Summer Internship

What we do, and how interns help
Policy Matters Ohio is a non-profit, non-partisan policy research institute with offices in Cleveland and Columbus. We create a more vibrant, equitable, sustainable, and inclusive Ohio through research, strategic communications, coalition building, and policy advocacy. We study and advocate for progressive policies that serve everyone—not just the wealthy and well-connected. Interns help make that work possible by increasing our capacity to develop and distribute research products and to engage with communities, activists, and other stakeholders.

The work of a Policy Matters intern
Our summer internship program runs from June 1—August 7 with some flexibility to account for school schedules. Intern projects are co-created with staff mentors based on interns’ areas of interest, background, and skills.

Interns work with our research staff to collect and analyze data and develop research products related to workers’ rights, progressive revenue & budget, sustainability, and shared prosperity. Whenever possible, interns finish the program with at least one publication to add to their resumé. Policy Matters interns have authored briefs, co-authored major papers, and published opinion pieces in local news outlets.

Our program
Interns have formal relationships with at least two staff members: a mentor who is an expert in their area of work, and our program coordinator. The former develops projects and provides necessary skill training, feedback, and technical expertise. The latter supervises the organization’s intern cohort (typically 4-6 interns), using our curriculum to help interns make connections among their individual work, the organization’s mission, and Ohio’s broader policy landscape. This two-pronged approach lets us supplement interns’ career-oriented training in the work of a policy institute with opportunities to reflect on and process the experience, individually and among peers.

Qualifications
All applicants should have an interest in state-level public policy and be comfortable using Microsoft Office Suite. Some internships will require experience with statistics and analysis, and the use of R.

Applicants should be enrolled in or recently graduated from college or graduate programs, or have other work or volunteer experience that prepares them for the responsibilities of an internship.

Pay
Policy Matters interns are paid $15 per hour for an average of 20 hours per week, with some flexibility on the number of hours per week and a cap of 200 hours for the summer.

To apply
First, get to know our work. Then email the following materials as a single PDF to program coordinator Ali Smith (asmith[at]policymattersohio.org):

• Current resumé.
• Cover letter that identifies the area of our work that most interests you, and any specific topic(s) on which you would prefer to focus.
• Writing sample of no more than five pages, representing what you believe is the kind of work we produce.

Applications are considered on a rolling basis.

No calls, please.