Summer 2026 Internship, Strategic Democracy Initiatives

GMF’s Strategic Democracy Initiatives (SDI) is seeking a full-time program trainee for the period from June 2026 through August 2026 to assist with programming on rule or law issues and democratic backsliding in the United States and Europe. The trainee will support the SDI team with essential operational, outreach, and administrative activities. Support for team programming will include logistics, partner coordination, and research on reconstruction and resilience efforts led by civil society organizations in the United States.

Trainees will benefit from exposure to GMF’s experts and network, and will gain valuable organizational, analytical, and writing experience. The traineeship will consist of both in-person and remote work. Applicants who are graduating with a bachelor’s degree in the spring of 2027 preferred.

The position will be compensated at a rate of $17.95 per hour with a flexible time commitment of 35 hours per week. Trainees are offered an ideal opportunity to acquire substantive professional experience for those interested in a career in public policy or international affairs.

Potential Key Areas of Responsibility:

• Assist with planning of logistics of expert convenings, including coalition working group meetings, private roundtables, and public events in Washington, DC, abroad, or virtually
• Support the programming of SDI’s work on the rule of law, AI-driven job displacement, and other drivers and symptoms of democratic backsliding in the United States
• Monitor political developments, civil society perspectives, and relevant policy issues in struggling democracies, from Eastern Europe to the United States
• Provide research, writing, and editing support on SDI publications related to democratic backsliding in European countries such as Poland and Hungary, Ukrainian civil society, and political developments in the United States
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Strong analytic, writing, and speaking skills in English
• Excellent organizational skills and attentiveness to detail, experience with program management or event planning preferred
• Knowledge of or demonstrable interest in issues of transatlantic democratic backsliding, Ukrainian anti-corruption reform efforts, and Eastern European or ex-Soviet civil society
• Demonstrable research skills, preferably with research experience on issues related to democratic backsliding, anti-corruption reform, civil-military relations, or Ukrainian civil society
• Previous experience in a think tank, foundation, NGO, government body, media outlet, or similar organization preferred but not required
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office
• Comfortable multi-tasking and working independently
• Applicants who are graduating with a bachelor's degree in international relations, political science, history, security studies, or a related field in the spring of 2027 preferred

Start and Length of Traineeship:

• Preferred start and end: June 2026-August 2026
• Preferred time commitment: 35 hours per week, Monday–Friday between 9 AM to 5 PM (EST preferred)

Due to a high volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.

GMF is an Equal Opportunity Employer.