Intern, Democracy

The Heinrich Böll Foundation Washington, DC is looking for two Democracy Interns, one in Spring 2026 and one in Fall 2026. Spring applicants will start on March 2, 2026, and Fall applicants will start on September 14, 2026.

The Democracy intern will work closely with the Transatlantic Democracy Program Director. Note that the intern may also be paired with one of the following programs: Foreign & Security Policy, Global Development and Communications. 

The Transatlantic Democracy program brings together US and German policymakers, activists, experts, civil society organizations and community leaders to explore challenges, changes, and also opportunities that  face our democracies. The program’s current activities focus on rights at risk, domestic policy issues, democratic resilience as well as opportunities for subnational diplomacy.

This internship is best suited for students with a background in international relations, public policy, history, or German and European politics. Applicants should have a good grasp of the American and German political landscape and an interest in pressing policy challenges for democracy. We are especially interested in applicants who want to contribute to our global dialog formats (public events, workshops, study tours etc.) and want to pursue their own research and analysis on issues that are relevant for our program areas.

Applications will be accepted until October 30, 2025. 

Applicants must submit a US-style resume, cover letter, and challenge statement. Please include the challenge statement in the same document as your cover letter.

Challenge Statement:

Please write a short (max 250 words) reflection on a recent moment in U.S. or global politics that you think is significant for the future of democracy. What challenges and/or opportunities does it present (whether to civil society, the public, media, law/policymakers, etc.)?

Basic Requirements 

• experience in the relevant program area 
• a genuine interest in the values and mission of the foundation
• competent command of English (German is not a requirement)
• a full-time commitment of 40 hours per week for 3 to 6 months (part-time only on a case-by-case basis)
• at least 2 years of university-level experience 
• currently enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's degree program OR recent (< 1 year) Bachelor's degree recipients

Applications from mid-career professionals or applicants who have already completed a Master's or Ph.D. will not be accepted.

Benefits

• a monthly stipend of $700 for full-time positions and proportionally less for part-time
• 5 paid vacation days per 3 month period for full-time internships
• If required, the foundation can cover most costs associated with a J-1 visa for both the spring and fall interns

NOTE: Washington, DC is an expensive city. We encourage all applicants to apply for external funding and scholarships. We also recommend applicants immediately begin looking for housing when they apply.

Administrative Responsibilities 

• provide logistical support for preparation and implementation of visitor programs and events 
• manage front desk duties (i.e. answer telephones, respond to information inquiries)
• manage contact and program-specific databases

Communications

• develop social media content and communications strategies
• update content on our website and blogs

Research

• conduct background research on topical issues and current events
• prepare research for upcoming events, tours, and speaker's series

Capstone Project

In addition to routine tasks, interns are required to complete a capstone project on a topic of their choosing. Capstones can be one extensive piece or a combination of smaller pieces. Some examples include:

• 5-10 page policy paper
• interview with policy experts (either article or video)
• script for a 2-3 min explanatory video
• series of short blog pieces or op-eds

Salary : $700