Citizen Engagement - Campaigns Intern

Semester: Spring (January-May 2027)

Status: Part-time Temporary (20-25 hours per week)
Reports to: National Campaigns Manager 

Stipend: $18.40 per hour 

Location: Washington, DC or Remote

ORGANIZATION

Issue One is a cross-partisan 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organization fighting to protect American democracy. We don't just sound the alarm when democracy is under threat.  We mobilize action to fight back. Since 2014, we've worked to pass game-changing reforms that increase transparency, strengthen government ethics and accountability, reduce the influence of big money in politics, protect the freedom to vote, and secure our elections. When threats emerge, we move fast to educate the public, pressure Congress, and organize citizens to defend the democratic systems that make self-government possible. Our work is grounded in the belief that a healthy democracy requires constant vigilance and that protecting it demands both policy reform and grassroots action.

POSITION

Issue One seeks a spring intern to support the citizen engagement team with its work to build and mobilize a broad, diverse movement for democracy reform through national campaigns and grasstops organizing. 

The campaigns staff on the citizen engagement team design and deliver multi-pronged advocacy strategies at the national and state levels, build bipartisan coalitions, and advance campaigns like Check the Exec. The team focuses on building influence in many ways, which includes: leveraging public pressure, partner relationships, grasstops organizing, and issue-based storytelling to build bipartisan support for reform.

Issue One seeks a spring citizen engagement - campaigns intern interested in learning about campaign strategy and advocacy. The intern will support Issue One’s constitutional defense and election protection strategy, Faces of Democracy council, ReFormers Caucus, and Check the Exec campaign, among other responsibilities. 

Interns are integral members of Issue One and will gain hands-on experience in campaign strategy, coalition organizing, and research. Since Issue One also works closely with other reform organizations, interns will also gain a comprehensive perspective on nationwide work toward democracy reform.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide administrative, research, and logistical support. Assist with maintaining internal systems, trackers, and databases
• Support coordination across team activities, including meeting preparation, action-oriented follow‑up, and documentation
• Research and support the intersection of Issue One’s policy issues with campaign strategies and organizing opportunities 
• Support Check the Exec, Issue One’s bipartisan campaign to defend democracy by strengthening constitutional checks and balances against executive overreach; tasks may include monitoring political developments, drafting briefs, supporting campaign rollouts, and engaging with validators and partners
• Track and monitor relevant political, media, and policy news
• Draft presentations, newsletters, and letters to key stakeholder groups; assist with webinars and events as needed
• Collaborate with staff to prepare for and sit in on meetings with Issue One’s grasstops councils (e.g., ReFormers Caucus, Faces of Democracy, Council for Responsible Social Media)
• Provide general support across the national campaigns team’s democracy defense portfolio, with opportunities to work on election protection, money in politics, technology reform, and other constitutional defense initiatives

REQUIREMENTS

• A “yes mentality:” proactive, flexible, and solution-oriented
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work across the political spectrum with respect and openness
• Creative thinker with the ability to adapt to evolving priorities
• Strong research and analytical skills
• Collaborative and eager to work in a team environment
• Quick learner who is comfortable in a fast-paced setting
• Demonstrated interest in democracy reform, civic engagement, grassroots or grasstops organizing, or political advocacy

LOCATION

This will be a part-time internship of 20-25 hours per week. Interns can work remotely or join us on-site for a hybrid schedule, including being in our Washington, DC office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. If remote, they must reside in a state where Issue One is formally established. These states include California, Colorado, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Utah, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Remote opportunities outside of these states are not available.

We anticipate this being a roughly 18-week internship, starting on or about Monday, Jan. 12, and ending on or about Friday, May 22.

Intern Selection Timeline

• October 8-23: Position is posted, and resumes are collected. 
• October 26-November 6: Resumes are screened and interviews are scheduled.
• November 9-13: Finalist selected and internship offered. 
• January 12, 2027: Internship begins.

Special Note: While Issue One will do its best to follow the above timeline, there are instances where the selection process is shortened or delayed due to circumstances beyond our control. The organization will do its best to update all selected candidates on any changes to the timeline. In addition, while resumes may be submitted after October 23, there’s no guarantee they will be screened for a potential interview.

DEI Philosophy and Self-ID Questionnaire 

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) drive everything we do at Issue One. We celebrate each individual's unique perspectives and experiences with our team. Your voice matters to us, and we're committed to creating an environment where everyone feels valued and respected.

As part of our ongoing DEI efforts, we invite all applicants to voluntarily complete our self-identification questionnaire when submitting their resume. Rest assured, your responses are confidential and have no impact on your job application. This survey helps us better understand our diverse community, ensuring that everyone has equal opportunities for success.

How to Apply

Interested applicants can apply by clicking here. Please include how you heard about the position.

Issue One is committed to the principles of equal employment. We are committed to complying with all federal, state, and local laws providing equal employment opportunities and all other employment laws and regulations. We intend to maintain a work environment that is free of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation because of age, race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation (including transgender status, gender identity or expression), pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation, and related medical conditions), reproductive health decisions, marital status, personal appearance, matriculation, political affiliation, credit information, employment status, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), veteran status, uniformed service member status, status as a victim or family member of a victim of domestic violence, a sexual offense, or stalking, homeless status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws. The Company is dedicated to the fulfillment of this policy in regard to all aspects of employment, including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, placement, transfer, training, promotion, rates of pay, fringe benefits, and other compensation, the application of disability and/or temporary disability policies, termination, and all other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.