Appropriations Intern

About McAllister & Quinn, LLC

McAllister & Quinn is a grants consulting and government relations firm headquartered in Washington, D.C. We offer our 200+ clients a unique blend of comprehensive grant consulting, strategic advising, and government relations services. Specifically, McAllister & Quinn provides our clients with the knowledge and skills to seek federal and private foundation grant opportunities that strategically fit their organization’s priorities. We support our clients’ efforts in crafting competitive applications; developing or increasing funding streams through the congressional appropriations process; and facilitating public-private and international partnerships that further their mission.

We are committed to securing funds for our clients that are transformational for the organizations who are awarded them, the people who work at these organizations every day, and the communities that surround them. The social impact of our work drives us daily to succeed in securing funding for our clients and is a major component of why we do what we do. We know that our success leads to better outcomes, changed lives, and a more equitable society for generations to come.
 

McAllister & Quinn Internship Experience 

College students from all over the country experience our nation’s capital through various internship programs. A professional internship experience with a Washington, DC, firm can lead to a successful career in law, public service, lobbying, issue advocacy, public relations, consulting, or working on political campaigns. A Washington, DC, internship can spur a college student in many different directions. With this in mind, McAllister & Quinn, a diverse government relations and grants consulting firm located in the heart of Washington, DC, has developed a comprehensive internship program that will give these students unique access to the many different aspects of Washington, DC. McAllister & Quinn has a specialty in grants consulting and lobbying. Our clients include higher education institutions, research universities and institutions, healthcare systems, advanced technology corporations, and non-profits.

The McAllister & Quinn Internship Program provides participants with a well-rounded experience of the various components that make Washington, DC, what many have called the most powerful city in the world. The Internship Program is an excellent fit for a college student with a career interest in public policy, government relations, federal/foundation funding, or the sponsored research arena.. 

The GR Intern would support multiple teams across multiple practice areas. The focus of the role from January – May would be client appropriations support, legislative tracking, and additional legislative client support.
 

Program Specifics:

• McAllister & Quinn is seeking a full-time, paid intern for the Spring 2026 semester (January-May) to help with government relations work focused on Congressional appropriations
• McAllister & Quinn offers hourly paid internships on a needs basis primarily in the spring & fall, to full time candidates (30+ hrs) who are not receiving course credit. McAllister & Quinn will gladly work with universities to enable students to satisfy course credit requirements through the internship program
• Strong written and verbal English skills are required for internal communications on virtual platforms, prior experience in an office setting is a plus

In addition to routine administrative support, appropriations interns typically:

• Conduct substantive issue/topic area research related to the federal budget, Congressional appropriations, and priorities of client institutionsProspect for federal and foundation funding opportunities and synthesize relevant information for staff and client briefings
• Create organizational profiles for business development purposes
• Assist in the preparation for, as well as attend, virtual/webcast Congressional hearings/meetings
• Produce summaries and analyses of attended events
• Students are required to find their own housing for the duration of their internship
• Students are required to work a 30+ hour week (minimum) with a preference for 35 – 40 hrs per week
• Students are required to work in the office throughout their internship
   

Candidate Qualifications

• The preferred candidate will be in their Junior or Senior year of university, or pursuing a graduate degree, with a preference for policy-oriented fields
• Familiarity with Congress, federal appropriations, and the legislative process is required
• Superior candidates will have both Congressional and administrative experience 
• Self-starter who can organize their time to add value to the team with light supervision
• Superior writing and editing skills
• Ability to synthesize and accurately summarize lengthy and complex materials
• Strong verbal communication skills via phone, email, and in person interactions
• Flexible mind able to work on multiple issues in different areas in a single day, every day
• Comfortable researching new topics, gathering information, and distilling research into useful preliminary recommendations on short timeframes
• Detail oriented with strong project management and planning skills
• Strategic, creative, service oriented, and adaptive professional mindset
• Ability to troubleshoot problems when they arise and to work independently 
• Very strong proficiency in Microsoft Office, and Adobe, with focus on Outlook, Teams, Word and PowerPoint.

At McAllister & Quinn, we’re challenging the status quo. When we connect different perspectives, we open ourselves to new possibilities, inspire innovation, and allow us to achieve the full potential of our people. We’re building an employee experience & engagement that includes appreciation, belonging, growth, and purpose for everyone in our team.