The Koch Internship Program is a paid internship offered in the summer, fall, and spring for current students and recent graduates who want to become effective advocates for individual liberty, free markets, and economic freedom.
Based in the Washington, DC area, the Koch Internship Program combines meaningful work, career training, and networking to help interns become:
- Excited about the ideas of liberty and economic freedom
- Equipped to effectively advance those ideas, and
- Engaged in opportunities that seek liberty-advancing social change.
Training and Development
Training is varied and consists of four broad components:
- Reading discussions: To understand the philosophical underpinnings of free societies, interns read selections from a variety of disciplines including management, economics, philosophy, and political science
- Guest speakers & presentations: Interns are exposed to leaders and experts in policy, communications, non-profit management, and professional development.
- Workshops & simulations: Interactive workshops build practical skills like public speaking, writing, time management, and interviewing.
- Group projects: Interns take training concepts from theory to practice, applying economic thinking principles in team projects and reflecting on the results.
What Interns do
The Koch Internship Program offers a variety of roles at organizations in the Washington, DC area. Through careful consideration during the application and interview process, each intern is matched with a role that best suits his or her interests and goals, skills and experience, and the needs of the organization.
Each intern works in one role throughout the program, gaining meaningful work experience. Actual positions vary between programs, but may include some of the following types of responsibilities:
- Fundraising & development: Research for fundraising, execute donor communications and events, assist with donation processing
- Grassroots education & outreach: Support educational outreach programs, measure effectiveness, research and build a base of contacts
- Marketing & communications: Prepare marketing materials for programs and events, perform market research, recruit for programs, generate website and new media content
- Operations: Tracking grants, maintain office operations, plan events, assist with human resources or accounting
- Policy research & analysis: Work with analysts and scholars to research policies, analyze data, write, and promote free market policy solutions
They are looking for candidates from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, who are excited about advancing the ideas of liberty to improve society.
Intern expectations
- Solid academic record
- Solid understanding of free-market principles and the importance of individual liberty
- Interested in pursuing a career advancing the ideas of economic freedom and individual liberty
- Demonstrated humility, integrity, intellectual honesty, and introspection
- Entrepreneurial, passionate, motivated, and self-starting
Intern requirements
- Current college student, graduate student, or recent graduate
- Available to work 20-40 hours per week during the program
- Available for training every Tuesday during the program, from 8:30am-5:30pm
- Available for phone interviews during the interview period
- If hired, you will be required to present documentation evidencing your current legal right to work in the United States
- Selection for the Koch Internship Program is highly competitive. Each candidate who applies is carefully evaluated based on his or her application materials.
Application Process
They accept applications, conduct interviews, and extend job offers on a rolling basis. You must be available for phone interviews during their interview period. If hired, you will be required to present documentation evidencing your current legal right to work in the United States. They are an equal opportunity employer.
Application Requirements
In order to apply for the Koch Internship Program, please submit the following items through our online application:
- A resume.
- The names and contact information of three references, along with their relationship to you. Letters of recommendation or reference are not required.
- A statement of no more than 100 words on what you hope to gain by participating in the Koch Internship Program.
- A statement explaining how participating in the program relates to your career path.
- A statement of no more than 50 words on the ideal role of government.
- An example of a successful government policy described in no more than 100 words.
- A list of five people or books that have influenced your thinking about the ideal role of government. For each, write one sentence to explain how it has affected your thinking.
- A statement of no more than 150 words on your biggest work-related failure or mistake, including what you did wrong and how you responded.
Where interns work
Interns work either at the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation or at one of many 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations in the Washington, DC area. Partner organizations include think tanks, policy institutes, and grassroots education organizations, all of which are dedicated to promoting liberty.
Work Details:
Interns generally work between 20-40 hours per week, based upon their own preferences and schedules. All interns must be available every Tuesday from 8:30am-5:30pm for training at the Foundation.
Money Matters
Spring, summer, and fall interns are all paid $10.00 per hour and receive DC metro assistance. Housing is not provided by the Foundation.
Application Deadline: August 15, 2011. The internship program runs from September 12 – December 2, 2011.
If you have any questions about apply, quickly write [email protected]
To learn more about the internship, and to apply, visit their website by clicking here.