Policy & Nonprofit Leadership
Policy & Nonprofit Leadership internships offer a unique opportunity for undergraduate students to gain experience in public policy and nonprofit leadership while addressing issues of poverty in communities. This program was specifically designed for students who have completed SHECP’s traditional client-facing internship. The students will bring their experiences and perspectives gained from coursework and working with clients at community partners engaged in anti-poverty work to understanding the challenges of leading these organizations and the development of anti-poverty policy. The program includes networking opportunities, workshops, seminars, mentoring from experienced professionals in the field, and presenting at the SHECP Annual Conference.
The internship will run for 8-weeks, June 9th –July 31st and interns are expected to work 35-40 hours per week. SHECP will provide housing, a $2,800 living stipend, and a travel stipend. Students will be expected to attend the SHECP Annual Conference at the end of their internship.
To be eligible, students must have completed the SHECP Summer Internship Program. Preference will be giving to rising juniors and seniors, but graduating seniors are encouraged to apply. Within the application, students will be able to indicate the internship sites for which they would like to be considered. Applications are due by Tuesday, February 18th.
Policy & Nonprofit Leadership Internship
2025 Internships
Brookings Institution
Rural Policy Intern
The Rural Policy Intern will work with the Global Economy and Development (“Global”) program at Brookings, a program that aims to shape the policy debate to improve global economic cooperation and fight global poverty and sources of social stress. The intern will gain exposure to a broad set of policy topics related to domestic federal policy and international development, while developing their analytical thinking, organizational, and writing skills. Specifically, the intern will support a dynamic effort to inform federal policies that promote prosperity and equity for America’s rural communities and Native American nations. The intern will assist a senior fellow of the Center for Sustainable Development with a project to reimagine federal policy for rural community and economic development, alongside other projects.
National Alliance to End Homelessness
Policy & Nonprofit Management Intern
NAEH is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization committed to preventing and ending homelessness in the United States. The NAEH Policy and Nonprofit Management Intern will be part of an internship cohort at the Alliance working with the Policy and Program, Operations, and Events teams. This intern will also attend the 2025 National Conference on Ending Homelessness.
National Community Action Foundation
Policy Intern
Working both individually and as a part of the NCAF team, with supervision from NCAF Chief of Staff, the policy intern will conduct research and prepare written products that support NCAF's legislative initiatives that support and advance the work of Community Action Agencies. Such topics may include: the Community Services Block Grant, Weatherization Assistance Program, Rural Broadband Expansion, Environmental Justice, Community Financial Development Institutions and Social Determinants of Health.
National Urban League
Washington Bureau Policy Intern
The Washington Bureau of the National Urban League focuses on policy and advocacy goals grounded in the local program experiences of the Urban League’s more than 90 affiliates throughout the U.S. The Washington Bureau Policy Intern will report to the Senior Vice President, Policy and Advocacy at the National Urban League and will be expected to support a range projects. This work will include reviewing and preparing detailed summaries on relevant legislation and proceedings before federal agencies, researching and tracking litigation, preparing memos on congressional proceedings, developing advocacy materials, and attending a range of briefings and meetings in the area.
United Planning Organization
Economic Security Analyst
The Economic Security Analyst will work with UPO's Legislative Advocacy Department to advocate for budget and policy changes that promote racial and economic equity. The intern will conduct research to assess the economic security of DC residents working at low wages and make recommendations for policies to support them. The goals are to understand a) the full range of assistance available to families with low incomes and b) how those benefits phase out as earnings rise. The intern will have some flexibility in their research topic, but their focus area must fall under the broad umbrella of economic security and support the existing research priorities of the department.