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 opportunities. 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.  

The State Fiscal Policy (SFP) team conducts research and analysis of tax and budget developments in the states, with a focus on how they affect low-income families and individuals. Areas of research include budget and tax reform, taxes and economic development, anti-poverty programs and tax policies, criminal justice, higher education, K-12 education, and immigration. SFP also coordinates and provides in-depth assistance to the State Priorities Partnership (SPP), a nationwide network of 42 state-level organizations engaged in on-the-ground state fiscal policy work. 

The SFP Operations and Strategic Project Initiative (OPI) intern will support SFP’s regrant-driven project initiatives and programs and help improve cross-team business practices. The intern will provide support for various communications and logistics, facilitate learning among the SPP network, assist in planning events and trainings, and research and execute business process design. Tasks may include compiling learning resources for the SFP team and the SPP network, scheduling and assisting in facilitating stakeholder meetings, supporting database management, and other tasks related to keeping projects running smoothly. Interns may also assist with compiling regrant and project implementation data, interactions tracking, and success bullets to help project teams adapt and continually improve the value of our offerings and promote them with funders and funder prospects.

Qualifications:   

• Prior experience in political or issue-area campaigns and advocacy as well as government, communications, fundraising, or nonprofits is preferred.
• Strong writing, research, and organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and meet deadlines.  
• Demonstrated interest in economic and/or racial equity and the role of public policy in achieving greater equity. 
• Strong interest in CBPP’s mission and the issues it works on; interest in community engagement, politics, and social change; and a desire to gain issue campaign and/or advocacy experience.  
• Education: current undergraduate students or recent graduates. High GPA strongly preferred.  

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 that speak with authority in federal and state policy debates, CBPP’s internship program identifies highly motivated candidates — particularly those with experience with communities that are underrepresented in policy debates — with a demonstrated interest in working on public policies that affect low-income and diverse communities and have implications for racial equity.

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 State Fiscal Policy team’s work)     
• 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.