Spring 2026 Cross Divisional Team- National Political Advocacy Department Internship | ACLU
Spring 2026 Undergraduate Intern, Cross Divisional Team- National Political Advocacy Department
Hybrid-Washington D.C.
The ACLU seeks an Undergraduate Intern for the Cross-Divisional team of the National Political Advocacy Department of the ACLU’s National office in Washington D.C. This internship is hybrid.
Qualifying applicants must currently be matriculated undergraduate students and must be based in the U.S. for the entire duration of the internship.
The Team:
The National Political Advocacy Department (NPAD) builds power to achieve an accountable, representative democracy. We have ambitious goals across Reproductive Freedom, Democracy and Voting Rights, Systemic Equality, Immigration, Trans Justice, Criminal Justice and other core issues to protect and expand civil rights and civil liberties, and advance the freedom, equality, ability to prosper, and humanity of all People.
Our department conducts analysis, develops policy, crafts world class campaigns and situates the ACLU to have impact across legislative, administrative, and electoral levers. We are policy experts, lawyers, community organizers, lobbyists, campaign strategists, electoral specialists, program managers and more. We partner across the ACLU to drive national efforts, and support and amplify the priorities of our affiliates. We work to center principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging in our approach.
The Cross-Divisional team is responsible for managing large scale, department wide projects including the ACLU’s Candidate Race and Ballot Initiative work on key issue areas.
What You’ll Do:
The intern will be responsible for supporting the Senior Strategist of Special Projects, with ongoing cross-department programs that include, but are not limited to, large-scale activations, in person convenings, strategic collaboration coordination, and more.
Your Day to Day
- Driving innovation: Work with senior strategist to think and drive innovative solutions to ACLU’s complex political projects.
- Project management support: Aid in project planning, tracking milestones, and editing relevant project documents.
- Event Coordination: Assist in planning, logistics, and on-site/remote management of NPAD events.
- Research and writing: Supporting senior strategist with research, writing, and design to better prepare strategic coordination projects.
What You’ll Bring:
- Proactive Learning: Being proactive in seeking out opportunities to learn and grow is key in a fast-paced environment. Interns should demonstrate curiosity, initiative, and a willingness to take on new challenges. This includes asking for feedback, seeking out resources, and continuously improving their skills.
- Time Management: Prioritizing tasks, managing deadlines, and staying organized are essential. Interns should be able to balance multiple responsibilities efficiently and effectively allocate their time and resources.
- Critical Thinking: Interns should possess strong critical thinking skills to analyze problems, evaluate information, and make effective decisions under pressure. This involves being able to identify patterns and propose innovative solutions.
- Adaptability: The ability to quickly adjust to new situations, tasks, and environments is crucial. This includes being flexible with changing priorities, processes, and methods.
Future ACLU-ers Will:
- Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU
- Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives
- Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflict
Internship Logistics:
- Location: Our internship program offers a limited number of remote or hybrid intern positions. This internship is full-time and hybrid from our Washington D.C. office.
- Time Commitment: Full-time (35 hours/week)
- Internship Duration: Full-time internships span 10 consecutive weeks. This internship has a start date of: January 12th or January 26th
- Stipend: A stipend is available for students who are lawfully authorized to work. Arrangements can be made with educational institutions for work/study or course credit.
- Below are the stipend rates:
- $20/hr for undergraduate students or equivalent experience
- $24/hr for graduate and law students or equivalent experience
Priority Application Deadline: October 31st, 2025
While there is a priority deadline, our project is committed to reviewing all applications on a rolling basis until the closing of posting.
