Fall 2026 Graduate Intern, Executive Office- Strategy

The ACLU seeks a Graduate Intern in the Executive Department (Strategy Office) of the National ACLU Office in New York. This is a part-time position that may be remote or hybrid from our New York City office. 

Qualifying applicants must currently be matriculated graduate students and must be based in the U.S. for the entire duration of the internship and must be based in the U.S. for the entire duration of the internship.

The Team:

The ACLU works on some of the most pressing civil rights and civil liberties issues facing American society today. The Strategy Office is charged with working with leadership to set the direction of the organization and supporting the ACLU to work in a coordinated way to protect and advance civil rights and civil liberties in the United States. The office resides within the Executive Department, the visionary center of leadership of the nation’s primary defender of civil liberties.  The Executive Department manages the strategy and mission driving the ACLU’s 600+ employees and $350M+ plus operating budget.    

What You’ll Do:

The intern will have the opportunity to gain valuable experience by working with various members of the Strategy Office on multiple projects. The intern will be joining the Strategy Office at a pivotal time – when we will be responding to the actions of the Trump administration in support of civil rights and liberties and engaging in longer term strategic planning for the next four years. The intern will support the Strategy Office to ensure integrated strategic planning, promote clear cross-ACLU communication, and remove barriers or pursue opportunities to support our strategic objectives.

Your Day to Day

• Support annual planning and budgeting processes and internal communications 
• Support election safeguarding and rapid response preparations to drive alignment and efficiency in ensuring a free and fair election  
• Coordinate data collection on key programmatic and strategic metrics and analyze and identify learnings  
• Conduct analysis on external trends  
• Provide support in logistics and agenda setting for leadership retreats  
• Draft memos, emails, and presentations and support agenda-setting, note taking and project planning for Strategy Office initiatives   

What You’ll Bring: 

• Exceptional organizational, planning and project management skills and the flexibility to manage multiple priorities and prioritize effectively against simultaneous demands
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and demonstrated ability to speak and write in a clear, succinct and persuasive manner
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills and ability to distill information into insights and recommendations
• Ability to work proactively in an ambiguous, yet dynamic and fast-paced environment   
• Strong interpersonal skills that contribute to a collaborative working environment  

Future ACLU-ers Will:

• Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU
• Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives
• Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflict

Internship Logistics:

• Location: Our internship program offers a limited number of remote or hybrid intern positions. This internship is part-time and Remote or Hybrid from our NYC National office.
• Time Commitment: Part-time (20 hours/week) or Full-time (35 hours/week).
• Internship Duration: Full-time internships spans 10 consecutive weeks and part-time spans 12 consecutive weeks. This internship has a start date of: September 8th or September 21st.
• Stipend: A stipend is available for students who are lawfully authorized to work. Arrangements can be made with educational institutions for work/study or course credit.
  • Below are the stipend rates:
    
    • $24/hr for graduate and law students or equivalent experience

This internship must be tied to the intern’s formal education program by integrated coursework or the receipt of academic credit

Why the ACLU:

For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people.

Our Commitment to Accessibility, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion  

Accessibility, equity, diversity, and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. For us diversity, equity and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities, but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change. We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us. 

With this commitment in mind, we strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. 

To maintain the integrity of our assessment process, please refrain from using AI-powered chatbots, search engines, or real-time assistance tools to generate your CV, cover letter or writing sample (if required). We want to better understand your individual skills and thought processes. If you require AI tools or other assistive technology as a reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please complete the Accommodation Request Form so that we can support an accessible and equitable experience.

In order to be considered for this position, all candidates must formally submit an application. The ACLU does not accept unsolicited calls or emails from candidates regarding their application status.