The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is a 501(c)3 grantmaking foundation that receives an annual Congressional appropriation above $315 million and is governed by a private, bipartisan Board of Directors. This unusual arrangement positions NED to play a unique role as America’s leading foundation for freedom, empowering the institution to be nimble, innovative, and risk-taking in support of democratic activists, civil society organizations, independent media, and the NED family core institutes (the International Republican Institute, the National Democratic Institute, the Center for International Private Enterprise, and the Solidarity Center).

We seek a motivated, energetic, organized, and resourceful Research & Conferences, who is a mission-oriented team player, and who would be excited to join a fast-paced International Forum for Democratic Studies (IFDS) team. This position is based in Washington, D.C.

Position Summary:

The International Forum for Democratic Studies (Forum) at NED seeks a motivated individual to serve as a Research and Conferences paid Intern for Spring 2025. This paid internship provides an advanced undergraduate/graduate student with the opportunity to observe the day-to-day operations of a Washington, D.C.-based research center focused on democracy and human rights.

The Forum complements NED’s core mission—assisting civil society groups abroad in their efforts to foster and strengthen democracy—by linking the academic community with activists from across the globe. In addition to its Research and Conferences initiative, the Forum also produces the Journal of Democracy, the world’s leading publication on the theory and practice of democracy, and hosts fellowship programs for international democracy activists, journalists, and scholars.

Responsibilities:

• Provide research support to Forum staff for initiatives relating to a diverse number of topics.
• Attend meetings and take notes on topics related to Forum research initiatives.
• Participate in the drafting, editing, proofreading, and distribution of written materials, including newsletters, event materials, and internal memoranda.
• Help facilitate Forum events, including panel presentations and roundtable discussions.
• Assist with updating and maintaining Forum contact lists in an organization-wide contact management database.
• Other duties, as assigned.

Qualifications:

• We are seeking an enrolled undergraduate or graduate school student with:
• A strong interest in the study and support of democracy around the world.
• Strong research ability.
• Experience writing, editing, and proofreading materials.
• Computer software skills including MS Word, Excel, and Outlook; Photoshop, HTML, or database experience a plus.
• The ability to stay organized while handling multiple tasks.
• Candidate must be a registered student enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate-level program.
• Qualified candidates should have excellent writing skills and analytical skills, maintain a strong work ethic, be capable of showing initiative, and be well-organized. Students must also have strong computer skills.

Time Commitment: 30-34 hrs./week (not to exceed 40 hours per week) for the duration of the internship.

NED Application Deadline: n/a; All internships are posted until filled.

Anticipated Start Date:                      o/a Jan 27^th, 2025

Orientation Dates:                             o/a Jan 27^th  – 31^st, 2025

Anticipated End Date:                        o/a May 23^rd, 2025

To Apply:

Applications must include a cover letter, resume, desired salary, and contact information for three professional references, of which one should be a supervisor. Please, no phone call inquiries.

At NED, we recognize that our most important asset is our people. We value the diversity of skills and perspectives our team brings to our work. We believe an inclusive and supportive work environment fosters a culture of respect and appreciation for all individuals. NED is committed to creating a workplace that allows everyone to be their authentic selves and make meaningful contributions to our organization, our grantees, and our world.

NED strives to create a work experience that supports the well-being and healthy work-life balance of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package offers health insurance (includes no copay for mental health services), a generous retirement savings plan, paid parental, vacation, and sick leave, a hybrid workplace model, flexible work schedules, and wellness initiatives to ensure a positive work-life balance.

NED is dedicated to creating an environment of respect and collaboration where everyone is encouraged to participate and take ownership of their work. We offer flexible work schedules and, for most positions, the opportunity for weekly telework days. This hybrid approach allows our employees to balance their work and personal lives while still participating in the collaborative process at the heart of our mission.

The NED is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristics covered by applicable law. The NED is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation for all qualified individuals and bases all employment decisions on qualifications, merit, and business needs. The NED believes that diversity and inclusion among our team members are critical to our success as an organization operating globally and seeks to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool.

For more information, please visit our website at www.ned.org  or careers@ned.org.