Government Relations Associate Internships
Government relations associate internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience in policy research, stakeholder outreach, and legislative analysis, alongside mentorship from working government relations professionals, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings are concentrated across {{top_industries_phrase}}, with MTSI, IDEMIA, and Land O'Lakes among the employers posting roles now.
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Showing 5 of 13+ Government Relations Associate Internships
SPRING 2027 INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY
Start/End Date: Jan 2027 through May 2027
JOB SUMMARY
LEARNING OUTCOMES
- Understand the inner workings of the DC nonprofit government relations, public policy, and advocacy systems.
- How to execute and manage advocacy strategies
- How to build and manage relationships with stakeholders to the benefit of the program and mission
- How to use essential advocacy tools and software
- How to meet challenges, overcome obstacles, and work in a dynamic team environment
- How to develop stewardship communication skills
- Coordinate and track meetings and visits with Members of Congress and the Administration conducted with
Boys & Girls Clubs of America and local Club organizations. -
Research legislation and regulatory comments important to Boys & Girls Clubs at a national, state, and
local level; Conduct web-based and other research as needed on BGCA legislative issues. -
Research, collect and aggregate data on issues critical to Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s federal
legislative priorities. - Attend coalition meetings, Capitol Hill visits, and Congressional hearings on behalf of BGCA
- Create and update biographical and background information on Members of Congress and stakeholders.
- Assist with planning and support of BGCA’s fly-ins and/or other Government Relations events.
- Support thought leadership opportunities as assigned.
- Assist with production and editing of government relations & advocacy materials and internal documents.
-
Support collection of relevant Club and youth stories related to BGCA priority issues to further enhance
BGCA advocacy efforts. -
Perform basic clerical tasks, including word processing, copying, mailing, filing, managing routine office
business, and provide other program, administrative, and organization-wide support as needed/assigned. - Other related/comparable duties as assigned.
- Must be enrolled at an undergraduate 2 or 4 year college/university or equivalent work experience
-
Basic understanding and interest in advocacy, government relations, public policy & legislative
procedure required - Interest in nonprofit and youth development encouraged
- Strong interest in project management in nonprofit environments
-
Strong computer skills and proficiency using Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, Power
Point, SharePoint, etc.). -
Strong verbal and written communications skills including proofreading, copy editing, writing, and
oral communication skills - An ability to manage time appropriately.
-
Demonstrated professionalism and maturity and a tolerance for rapid pace and shifting
assignments and priorities - Flexibility, good judgement, attention to detail
- A demonstrated commitment and interest in the mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of America
-
An ability to adhere to organizational policies and procedures as described in BGCA's Ethics Policy
and elsewhere.
-
Ability to demonstrate BGCA’s values of integrity, collaboration, accountability, respect, and
excellence (ICARE) and integrate them into your work environment, model them in the way that
you work, and uphold those same values in others. - Demonstrate a track record of reliability, independent work, and creativity and is self-motivated
- Demonstrate the ability to work independently and collaboratively as well as an eagerness to learn.
- Must be available, on-site in Washington, DC February 22, 2027 – March 2, 2027 (as assigned).
SPRING 2027 INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY
Start/End Date: Jan 2027 through May 2027
JOB SUMMARY
LEARNING OUTCOMES
- Understand the inner workings of the DC nonprofit government relations, public policy, and advocacy systems.
- How to execute and manage advocacy strategies
- How to build and manage relationships with stakeholders to the benefit of the program and mission
- How to use essential advocacy tools and software
- How to meet challenges, overcome obstacles, and work in a dynamic team environment
- How to develop stewardship communication skills
- Coordinate and track meetings and visits with Members of Congress and the Administration conducted with
Boys & Girls Clubs of America and local Club organizations. -
Research legislation and regulatory comments important to Boys & Girls Clubs at a national, state, and
local level; Conduct web-based and other research as needed on BGCA legislative issues. -
Research, collect and aggregate data on issues critical to Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s federal
legislative priorities. - Attend coalition meetings, Capitol Hill visits, and Congressional hearings on behalf of BGCA
- Create and update biographical and background information on Members of Congress and stakeholders.
- Assist with planning and support of BGCA’s fly-ins and/or other Government Relations events.
- Support thought leadership opportunities as assigned.
- Assist with production and editing of government relations & advocacy materials and internal documents.
-
Support collection of relevant Club and youth stories related to BGCA priority issues to further enhance
BGCA advocacy efforts. -
Perform basic clerical tasks, including word processing, copying, mailing, filing, managing routine office
business, and provide other program, administrative, and organization-wide support as needed/assigned. - Other related/comparable duties as assigned.
