Interns & Fellows
POGO offers 3 unique opportunities for internships and fellowships. Follow the link to go to POGO's Legal Intern page or go to POGO's Fellowship page. Stay on this page to learn more about POGO's internship program.
Internship Deadlines
- Summer - April 15
- Fall - June 15
- Winter - September 15
- Spring - December 1
If you have a deadline for applying for a grant or other funding, please clearly specify the date in your cover letter.
The Project On Government Oversight's (POGO) internship program should appeal to people looking for a chance to:
- Work to protect the public interest. Learn how to use the tools available for citizens to research the government and corporations.
- Observe how Washington works.
- Gain experience working with the Executive branch, Congress, the media and other nonprofit organizations.
POGO's internships work as follows
The main job of our interns is to assist in researching government subservience to special interests. The intern's research often requires them to file Freedom of Information Act requests as well as go to congressional hearings, the Library of Congress and different government agencies. On occasion, interns work with whistleblowers. Sometimes the intern's research culminates in a POGO report. Besides research, interns also write opinion-editorial pieces for media release and assist in the writing and editing of testimony to be delivered at Congressional hearings. Of course, some of an intern's time, usually less than 20%, is spent doing administrative work -- from bulk mailings and answering the phone to filing. This work is shared by all the staff.
Recent Intern Projects
Interns have recently worked on projects such as bringing public attention to wasteful trends in defense procurement policy, improving testing and tightening financial oversight of the missile defense program, and increasing security at nuclear weapons and power plants nationwide. POGO attempts to match each intern's interests and skills with our current projects.
Qualifications
POGO is not looking for an intern to have a specific major. Our best interns are those individuals who are creative, self motivated, inquisitive, and concerned about justice. Some interns have worked for college credit. A working knowledge of WordPerfect is desirable.
Internship Time and Length
POGO has interns all year: summer interns usually work from May through August; fall semester runs from September through December and spring semester runs from January through May. However, the organization is flexible and will work with an individual's time restrictions, as long as there is a minimum commitment of three months. Interns who are not available for the full three months, or who can only work a few days a week, tend not to be able to handle research projects.
The office is conveniently located right at Metro Center on the red, blue and orange subway lines.
Compensation
POGO does offer a monthly $500 stipend from time to time. However, those students who are able to work for free are given extra consideration. Interns work forty hours a week. Internship programs where the intern is only available a few days a week tend not to be able to handle research projects.
To Apply
POGO prefers that a student send a cover letter and include their resume, transcript (a copy is fine), a writing sample (no longer than 5 pages), and two (2) letters of recommendation.
Any questions concerning internships should be directed to:
Ms. Danni Downing, Intern Coordinator
POGO, 666 11th Street NW, Suite 900, Washington DC 20001
Phone: 202 347-1122 or Fax: (202) 347-1116 or email: danni@pogo.org
For more information on POGO's Fellowship program, click here.
For more information on POGO's Legal Intern program, click here.
