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 or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience and must be based in the U.S. for the entire duration of the internship 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: Jan. 11th or Jan. 25th, 2027
• 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
  • This internship must be tied to the intern’s formal education program by integrated coursework or the receipt of academic credit.

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. 

Why the ACLU:

For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people.

With this commitment in mind, we strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.  

To maintain the integrity of our assessment process, please refrain from using AI-powered chatbots, search engines, or real-time assistance tools to generate your CV, cover letter or writing sample (if required). We want to better understand your individual skills and thought processes. If you require AI tools or other assistive technology as a reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please complete the Accommodation Request Form so that we can support an accessible and equitable experience.

If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

In order to be considered for this position, all candidates must formally submit an application. The ACLU does not accept unsolicited calls or emails from candidates regarding their application status.