Securing a Spot: A Guide to EMILY's List Internships

EMILY's List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, offers internship programs designed for individuals with limited professional political or campaign experience. These internships provide valuable opportunities to gain in-depth experience in the political sector and contribute to EMILY's List's mission of electing Democratic pro-choice women up and down the ballot. This article delves into the requirements and application process for EMILY's List internships, offering a comprehensive guide for aspiring political professionals.

Overview of EMILY's List

EMILY's List works to elect Democratic pro-choice women across the country, striving to protect rights and empower communities. The organization focuses on a core vision: Run. Win. Change the World. Since its founding in 1985, EMILY's List has played a pivotal role in American politics, helping to elect the country’s first woman as vice president, along with numerous women to the House, Senate, governorships, and state and local offices. A significant portion of these candidates have been women of color.

Internship Program Structure

EMILY's List offers internships during the spring, summer, and fall semesters, providing interns with substantive work experience in various departments. These internships are designed for individuals with little to no professional political/campaign experience and who are interested in a career in politics.

Key Features

Hands-on Experience: Interns engage in meaningful work within their assigned departments, gaining practical skills and knowledge.
Learning Opportunities: In addition to daily work, interns participate in "Lunch and Learn" sessions, hearing from staff members at various levels about their professional journeys and gaining insights into the workings of different departments within EMILY's List. "Brown bag sessions" also provide opportunities to hear from staff, learn about their professional history, and gain deeper knowledge about each department at EMILYs List.
Training: Interns benefit from custom training programs that guide them through the lifecycle of a campaign, equipping them with the skills necessary for a career on the campaign trail. This includes the signature "Change the World" training.
Compensation: Interns are paid at a rate of $18.40 per hour.
Flexibility: Interns have the flexibility to opt for a fully remote or hybrid internship experience. Hybrid interns will mutually agree on a weekly schedule for coming into the office with their respective supervisor.

Available Internship Departments

Internships are available in a variety of departments, offering exposure to different facets of political campaigns and operations. These departments include:

Federal and Gubernatorial Campaigns
State and Local Campaigns
Campaigns Research
Communications
Data and Analytics
Design
Digital
Events
Executive and Administrative
Fundraising
Independent Expenditures
Marketing
Communications Research

Application Process

To apply for an internship with EMILY's List, follow these steps:

Visit the EMILY's List Website: Navigate to the careers or internship section of the EMILY's List website.
Find the Internship Listing: Look for the specific internship you're interested in and carefully review the job description.
Submit Application Materials: Upload your resume, provide a cover letter, and fill out the application form. Follow instructions carefully when submitting, showing attention to detail and thoughtfulness.

Application Deadlines

Summer Internship: The application deadline is typically in March. For example, the Summer 2026 Internship application will close March 13th, 2026.
Spring Internship: The application deadline is typically in November. For example, the Spring 2026 Internship application will close November 7th, 2025.

Applications are reviewed starting in March for summer internships and in November for spring internships.

Important Considerations

Equal Opportunity Employer: EMILY's List is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values a multicultural, diverse working environment. Applicants of diverse backgrounds are welcomed and encouraged to apply. EMILYs List prohibits discrimination of employment, promotion, compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment based on gender, disability, race, age, national origin, color, creed, sexual orientation, sex (including marital and parental status), gender identity and expression, religion, economic status, ethnic identity, veteran’s status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.
Residency Requirement: Interns must reside within the United States for the duration of the program.

Life as an EMILY's List Intern

Interns at EMILY's List have the opportunity to do substantive work, while gaining in-depth experience in the political sector. In addition to daily work in their departments and attendance at staff events, interns participate in Lunch and Learn sessions, giving them the opportunity to hear from varying levels of staff while learning about their professional history and gaining deeper knowledge about how all the departments at EMILYs List work.

Benefits of Interning at EMILY's List

Professional Development: The internship program is designed for people who have little to no professional political/campaign experience and who are interested in a career in politics. The skills and knowledge gained during the internship can be invaluable for future career prospects.
Networking: Interns have the opportunity to network with EMILY's List staff and other professionals in the political sector.
Contribution: Interns contribute to EMILY's List's mission of electing Democratic pro-choice women, making a tangible impact on the political landscape.
Training: Interns will have the opportunity to participate in custom trainings guiding interns through the life cycle of a campaign; every intern leaves EMILYs List ready for life on the campaign trail.
Flexibility: Interns have the flexibility to be fully remote or on a hybrid schedule at the DC headquarters.

Additional Opportunities at EMILY's List

Besides internships, EMILY's List offers various career opportunities for individuals passionate about advancing women in politics. These include positions in finance and compliance, major gifts, and human resources.

Available Positions

Finance and Compliance Coordinator: This role involves working with the Finance and Compliance team to ensure the organization's financial operations adhere to legal and ethical standards. The salary for this position is $61,000 and comes with a comprehensive benefits package.
Major Gifts Director: This position involves leading the team responsible for major gifts fundraising, managing donor programming and events, and supervising mid-level fundraisers and support staff. The salary range for this position is $122,000 - $141,000 and comes with a comprehensive benefits package.
Major Gifts Assistant: This role provides administrative support to the Major Gifts team, including database and resource management, research and document preparation, and event coordination. The salary for this position is $55,000 and comes with a comprehensive benefits package.
Payroll and Benefits Specialist: This role plays an integral part in the Human Resources function. The salary range for this position is $63,000 - $67,900 and comes with a comprehensive benefits package.

How to Apply

To apply for any of these positions, visit the EMILY's List jobs site to upload your resume, provide a cover letter, and fill out an application.

EMILY's List Impact and Initiatives

EMILYs List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, has raised over $978 million to help Democratic women win competitive elections by recruiting and training candidates, supporting and helping build strong campaigns, researching the issues that impact women and families, running one of the most impactful independent expenditure operations for Democrats, and turning out women voters to the polls.

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Run To Win Program

EMILYs List hosts the Run To Win program, a national recruitment and training campaign aimed at helping Democratic pro-choice women run for office. The Run To Win state legislature training series is a five-week virtual training initiative geared toward those thinking about running for state legislature within the next two years.

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