Governance Program, Fall Internship in Washington, District of Columbia at Bipartisan Policy Center

BPC's Fall Internship Program

BPC's internship program in the fall will be in-person with on-site work on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays at BPC’s office located at 1225 I (Eye) Street in Washington, DC. Fall interns work 18-20 hours per week and will receive a $3,000 stipend for ten weeks of work. Interns must be juniors or above. Applicants must currently be enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate program, or a recent graduate. Interns will provide functional support, conduct research, and work directly with policy analysts and staff in various capacities. 

Our Fall Internship program starts on Monday, September 14, 2026, and ends Friday, November 20, 2026

Relocation assistance will not be provided.

Project Description:

The Governance Program works to strengthen voting processes, build trust in government, and support bipartisan leadership. We achieve these goals through three main approaches: advancing solutions to foster broad public trust in fully funded, well-run elections; strengthening institutions to be the most impactful by fostering debate and building broad coalitions; and convening lawmakers across party lines to build trust and foster collaboration to address the nation’s toughest challenges. Through actionable reforms and constructive dialogues, our work builds a better America with an effective, representative government and stronger communities. We work in two fields: Elections and Structural Democracy.

The Governance Program is seeking one intern to support the following project areas:

The Elections Project

• The Elections Project develops and advances durable bipartisan policy solutions to create secure, accessible, and trustworthy elections. Its goal is to foster public trust in our core democratic institutions by strengthening election infrastructure. 

The Structural Democracy Project

• The Structural Democracy Project aims to strengthen American democracy through effective, responsive institutions that foster debate, build broad coalitions, and deliver results. Its goal is to rebuild governing institutions that solve problems and electoral systems that reflect our diverse nation.

Responsibilities:

• Assist with research for the two main project areas
• Track relevant legislative activities at the state & federal levels
• Draft written materials on relevant policy research
• Support event planning & execution for the Governance team
• Provide ad hoc administrative support for internal and external convenings
• Additional responsibilities to be determined on candidate's interests

Applicants are encouraged to review the project areas within the Governance Program prior to applying.

Qualifications:

• Must be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate school or a recent graduate
• Strong research and writing skills
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively
• An interest in government and institutional reform
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks

Application Process: 

• Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until a qualified candidate has been identified
• Please do not send multiple submissions
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• No phone calls, please
• Non-U.S. citizens are eligible to apply but must have a valid work permit or visa verifying eligibility to work in the United States
• We do not offer visa sponsorship

Required materials (if possible, please submit as one PDF File):

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Relevant writing sample (3-5 pages)
• College or university transcript (unofficial is acceptable)
• Brief response to the statement "What does Bipartisanship mean to you?" (5-8 sentences)

To celebrate diversity and ensure equity and inclusivity, BPC is committed to:

• Recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce with insights and solutions for our increasingly divided society
• Creating a workplace culture where all employees feel valued and their perspectives are heard