INTERN - Policy and Advocacy

Educate Texas Vision

All Texas students earn a college degree or credential that leads to a living wage and thriving  communities .

Educate Texas Mission

As a trusted change agent, we increase academic achievement and educational equity by leading programs, policy, and partnerships. 

Educate Texas Values

Equity, Collaboration, Impact, Integrity, and Learning

Intern Program Overview

This program is designed to foster a mutually beneficial relationship that promotes growth and development for Communities Foundation of Texas, our employees, and college students. This full-time, paid internship program provides a unique opportunity to enhance academic learning, apply classroom knowledge in real-world scenarios, and gain exposure to a professional work environment. Each intern is paired with a dedicated supervisor who mentors them, helps develop business skills, and oversees their work experience. Interns actively contribute as team members by setting goals, meeting deadlines, and engaging in meaningful work that helps our community thrive.

The program requires an 8-week commitment, during which interns participate in formal training, mentoring, hands-on learning, and networking opportunities with senior leaders.

• Program starts June 1, 2026, and ends July 24, 2026.
• 20 hours per week with a pay rate of $20 per hour.

Participation in the internship requires that you legally reside in Texas with in-person attendance at the Austin office, in accordance with CFT’s hybrid working model, for the duration of the program.

What We Offer Essential tools and training for success, along with purposeful development opportunities, including:

• Networking with cross-functional teams to gain insights into different areas of the organization.
• Opportunities to engage with senior leadership to discuss project goals, strategies, and key milestones.
• Involvement in company meetings, community events and volunteer activities

Intern, Policy & Advocacy Ahead of the Texas 90th Legislative Session, the Educate Texas Policy & Advocacy team seeks a highly motivated and research-oriented intern to help our organization’s legislative success. As a Policy & Advocacy Intern, you will play a critical role in strengthening Educate Texas’ evolving policy recommendations during the interim period through two primary projects. You will support targeted research synthesis and analysis to ensure our advocacy positions are informed by clear evidence, relevant data, and established strategic priorities. Through this work, you will help bridge research and advocacy - ensuring that our policy recommendations are not only evidence-based, but also clearly communicated and strategically framed for a variety of stakeholders.

What You’ll Do Policy Research Resource

• The policy intern will compile and synthesize a landscape analysis of existing public research, data, and policy context to support Educate Texas’ legislative agenda, based on current policy priorities identified by the Policy and Advocacy team.

Data Strategic Tool

• The policy intern will translate key themes and data from the landscape analysis into advocacy-ready materials, such as talking points, visual collateral, or reusable templates, to support legislative engagement.

Engage in Professional Development

• The policy intern will gain hands-on professional development experience with the Policy & Advocacy team, including mentorship from team members, direct exposure to legislative operations, and a first-hand view into the policy-making process.

Participate in Learning Opportunities

• Participate in knowledge-sharing opportunities with Educate Texas and policy partners, gaining the chance to exchange ideas, learn from experts in the field, and observe policy developments as they happen.
• This experience provides a deeper understanding of current legislative priorities, emerging trends, and collaborative approaches being used to address key education policy issues in real time

What you’ll need

• Enrolled in a four-year accredited college, university, or graduate program with good academic standing.
• Basic understanding of working in a hybrid environment, workplace ethics, and effective communication.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including PowerPoint, Excel, and Word.
• Demonstrated strong organizational and planning abilities, with a track record of effectively coordinating, facilitating, and implementing projects in previous work or academic settings.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, along with the ability to analyze and synthesize information for effective problem-solving, are highly valued.
• A passion for nonprofit partnership in the community.
• Effectively model and demonstrate CFT’s core competencies, which include Collaboration, Impact and Problem Solving, Integrity and Accountability, Learning, and Internal and External Service.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States without visa sponsorship

Disclaimer: The above sections contain representative examples of job duties that might be performed by employees assigned to this classification. CFT is a dynamic organization, and the environment can be fluid. Roles and responsibilities may be altered to accommodate changing conditions and objectives as well as to tap into the skills and experience of its employees. Accordingly, employees may be asked to perform duties that are outside the specific work that is listed. This is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and/or skills required of all employees within this class.

Accommodations: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position