Build Your Skills.
Make Your Voice Count.
Kick-start your political career with hands-on experience in advocacy, community outreach and lobbying.
Work remotely in a country where The Borgen Project has an advocacy program.
Political Affairs Internship
Gain practical experience and valuable skills for your future career while supporting The Borgen Project’s mission to make global poverty a political priority.
This role focuses on educating, mobilizing, fundraising, lobbying and networking.
What You’ll Be Involved In
You’ll combine research and writing with conversations, community outreach and your own fundraising project. You’ll work on these activities throughout the 12-week program.
Lobbying and Political Advocacy
Contact your political leader’s office to request a meeting, prepare your key points and discuss poverty-reduction priorities.
Events and Community Outreach
Speak to classes and community groups, give presentations and show people how to contact their leaders about global poverty.
Policy Brief Research and Writing
Research a poverty-related policy issue and write a brief that explains the issue, the proposed action and why it matters.
Fundraising
Plan and carry out your own fundraising campaign. Choose activities, reach out to supporters and review your progress.
Political Letters
Write to political leaders in support of poverty-reduction policies, using a clear request and evidence to make your case.
Networking Events
Attend networking events, introduce The Borgen Project’s work and build relationships with people who could support your advocacy.
Remote Work. Community Action.
You’ll research, write and plan remotely, then put that preparation into practice by contacting leaders, speaking to groups and encouraging people to take action.
Your work includes individual projects and outreach to others, with regular progress updates.
Skills You Will Develop
A Clear Plan for Your Work
You’ll work through weekly tasks connected to The Borgen Project’s mission and the role’s focus areas.
You’ll meet weekly deadlines and share updates on your progress.
Plan Your 12 Weeks
This is an unpaid, remote internship requiring 12 hours per week for 12 weeks.
New programs begin every month, and you choose the month you wish to start.
“My internship with The Borgen Project introduced me to connections in local Congressional offices and helped launch my career into politics.”
John Muscolini · Former Political Affairs Intern
Internship Questions
Are These Internships Office-Based?
No. These are remote opportunities. Meetings take place online, while some role activities involve outreach in your own community. Country eligibility varies by role; check the full role description before applying.
Are the Internships Paid?
All four tracks are unpaid. We work with schools and universities to support course credit where applicable; check your institution’s requirements before applying.
How Much Time Will I Need?
The program runs for 12 weeks, with a commitment of 12 hours per week. You’ll need to meet weekly deadlines and provide progress updates.
What Does Fundraising Involve?
Fundraising is part of all four tracks, with 25 hours of the program dedicated to planning and carrying out your campaign. It’s an opportunity to build practical project-management, communication and outreach skills.
We ask you to stay actively engaged and use those hours to achieve as much as you can. We recognize that not everyone will raise $500: your performance is evaluated on your effort and commitment, rather than the total raised.
You can choose approaches that suit your skills, such as fundraising letters, a sponsored challenge, a small event or offering a service in exchange for donations. Start early, follow up and try different ideas.
Explore our fundraising ideas, Taylor’s fundraising experience and Haley’s fundraising experience for inspiration.
When Can I Start?
New programs begin every month. You can choose the month you wish to start through the recruitment process.
What if I Have Difficulty Applying?
Email hr@borgenproject.org. Add borgenproject.org to your safe senders and check your spam or junk folder for recruitment emails.
Put Your Interest Into Action
Ready to build experience in political affairs? Open the application form to get started.
