virtual event planning and coordination
- Design/creative projects
- Communications, outreach, blog writing, and marketing support
- Data collection and evaluation
- Other duties may be assigned as needed
Location: Remote
Description: ADvancing States represents the nation's 56 state and territorial agencies on aging and disabilities and supports visionary state leadership, the advancement of state systems innovation, and the articulation of national policies that support long-term services and supports for older adults and individuals with disabilities. Our mission is to design, improve, and sustain state systems delivering long-term services and supports for older adults, people with disabilities, and their caregivers. Each year, ADvancing States hosts the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Conference, bringing together state, federal, and local policymakers, and leaders that administer HCBS programs, to share practices and policies that improve state systems.
Responsibilities: Interns with a desire to learn about aging and disabilities policy and state innovations will primarily assist with the planning and execution of our annual HCBS Conference. Responsibilities include but are not limited to interfacing with session presenters, scheduling and recording pre-recorded sessions, conducting research, attending webinars and conference calls, monitoring and maintaining email communications, developing website and social media content, and assisting with daily office functions. Interns with demonstrated experience in state government or public policy, particularly in aging and disability policy, may be considered for additional responsibilities, including legislative and policy research.
Location: Arlington, VA
*This internship host site accepts graduate students.
Description: The Equity Interns program is a collaboration between the University of Delaware’s Biden Institute, the University of San Francisco’s Leo T. McCarthy Center and the YMCA of San Francisco to reduce the achievement gap and prevent COVID-19 learning loss in under-resourced communities. Through an intensive, 8-week internship, Equity Interns will participate in: Bayview, Buchanan, and Mission Branch Power Scholars Academy (PSA), a YMCA of San Francisco program designed to eliminate summer learning loss and prepare our most vulnerable students for success in the classroom and beyond.
In addition to the paid internship, interns will be provided with transportation to and housing in San Francisco
Responsibilities: The Equity Interns will enhance young students’ overall development, academic performance, and graduation rates by supporting Powers Scholars Academy teachers and staff and engaging children and their families while inspiring them to become life- long academic achievers. In this program Equity Interns will:
- Ensure that Power Scholars consistently and attentively participate in program activities by providing increased adult-to-student high-touch engagement;
- Connect with Power Scholars as role models and mentors who promote a college-going culture, helping Power Scholars to envision their paths to college, careers and future civic engagement
- Empower Power Scholars to believe in their ability to learn, solve complex problems, and feel belonging in their learning program.
- Identify causes and impacts of disparities in educational access and academic achievement in the national context, paying particular attention to the issues faced by historically marginalized communities.
- Take an asset-based approach when interacting with youth, peers, and community partners, emphasizing an intersectional perspective that specifically integrates principles of social-emotional learning and community engagement.
- Engage actively in interdisciplinary education, research, and action, fostering effective and principled civic engagement, while inspiring advocates for sound public policy for all, drawing from cohort learning community meetings, guest speakers, non-profit leaders, government officials, and grassroots community organizers.
Location: San Francisco, CA (in-person)
Description: CleanCapital is a diversified clean energy investment platform. We deploy a unique approach—underpinned by industry-leading technology—to make attractive investments in distributed generation solar and energy storage. In just over four years, CleanCapital has become one of the leading owner-operators of commercial & industrial (C&I) solar in the U.S. CleanCapital was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in New York City.
Responsibilities: CleanCapital has a healthy pipeline of energy storage projects under development across multiple partners & multiple markets. The energy storage intern will assist in developing databases, processes and analysis required to ensure this pipeline is converted into successful clean energy projects and assist CleanCapital with creating processes for upcoming investment opportunities in the energy storage space. Some key responsibilities will include:
- Assist with developing database for market intelligence: identifying locations, utilities, states for different market segments (dx connected ftm, tx FTM ,btm etc.) that will guide our go-to market strategy for development partners and development team.
- Attend trade association meetings & Identify key developing markets for CCI storage.
- Create a process along with CC policy team to track and contribute efficiently to storage policy movements.
- Assist with standardization of engineering and IX practices to successfully hit NTP & procurement milestones
- Formalize internal process of conducting energy storage retrofit analysis.
Qualifications:
- Interest in the interplay between project development, public policy, market development and clean energy investments
- Familiarity with & understanding of energy markets, utilities & tariffs.
