Job Description

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) is a high-caliber strategic policy institute that informs and shapes public policies to reduce poverty, promote equity, and build opportunity It has a national reputation for conducting rigorous research and analysis, developing evidence-based policy ideas and strategies, shaping a broad array of policy debates at the federal and state levels, and influencing policy outcomes on a range of critical issues. It focuses on improving the lives of people with low or moderate incomes and examines how policies affect particular groups, including Black, Indigenous, and other people of color; immigrants; people with disabilities; and LGBTQ+ people. CBPP is known for its unique capacity to blend rigorous, timely analysis with effective communications that enable policymakers and the media to make use of its work.

CBPP has an opening for an intern to work with its Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EIB) core team. The team includes:

• the Chief Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Officer;
• the Deputy Director for Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging;
• the Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Fellow;
• the Director of Equity, Belonging, and Internal Communications;
• the Director of Strategy and Equity in Public Policy;
• the Equity and Inclusion Project Manager & Senior Executive Assistant;
• the Director of Network Culture and Organizational Health;
• the Network Culture and Operations Manager; and
• the Director of Outreach and Community Engagement.

The intern will be supervised by the Chief Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Officer, who leads the organization’s efforts to develop and implement policies and practices that build a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable organization in fulfillment of CBPP’s mission and values. The Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Fellow will serve as the intern mentor and provide guidance, mentorship, and direction on programmatic functions and responsibilities.

At a high level, this work entails creating opportunities to expand staff capacity, supporting the implementation of new policies and organizational practices, creating organization accountability tools and strategies, and developing systems to track progress toward stated goals. A primary function of the EIB team is to provide ongoing professional development, training, and learning opportunities that assist staff in building their awareness, knowledge, and skills around adopting practices that foster greater inclusion within their professional practice and interpersonal interactions.

Responsibilities will vary based on the intern’s background and personal/professional interests. However, functional responsibilities will include supporting an array of projects related to the organization’s equity and inclusion work and supporting the collection of resources to be used in EIB training and professional development opportunities, such as:

• Assist with curriculum development, content facilitation, and program management for the Racial Equity Activity and Discussion (READ) internship seminar, CBPP’s EIB learning and development initiative for interns.
• Participate as a member of CBPP’s EIB Advisory Council, representing the perspectives of CBPP interns.
• Provide programmatic and logistical support to the EIB team in working with specific departments or teams within the organization.
• Assist in the planning and execution of programming for CBPP’s affinity groups, including heritage month activities, speakers, and programs.
• Manage and build CBPP’s EIB Resource Database as an ongoing educational and training tool for staff.
• Assist with planning, designing, and managing Catalyst, CBPP’s annual all staff EIB community-building convening.

Qualifications:

• Creative, thoughtful, solution-oriented, innovative, highly self-motivated, and collaborative.
• Highly organized, attentive to detail, and able to manage multiple tasks for different projects/supervisors (often on a time-sensitive basis).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing equity and inclusion.
• Strong facilitation skills.
• Background in participating in, leading, and/or organizing efforts to foster greater equity and inclusion for historically marginalized communities and/or identity groups.
• Ability to work effectively across cultural differences.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office productivity applications, including Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Education current undergraduate and graduate students (including law students),as well as recent graduates.

Successful interns will have a commitment to CBPP’s mission to improve the well-being of low- and moderate-income people and advance racial equity.   

To expand the diversity of voices shaping organizational change and strategy in equity and inclusion efforts, CBPP's internship program seeks highly motivated candidates — particularly those with experience working within or advocating for underrepresented and marginalized communities. Ideal candidates will have a demonstrated interest in driving institutional transformation, programmatic development, and strategic initiatives that address systemic inequities and advance racial equity and inclusion within organizations and broader societal structures.    

International students are welcome to apply. CBPP does not provide financial sponsorship for visas or work permits. You must have documentation of work authorization for the U.S. AND a U.S. Social Security number, as of the start date of the internship, to be employed by CBPP.

Application Deadline: June 19, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET        

Internship Start Date: September 8, 2026     

Internship End Date: December 18, 2026

CBPP's fall internship will be remote. Remote interns must be in the U.S. for the duration of the internship. Interns located in the Washington, D.C. metro area during the fall term will work on a hybrid schedule that includes at least two days per week in person at our D.C. office. 

Work Hours: Interns should be available between 30-40 hours per week during core Eastern Time business hours. Work schedules can be flexed to accommodate time zone differences as well as classwork and other school commitments.

Compensation:        

• Undergraduate students receive $18.00 per hour.        
• Students with a bachelor's degree receive $19.00 per hour.       
• Graduate students receive $20.00 per hour.        
• Students with a master’s or law degree receive $21.00 per hour.        
• Doctoral students may receive between $20.00 and $22.00 per hour, depending on progress toward completion of degree requirements, relevant coursework, and research.

Required application materials:     

• Cover letter (please include a discussion of what draws you to CBPP’s mission and the EIB team’s work, as well as an overview of your background in participating, leading, and/or organizing efforts to foster greater equity and inclusion for historically marginalized communities and/or identity groups)     
• Résumé  
• Transcript(s)    

Only complete applications submitted electronically through our system will be considered. Once you submit your application, you will receive an electronic confirmation. Applications submitted by mail or email will not be accepted. Visit https://www.cbpp.org/internshipsfor more information about CBPP’s internship program. No phone calls, please.     

If you have read all of the information on the website about internships at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and still have an inquiry about the application process, please emailinternship@cbpp.org

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and welcomes diversity in the workplace and strongly encourages all qualified persons to apply regardless of race, color, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, credit information, pregnancy or parental status, family responsibilities, personal appearance, creed, military or veteran status, religion, ancestry or national origin, union activities, disability, or other status protected by applicable law.