National Policy & Advocacy Intern

About the position LIFT is a national nonprofit dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty by investing in families. We address structural inequities that perpetuate generational poverty through a one-on-one coaching program that empowers parents to achieve economic mobility goals, supported by direct cash infusions. LIFT is expanding its impact by improving its service model, partnering with other organizations to influence systems, and advocating for policy changes based on the experiences of parents living in poverty. We seek individuals committed to our mission and values of diversity, equity, excellence, hope, and relationships, who thrive in a growth environment. The Policy & Advocacy department is a new program focused on addressing systemic barriers by amplifying the voices of LIFT members and equipping them to become policy leaders. We are looking for interns interested in this work to support the Policy and Advocacy team in delivering critical services and advancing systems change. The National Policy and Advocacy Intern will enhance the team's capacity and play a crucial role in supporting major projects and daily operations.

Responsibilities

• Complete landscape analyses of policies, systems, and programs that impact members
• Research and develop policy toolkits and resource guides for members, coaches, and staff
• Develop reports, briefs, and thought pieces to elevate member voice and programmatic insights
• Support the organization and execution of Policy & Advocacy programming and communications
• Support member programming through research on relevant policy topics and development of training/event schema
• Support operations in tracking and maintaining data input, summarizing reports, designing presentations, and policy updates
• Collaborate with the Policy & Advocacy team to develop advocacy training materials and resources for members, coaches, and staff
• Collaborate with the Policy & Advocacy and Evaluations teams to share insights from programmatic data, internally and externally
• Collaborate with Policy & Advocacy team to support other projects as assigned

Requirements

• Is committed to LIFT’s mission and values
• Is an undergraduate or graduate student with work experience, interest, and/or coursework in social work, economics, social sciences, or related fields
• Has strong research and writing skills, with attention to detail
• Has proficiency in policy analysis and research
• Has outstanding verbal and written communication skills
• Has strong leadership and interpersonal skills
• Has excellent time-management skills and an ability to prioritize and multi-task
• Accepts and integrates feedback
• Is committed to being a team plater
• Is flexible, adaptable, and takes initiative even in ambiguous situations

Nice-to-haves

• Preferably, has prior community service experience with low-income communities