- Self-starter – works independently and effectively on projects.
- Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to take ideas and run with them from concept to conclusion.
- Excellent interpersonal skills while managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced and ever-changing environment
- Excellence in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Location: Buffalo, NY (hybrid; intern will work remotely with 1-2 paid trips to the Buffalo office)
Description: The Environmental Justice Health Alliance (EJHA) for Chemical Policy Reform is a national network of grassroots environmental and economic justice organizations and advocates in communities that are disproportionately impacted by toxic chemicals from legacy contamination, ongoing exposure to polluting facilities and health-harming chemicals in household products. EJHA supports a just transition towards safer chemicals and a pollution-free economy that leaves no community or worker behind. The EJHA network model features leadership of, by, and for Environmental Justice groups with support from additional allied groups and individual experts.
Coming Clean is a nonprofit environmental health collaborative working to transform the chemical industry so it is no longer a source of harm, and to secure systemic changes that allow a safe chemical and clean energy economy to flourish. Our members are organizations and technical experts — including grassroots activists, community leaders, scientists, health professionals, business leaders, lawyers, and farmworker advocates — committed to principled collaboration to advance a nontoxic, sustainable, and just world for all
Responsibilities: Interns will gain experience and exposure engaging with grassroots organizations, policymakers, and community members to advance Environmental Justice efforts. This internship will work closely with Coming Clean to review the Executive Order on Revitalizing Our Nation's Commitment to Environmental Justice for All, to identify potential programmatic benefits of the Justice40 initiative, and the Inflation Reduction Act. Students interested in climate adaptation, advocacy, and policy analysis through community engaged research are encouraged to apply.
Location: Delaware (hybrid)
*This internship host site accepts graduate students.
Description: The mission of the Delaware Alliance Against Sexual Violence (DAASV) is to address sexual violence in Delaware by creating an inclusive community that supports survivors through advocacy, intervention, and awareness.
Responsibilities: DAASV is desirous of an intern that can take the lead with helping to enhance DAASV's social media presence. The intern will also have opportunities to participate in program and training development for DAASV's membership, working with under-resourced populations, and conduct outreach activities throughout Delaware.
Great follow through on assignments, understands the importance of communication that includes phone calls to immediate supervisor, and the ability to think outside the box for problem solving, Also, would like someone that has expertise with social media platforms to become lead for DAASV's social media venue while interning.
Location: Delaware
Department/Unit: Policy and Communications
Description: Delaware Coalition Against Gun Violence (DECAGV) (c4) seeks to end gun violence in Delaware and nationwide through policy, partnerships, and prevention education programs. We advocate for common sense gun laws.
Responsibilities: Interns will shadow the executive director in Dover, engage with elected officials, write policy calls to action for constituents and support social media to engage Delawareans in advocacy. Once the legislative session ends on June 30, interns will finalize a policy brief to summarize DECAGV’s work during the 152nd General Assembly.
Location: Dover, DE (hybrid)
Description: The Office of Women's Advancement and Advocacy (OWAA) is responsible for overseeing the State's women's right work, including leading the ongoing implementation of women's rights legislation, evaluating current women's rights legislation, building support for new legislation, and advising the Governor's Office, the Legislature and the Secretary of the Department of Human Resources. The office will review and report on the status of women in the State as well as provide information on the status of women to the public, state agencies, the General Assembly, the Judiciary, organizations, businesses and institutions, when necessary. The Office of Women's Advancement and Advocacy also oversees the Delaware Commission for Women, Delaware Women's Hall of Fame Committee, and the Delaware Women's Workforce Council.
Responsibilities: The OWAA policy intern will primarily focus on researching and drafting a memo of policy and program ideas to address the needs of women and girls in Delaware. Since OWAA approaches “women’s issues” in a broad and intersectional way, this memo will include a wide range of issues, including health, education and economic security. And since OWAA is housed within the Department of Human Resources, this memo will also include ideas for addressing the needs of women within the state workforce.
- Assess and analyze any gaps in the policy and program landscape for Delaware women and girls.
- Identify new and emerging policies and programs to improve the lives of Delaware women and girls.
- Draft a persuasive and well-research policy memo of policy and program ideas for consideration.
