Communications and Operations Internship - Cato Institute
*To be considered for an internship, you must apply directly through our online application here.*
Cato’s paid internships are for undergraduates, recent graduates, graduate students, law students, and early-career professionals who have a strong commitment to individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace—principles that, taken together, constitute libertarianism, known alternately as “classical liberalism,” “market liberalism,” or, to many of our international friends, just “liberalism.”
Since 1977, the Cato Institute has been one of the most effective voices in Washington, DC, advocating individual liberty. From media appearances in major outlets, conferences, and book publishing to top‐ quality research and engagement on Capitol Hill and with key agencies, Cato has successfully injected the libertarian perspective into mainstream policy debates in Washington, DC, and across the country.
Cato Books
Participate in discussions about forthcoming book projects at Cato and help to make them a reality. As a Cato Books intern, you will help prepare and review indexes and bibliographies, meet authors, and read soon‐to‐be published Cato material. Working closely with managing editor Eleanor O’Connor, you will learn about both the content and the production sides of this part of Cato’s work. Finalists for this department will be asked to complete a brief copyediting test.
Workload
- Edit manuscript bibliographies for correct punctuation, spelling, and formatting
- Bring bibliographic issues to editors’ attention
- Fact and reference checking as needed
Qualifications
- Strong writing skills
- Familiarity with online and university library reference systems
- Social science or humanities research background (essential)
- Fluency with Chicago Manual of Style preferred
Development (Fundraising)
Working as a Development intern offers unique insight into fundraising for a policy research organization. Experience in this role will build essential foundations in nonprofit business management. Depending on the successful candidate’s interest and experience, the Development intern will support Cato’s $33 million+ annual fundraising efforts.
Workload
- Make thank you and customer service calls and managing information in Cato’s Salesforce database
- Work with Cato’s director of development communications to assist with print and digital communications to Cato’s sponsors, writing and editing emails/publications, conducting market research, collecting data, organizing email/mailing lists, and marketing campaigns in HubSpot
- Prepare research for the Development team with a particular focus on using iWave to inform moves management for Sponsors
- Support other tasks and projects as needed by the Development team
Qualifications
- Professional demeanor and excellent interpersonal skills to work effectively with Cato staff, current and former interns, and outside partners
- Organized, diligent, and entrepreneurial
- Detail‐oriented and capable of multitasking while meeting deadlines across a variety of responsibilities
Government Affairs
Cato’s Government Affairs team works to provide policymakers with the best information and intellectual support possible to advance the values of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. As an intern on the Government Affairs team, you will be responsible for assisting your colleagues with Cato’s outreach efforts to policymakers, officials, and their staff. This includes producing both daily and weekly briefings and following various policy developments of interest to Cato scholars and staff. You will also compose research briefs and attend and provide readouts of briefings, committee hearings, and other events.
Workload
- Track and report on daily news, Cato scholarship, Cato mentions of policymakers, and Cato mentions in government documents and sources.
- Assist with department record‐keeping efforts, including the maintenance of Excel spreadsheets
- Assist with department record‐keeping efforts, including the maintenance of Excel spreadsheets
- Attend and provide readouts of briefings, hearings, and other events as directed
- Conduct applied research on legislation, regulation, and legislator backgrounds
- Create and distribute materials to policymakers
- Other related duties and projects as assigned
Qualifications
- Clear interest in government affairs and translating academic work into policy change
- Exceptional writing and interpersonal skills
- Strong proofreading and copyediting skills
- Strong attention to detail
Media Relations
Cato’s communications team works with the media to inform the public of Cato’s vision to create free, open, and civil societies founded on libertarian principles. As part of the communications team, you will help handle media requests, learn to write press pitches and releases, and assist members of the communications department. Working closely with media coordinators Emily Adamec and Nicole Hinojosa, you will help Cato make an impact in the media.
Workload
- Attend daily media department meetings
- Prepare daily summaries of Cato citations and media appearances
- Track newsworthy topics for Cato scholars to comment on
Qualifications
- Excellent writing skills
- Attention to detail
- Ability to meet deadlines
- Dedicated interest in media, public relations, and public policy
As a Sphere intern, you’ll have the chance to support all aspects of our efforts to reinvigorate civil discourse and civic culture through working with educators across America. You’ll have the chance to conduct research, support live and virtual programming, and take on a wide variety of projects that match your skills and allow you to grow as a professional.
Workload
- Support the application review and program development process for Sphere Summit
- Provide logistical support for Sphere on the Road, including material acquisition, shipment, hotel booking, and related support
- Coordinate speaker requests, manage technical components, and provide general support for webinars
- Support other tasks and projects as needed by the Sphere team
Qualifications
- High degree of professionalism, humility, and entrepreneurship
- Knowledge of libertarian and classical liberal thought
- Familiarity with the American education system a plus
- Familiarity with Zoom, Excel, and Salesforce a plus
For almost two decades, The Cato Institute’s Educational Programs team has identified and developed future leaders, thinkers, advocates, and supporters of the libertarian movement. The students and rising professionals Cato engage go on to bring a libertarian perspective to impactful careers spanning education, government, media, advocacy, and business.
We are seeking an Educational Programs Intern to support Cato’s internship program, alumni engagement efforts, systems and measurement analysis, and strategic relationship building. Ideal candidates for the position are organized, diligent, and entrepreneurial. Strong candidates will be detail‐oriented and capable of multitasking while meeting deadlines across a variety of responsibilities. They must possess the necessary interpersonal and communications skills to work effectively with Cato staff, current and former interns, and outside partners.
Responsibilites
Working as an Educational Programs Intern offers unique insight into the operations of a policy research organization. Experience in this role will build essential foundations in non‐profit business management. The Educational Programs Intern will:
- Assist with the scheduling and execution of Cato’s internship program including communicating with scholars, conference staff, and others.
- Track intern alumni and assist in the growth and use of our alumni network.
- Maintain the Student Programs learning management platforms.
- Provide virtual support as needed for remote events.
- Assist in the establishment of systems and measurement tools and in their analysis.
- Support other tasks and projects as needed by the Student Programs team.
Qualifications
- High degree of professionalism, integrity, humility, and entrepreneurship
- Intermediate skill with Microsoft Office 365, Zoom, and attention to detail
- Strong organizational and interpersonal skills
- Proficiency with Excel and experience with data analytics
- Knowledgeable of libertarian and classical liberal thought and a passion for sharing these ideals with young professionals
- Background in program management a plus
- Background in advertising and outreach a plus
All Cato interns attend the same intensive seminar series, which covers a broad range of history, philosophy, policy, and professional development topics. Interns also aid with events and occasionally help Cato staff with other day-to-day needs.
Interns receive competitive compensation. Part-time positions are adjusted accordingly and carry a minimum of 25 hrs./wk. Program participants must be available in-person in Washington, D.C.
For more information about the internship program and experience, we encourage you to explore our website.
If you have any questions, feel free to email Cortez Bartolome, Programs Coordinator, at studentprograms@cato.org