Internship Program

About the Role

The Texas Public Policy Foundation offers an internship program designed to provide young conservatives with the opportunity to work alongside free-market thinkers. The program focuses on policy research and its national influence, offering interns exposure to a wide range of policy areas. Staff and guests share knowledge and experience through discussions illustrating how policy changes the world. All interns gain a solid understanding of the Foundation's work and develop tangible skills. The Foundation hires interns in various areas, including fundraising, communications, film, events, and law, as well as specialty areas like accounting and those with non-traditional schedules.

Internship Types & Descriptions

• Policy Interns:
• Assigned to a policy campaign, working directly with a center director or policy analyst.
• Meet with policymakers and engage in policy discussions.
• Conduct in-depth research.
• Receive extensive feedback on written work; outstanding writing may be selected for publication.
• Development Interns:
• Support fundraising efforts.
• Work with the development team to research prospective donors.
• Learn the grant writing process.
• Prepare for donor engagement events and meetings.
• Assist with administrative, communications, and donor management tasks as needed.
• Must be customer-service focused with strong planning, organization, prioritization, and multi-tasking abilities.
• Communications Interns:
• Participate in daily conversations surrounding the Foundation’s podcast, video productions, graphic design, and media reach.
• Learn how marketing and digital campaigns work.
• Work with the Digital Director to track analytics, update the website, monitor social media, and make recommendations.
• Network with media professionals, attend staff meetings, and participate in TPPF events.
• Assist in releasing the Cannon newsletter, managing press, and releasing new research.
• Note: For graphic design internships, a portfolio link must be attached.
• Film & Media Interns:
• Work with the communications team and associate filmmaker on video and audio projects.
• Assist with theater event recordings, studio news hits, statistics gathering, video distribution, music/footage sourcing, podcast recording, and editing.
• Must be a self-starter, inquisitive, and have working knowledge of Premiere Pro and Adobe Audition.
• Involved in the creative directing and onset production of high-end productions.
• Journalism Interns:
• Work at the intersection of public policy and media.
• Gain experience in investigative reporting and multimedia storytelling.
• Conduct in-depth research and craft news stories.
• Participate in live editorial meetings.
• Develop skills in interviewing, fact-checking, and digital content creation.
• Operations Interns:
• Learn about the structure and operation of non-profit public policy foundations.
• Learn to work with outside vendors, plan and coordinate office events, and engage in the hiring process.
• Must be able to multi-task, communicate effectively, and stay organized.
• Provide office coverage, answer calls, and direct inquiries.
• Perform data entry tasks, prepare shipments and mailings, and work on special projects.

Key Responsibilities (General for all interns)

• Provide office coverage.
• Answer calls and direct inquiries to the appropriate staff member.
• Perform data entry tasks.
• Prepare shipments and mailings.
• Work on special projects as assigned.
• Attend “Philosophy of Freedom,” an internal class on the philosophical underpinnings of the liberty movement.
• Receive 1 year of no-cost membership to our Liberty Leadership Council (LLC).

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Flexible, project-oriented self-starters.
• Ability to exemplify personal responsibility and the entrepreneurial spirit.
• Good research, writing, and interpersonal skills.
• Understanding of principles of liberty, personal responsibility, and free enterprise.
• Belief in an individual’s right to do business free from big government.
• Excitement to reshape public policy.
• Premiere Pro (for Film & Media Interns).
• Adobe Audition (for Film & Media Interns).

Qualifications

• Current students, recent graduates, or students between semesters.
• Familiarity with the Texas Public Policy Foundation's work through reading their research, commentary, and policy analysis.

Application Process

• Submit a cover letter detailing your story and specifying your desired internship semester.
• Submit your résumé.
• Submit a work sample, if available.
• Applications can be submitted via the button on the page or a provided link.
• For questions, contact Zach McCue via email at [email protected].

Application Deadlines

• Summer: April 1
• Fall: July 30
• Spring: October 30

Stipends

• Fall and Spring interns: $1000 stipend.
• Summer interns: $1500 stipend.

Program Dates

• Fall 2026: August 31st – November 20th
• Spring 2027: January 18th – April 23rd
• Summer 2027: May 24th – August 13th
• Fall 2027: August 30th – November 19th