- Represent OWAA at offsite meetings and events, take notes, and report back.
- Assisting with the staffing of OWAA events.
Location: Delaware (hybrid)
Department/Unit: Policy and Planning
Description: The Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) is a community development, public housing, and housing finance, agency. In those roles, DSHA administers services such as providing rental assistance, allocating federal and state community development and homelessness services funds, promoting homeownership through down-payment, closing cost assistance, and low-rate mortgages to qualifying Delawareans.
Responsibilities: This internship would be working primarily with the Policy and Planning Section of DSHA. The intern will assist with policy research and development, have the opportunity to engage with stakeholders and policymakers working to making housing opportunities more accessible and available to all, review and analyze proposals on housing that come before the General Assembly, and attend events and forums on important housing matters when possible. This opportunity will also provide the intern to engage with other sections of DSHA to support their needs as wells as allowing for the intern to engage more on issues of their own interest.
Location: Dover, DE (hybrid)
Department/Unit: Policy and Government Affairs
Description: The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve LGBTQ+ equality. By inspiring and engaging individuals and communities, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and realize a world that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.
HRC envisions a world where lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people plus community members who use different language to describe identity are ensured equality and embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.
Responsibilities:
- Play an active role in the nation's largest LGBTQ+ equality organization.
- Gain valuable professional skills while developing your voice as an LGBTQ+ advocate and leader.
- Find your role in program areas, ranging from political to development, communications to education.
- Connect with some of the foremost LGBTQ+ and allied leaders through educational brown bag seminars and other events.
Interns must complete and pass a background check.
Location: Washington, DC (in-person or remote)
Department/Unit: Office of the Chief Executive Officer
Description: KABOOM! in a national non-profit organization based in the Washington, DC area that is dedicated to ending racially based playspace inequity. We are working towards this mission by partnering with community based organization, school districts, and cities to build new playgrounds for kids who have been historically underserved while also advocating for policy change at the federal, state, and local levels of government.
Responsibilities: The intern would work with the Office of the CEO and be responsible for helping to develop and implement communications, strategic planning, and engagement activities.
Location: Washington, DC (remote or in-person)
Department/Unit: Advocacy, Education and Support
Description: The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI Delaware was founded in 1983 by Simon and Jill Shute along with a group of families desperate for support for their loved ones. Over the years, the organization has grown to provide a wide range of awareness, advocacy, support, education, and housing to support those affected by mental illness in Delaware.
Responsibilities: As an intern with NAMI Delaware's Advocacy, Education and Support team, you are committed to educating the local community about mental health and suicide prevention.
- Prepare engagement strategies for high schools, middle schools, community centers, and parent meetings across the state.
- Deliver custom presentations associated with mental health challenges and suicidal thoughts.
- Develop and update custom presentations tailored to fit that specific institution/organization’s needs.
- Review current events in the mental health world to keep presentations up to date with statistics.
- Participate in evidence-based trainings.
- Staff NAMI Delaware events as needed.
- Attend meetings and webinars on behalf of NAMI Delaware and take notes to bring back to the Advocacy, Education and Support team.
- Assist on other special assignments as needed.
- Reliable transportation needed
Location: Wilmington, DE (hybrid)
Description: The Office of Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester proudly serves the state of Delaware in the U.S. House of Representatives and is dedicated to expanding opportunity for Delawareans and citizens across the nation. Congresswoman Blunt Rochester is a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce where she focuses on issues such as, advancing healthcare equity and tackling our nation's opioid and addiction epidemic. Additionally, Congresswoman Blunt Rochester is a leading voice on economic and future of work issues and leverages her professional experience to advocate for issues such as small business growth, college affordability, and removing barriers for citizens re-entering society. With deep roots in the first state, Congresswoman Blunt Rochester is a passionate advocate for the needs of every community which informs her work in Washington, DC.
Responsibilities: The Washington, DC interns' responsibilities will vary. Office hours are flexible to accommodate students' hectic course schedules, but generally run 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. when Congress is in session, and 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Interns will be asked to answer phones, run errands, research legislation for the member and legislative staff, attend hearings and briefings and answer constituent letters on various issues before the House. As a result, interns learn about the legislative process and the many other functions of a congressional office.
