Spring 2026 SFP Fundraising & Strategic Projects Intern

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 opportunity. 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 a nationwide network of state-level fiscal policy organizations.  

The State Fiscal Project Network Philanthropic Engagement & Strategic Projects Initiative Intern will support two teams on the larger SFP team: the Network Philanthropic Engagement (NPE) and the Strategic Projects Initiative (SPI) teams. The intern will support NPE’s efforts to build and strengthen the fundraising programs for the State Priorities Partnership (SPP), a network of 43 state-level organizations engaged in on-the-ground state fiscal policy work. Tasks range from donor screenings and prospect research to drafting content for our online community. Interns will gain experience in nonprofit organizational management and fundraising issues, assist in planning events and trainings, and research current trends in fundraising and donor management.  

The intern will also support the SPI team’s work coordinating regrant-driven programs and improving cross-team business practices. The intern will provide support for various communications and logistics, facilitate learning among the SPP network, and research and execute business process design. Tasks may include drafting newsletters and learning resources for the SFP team and network, scheduling and assisting in facilitating stakeholder meetings, updating initiative tracking, and other tasks related to keeping initiatives running smoothly. 

 
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. The Center 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 the Center. 

Application Deadline: October 24, 2025, 11:59 p.m. ET         

Internship Start Date: January 13, 2026      

Internship End Date: May 8, 2026 

CBPP’s spring 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 spring term may have the option to 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/internships for 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 email internship@cbpp.org.