- Must be enrolled at an undergraduate 2 or 4 year college/university or equivalent work experience
-
Basic understanding and interest in advocacy, government relations, public policy & legislative
procedure required - Interest in nonprofit and youth development encouraged
- Strong interest in project management in nonprofit environments
-
Strong computer skills and proficiency using Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, Power
Point, SharePoint, etc.). -
Strong verbal and written communications skills including proofreading, copy editing, writing, and
oral communication skills - An ability to manage time appropriately.
-
Demonstrated professionalism and maturity and a tolerance for rapid pace and shifting
assignments and priorities - Flexibility, good judgement, attention to detail
- A demonstrated commitment and interest in the mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of America
-
An ability to adhere to organizational policies and procedures as described in BGCA's Ethics Policy
and elsewhere.
-
Ability to demonstrate BGCA’s values of integrity, collaboration, accountability, respect, and
excellence (ICARE) and integrate them into your work environment, model them in the way that
you work, and uphold those same values in others. - Demonstrate a track record of reliability, independent work, and creativity and is self-motivated
- Demonstrate the ability to work independently and collaboratively as well as an eagerness to learn.
- Must be available, on-site in Washington, DC February 22, 2027 – March 2, 2027 (as assigned).
Government Relations Associate Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Tips for Your Government Relations Associate Internship Search
Apply months before the summer start date
Large employers, including federal agencies, trade associations, and major corporations, recruit summer government relations associate interns starting in the fall semester. If you wait until spring, the structured cohort programs are already closed. Set a calendar reminder for September and start identifying target employers before roles are even posted.
Build a policy portfolio before you apply
Because government relations associate intern candidates rarely have direct professional experience, the artifact that moves your application forward is documented project work: a legislative brief, a stakeholder mapping exercise, a regulatory comment draft, or an advocacy campaign summary. Publish it somewhere reviewers can access it and link to it directly in your resume.
Work your campus network alongside direct applications
Campus career fairs surface structured programs tied to your university, and professors or career center staff often know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. At the same time, apply directly to smaller advocacy organizations and companies running their own cohorts, since those roles won't appear at a university fair and widen the pool you can reach.
Practice the government relations associate intern interview out loud
Government relations associate intern screens typically include a policy case or scenario question, where you are given a legislative or stakeholder challenge and asked to walk through your analysis and recommendation. Practice these out loud, explaining your reasoning step by step, because interviewers weigh how you think through competing interests as much as the final answer you land on.
Target structured fellowship and rotational programs early
Federal agencies, national trade associations, and large corporations run cohort-based government relations fellowship programs designed to train candidates new to the field, rotating participants across policy, legislative affairs, and communications teams. These programs recruit several months before their start dates and fill fast, so identify the ones that match your background and apply in the first wave.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 17% of the government relations associate internships listed here. Decide what you can realistically commit to before you begin searching, then filter by location and work type so you aren't sorting through postings in cities you can't relocate to or formats that don't fit your situation. Migrate Mate's filters let you narrow by work type from the start.
Government Relations Associate Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a government relations associate internship?
Lead with coursework and projects rather than work history, since hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. For government relations associate candidates, the concrete artifact recruiters want to see is a policy memo, legislative brief, or advocacy campaign analysis that demonstrates you can research an issue and communicate a position clearly. Pair direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a government relations associate internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. For government relations associate interns, what drives it is performance on real work, such as how well you managed a stakeholder project or contributed to a legislative analysis, combined with team headcount at the end of the summer. Position for a return offer by delivering consistently and expressing your interest early, without counting on it.
When should I apply for government relations associate internships?
Earlier than most candidates expect. Large employers, including trade associations, lobbying firms, and government agencies with structured programs, recruit summer interns the preceding fall, often starting in September and October. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to their start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings regularly means you won't miss the early waves at competitive employers.
Are government relations associate internships paid?
Most professional government relations associate internships in the United States are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, and some positions at nonprofits or small advocacy organizations are unpaid or stipend-based. Where an employer discloses pay, the listing will show it, so you can filter and compare before applying.
What should a government relations associate internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three documented projects showing your policy research, stakeholder communication, or legislative tracking work, naming the tools you used and linking to any published analyses, policy memos, or advocacy case studies where the work is visible. Add relevant coursework in political science, public policy, or communications, and keep the whole document to one page.
Are there remote government relations associate internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 83% of the government relations associate internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast because they draw applicants from across the country, so apply early and filter by work type to see them before they close.
What is a government relations associate fellowship or rotational internship?
Some federal agencies, trade associations, and large corporations run structured rotational fellowships for candidates new to government relations, rotating interns across policy, communications, and legislative affairs teams over a single summer or academic year. These programs target early-career candidates directly, recruit several months before start dates, and are competitive, so identify the ones that fit your background and apply in the first wave.
Can international students get government relations associate internships?
Yes. F-1 students can intern through CPT while enrolled or through OPT work authorization after finishing a degree, and the employer does not have to file anything for either, so many companies are open to international interns. Confirm your eligibility and timing with your university's international student office before accepting an offer.
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