Location: Washington DC (hybrid) or Wilmington, DE (hybrid)
Description: Born in Wilmington and raised in Claymont, Governor John Carney has been working for the Delaware people for more than 30 years. Governor Carney took office as Delaware’s 74th Governor in January 2017, focused on making Delaware’s economy more competitive, preparing Delaware’s children to succeed, and building a long-term sustainable financial plan for the State of Delaware. Working with Delawareans across the state, and with members of the General Assembly, he has made progress on each of those priorities. Governor Carney has directed new resources to high-needs schools, partnered with the private sector to drive new job creation, and taken steps to lower healthcare costs for Delaware families, businesses and taxpayers.
Responsibilities: Governor John Carney’s office offers part-time policy internships throughout the fall, winter, spring and summer semesters for college students. Interns will have the opportunity to learn more about the policy making process, and assist with research and briefing memos. Interns also will be asked to monitor news outlets, assist with constituent communications, and generally support the Governor’s staff. Internships may qualify for course credit. Interns should plan to schedule around 20 hours per week for this internship.
Reliable transportation required to be able to attend events across the state as needed.
Location: Dover, DE (in-person)
Description: Maryland Governor Wes Moore was inaugurated on January 18, 2023, as Maryland's 63rd Governor. Governor Moore's administration is built around a shared mission to leave no one behind - the belief that no matter where a person starts in life, they deserve an equal opportunity to succeed. To make that a reality, we're focused on building a strong and equitable economy, creating a world-class public education system, ensuring public safety, providing effective and affordable health care to those in need, and protecting the rights of every Marylander. Governor Moore's administration is committed to meeting the urgency of this moment with the leadership that Marylanders deserve. We stand united around our vision for a state where every person can thrive.
Location: Annapolis, MD (in-person or remote)
Description: As a U.S. Senator for more than a decade, Chris Coons has worked hard to find bipartisan solutions to the issues facing Delaware, the nation, and the world. Putting pragmatism ahead of politics, Chris has partnered with Republicans and Democrats alike to address key issues like economic competitiveness, foreign policy, climate change, and intellectual property. He sits on the Appropriations, Judiciary, Foreign Relations, and Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committees, and chairs the bipartisan Select Committee on Ethics. A longtime New Castle County resident, Chris served as New Castle County Council President and New Castle County Executive prior to his election to the U.S. Senate. He lives in Wilmington with his wife, Annie. They have three children: Michael, Jack, and Margaret.
Responsibilities:
- Wilmington - State office interns interact with Senator Coons, his staff, and Delaware constituents on a daily basis. They act as support to Senator Coons and the office staff through a wide variety of duties, including addressing constituent concerns, assisting the casework team, researching legislative issues, monitoring relevant news outlets, preparing memos and helping to organize outreach events.
- Washington, DC - Legislative interns work with the Senator and staff in his DC-based office. Interns support Senator Coons and staff through projects, including researching legislative issues, drafting memos and addressing constituent concerns. Interns also attend constituent meetings and congressional hearings, help organize outreach events, lead Capitol tours for constituents and assist with office operations.
Location: Wilmington, DE or Washington, DC
Please indicate on your cover letter which location you would like to apply for.
Department/Unit: Government Relations
Description: Save the Children is a global non-governmental organization. We work to ensure children survive and thrive in the United States and globally. Through our work in the United States and around the world, we've changed the lives of over 1 billion children. We work in over 100 countries, doing whatever it takes — every day and in times of crisis — to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. In 2022 alone, Save the Children programs and partners helped 118 million children in 116 countries become healthier, safer and better educated.
Save the Children's Government Relations Department is a part of a division called Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns. Save the Children's Government Relations Department works on creating effective policy change and ensuring robust resources to meet the needs of children and achieve the highest program impact. To that end, we develop and advocate for policies that will give millions of children the best chance for success – securing a better future for us all. We cultivate political leadership to drive change and work with policymakers at local, national, and global levels.
Responsibilities: The domestic policy fellow will support the policy and advocacy work of the Domestic Federal Policy team under the supervision of Roy Chrobocinski, Managing Director, Domestic Policy, Save the Children. The fellow will be housed in the Department of Government Relations, Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns Division. The internship will provide critical support to the team's advocacy by tracking, analyzing, and contributing to the creation of advocacy products and execution of advocacy activities related to needs of children in the United States including addressing the needs of children in rural America, early childhood education or other related issues. The intern will also support other activities as needed such as attending meetings or congressional hearings or research on Members of Congress.
Location: Remote
Description: SocialSphere is a modern public opinion research and consulting firm founded and based in Harvard Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Led by John Della Volpe and Jonathan Chavez, we specialize in qualitative and quantitative research methods with unparalleled expertise understanding and communicating with the gen z and millennial populations.
We are social scientists, analysts, creative and strategic thinkers. Our collective experience spans decades and traverses dozens of political and public affairs campaigns, social and government initiatives, brand positionings and product launches. We partner with our “smart tribe” of subject-matter experts to bring our clients the most efficient and effective research methodologies, statistical tools and strategies. We remain at the forefront of technological advancements in the field, to render results in a clear, compelling and actionable manner.
Responsibilities: Given our work at the forefront of research and politics, this is an internship that is best suited for students who are intellectually curious and well-read on politics and public affairs. Interns will assist with both the qualitative and quantitative aspects of public opinion research, including brainstorming questions for surveys, taking notes during focus groups, crafting and fact-checking deliverables for clients, conducting background research and compiling publicly available opinion data and more.
Our company is remote so this position is virtual, but we are an active, collaborative team and each intern will be assigned a mentor.
Location: Remote
Description: The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) is the official non-partisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are over 1,400 such cities in the country today. Each city is represented in the conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. The conference serves as the leading advocacy group for cities. Mayors contribute to the development of national urban policy by serving on one or more of the conference’s standing committees. Cities are invited to share best practices on how they tackled challenges in a variety of issue areas. These are collected and showcased in various reports, surveys, forums and on our website.
Responsibilities: Policy interns will work with USCM staff on an issue of interest to the student. This could be a particular urban policy or best practice. Interns will also assist USCM staff in preparation for the annual meeting.
Location: Remote
Description: United For ALICE (UFA) is a driver of innovation, shining a light on the challenges faced by ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households and working with stakeholders across the country to find collaborative solutions. Through a standardized methodology that assesses the gap in income and cost of living for households in every county, UFA provides a comprehensive measure of financial hardship across the U.S. Our reports, tools and interactive dashboards provide high quality, unbiased data and analysis that is used by governments, nonprofits, academics, and the media to better understand and support ALICE families in local communities and nationwide.
Responsibilities: The intern will provide research and administrative support for the UFA team, working with us to uphold our methodological and statistical standards while assisting in coordination with key stakeholders. Specific tasks are outlined below and include research and data analysis and support for relevant UFA activities that may include surveys, reports, blog posts, website development, special projects, and more. This position requires someone with strong statistical and organizational skills, good communication, confidence to ask questions and comfort working as part of a team.
• Support data collection for UFA reports and data dashboards.
• Provide research and administrative support for ALICE@Work, a pilot project aimed at educating employers on the needs of ALICE workers and incentivizing strategies that help ALICE in the workplace.
• Attend and provide administrative support for the ALICE Lived Experience Council, consisting of people who are ALICE, that will help inform our work.
Location: Remote
*This internship host site accepts graduate students.
Description: The White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through Historically Black Colleges and Universities, in coordination with senior officials across the Executive Office of the President, shall provide advice to the President on advancing equity, excellence, and opportunity at HBCUs and for the communities they principally serve by coordinating a Government-wide policymaking effort to eliminate barriers HBCUs face in providing the highest-quality education to a growing number of students. The Initiative’s recommendations shall include advice on advancing policies, programs, and initiatives.
Applicants should read our establishing executive order and the HBCU Partners Act.
Responsibilities: The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to ensuring all students have the teachers and school staff they need to succeed, and addressing the teacher shortage is one of U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona’s top priorities.
The intern selected for this role will work directly with the executive director and deputy director on a strategic plan that strengthens the position of HBCUs to fill this need in communities across America. This position will also work support the executive director and deputy director in developing a strategy to increase retention rates at HBCUs, including the facilitation of bi-weekly meetings with university executives, non-profit partners, students and alumni to help inform the proposed plan.
This would be an ideal internship for students studying public policy, education/education policy, political science, history, Africana studies, etc.
Location: Washington, DC (hybrid)
*This internship host site accepts graduate students.
