Institute of Politics

Overview of Organization: The Civic Federation is an independent, non-partisan government research organization that provides robust and objective fiscal analysis, recommendations, and education for the benefit of civic and business leaders, the media, and the general public in Chicago and the State of Illinois. Founded in 1894 to address deep concerns about the city's economic and political climate at the turn of the century, the Federation has been a civic leader in Chicago and Illinois for 131 years. The Federation’s mission is to promote good fiscal policy decisions and best practices in governance. Our research covers government finance, including analysis of budgets, debt, pensions, and tax policy.

Internship Summary: Join the Civic Federation for a dynamic internship that offers hands-on experience in fiscal policy research and analysis. An ideal intern need not have a base of understanding in public finance (though it would be helpful!) but will need a desire to quickly learn about public finance issues, from property tax to budgets to the cost of public employee benefits. As a Policy and Research Intern, you'll work alongside our Research staff to support ongoing research and conduct your own research that will inform articles and reports that shape the future of Illinois. In this role, you will be able to follow topics that interest you the most to produce articles on matters that most impact Chicago and Illinois citizens, gain insights into the process of utilizing government data to promote efficient government and receive robust mentorship to ensure a valuable internship experience.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct research and write articles and reports on diverse areas such as state and local budgets, pensions, property tax, education, and more
• Source and analyze data and contribute to the Civic Federation’s long-term research
• Support the organization’s data visualization efforts through data analysis and building out data dashboards
• Develop easily digestible versions of the Civic Federation’s research through power point presentations and one-pagers
• Collaborate with the Research team to develop skills and dive deeply into your own areas of interest
• Attend internal and external meetings as appropriate to further your own research projects, support the organization’s programming, and network with Civic Federation members and government officials
• Collaborate with your supervisor to help clarify priorities and determine appropriate assignments for graduate vs undergraduate level and based on the intern’s interests

Preferred Qualifications:

• Pursuing a degree with a focus on public policy, political science, government, law, economics, econometrics, or statistics/data science
• Possess strong writing skills
• Proficient in data analysis
• Proficiency in Microsoft programs including Word and Excel
• Keen attention to detail
• Effective team player with a positive attitude and eager to learn about government policy issues
• Familiarity with data analysis and visualization software (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, etc.) is a plus

About the Civic Federation team: The Policy and Research Intern will serve as part of the Civic Federation’s research team. Your research will be primarily supported and directed by Senior Policy Advisor Paula Worthington. Paula is an economist with expertise in state and municipal fiscal policy, tax policy, infrastructure, and regulatory policy. She contributes to the Civic Federation’s research and policy work on the State of Illinois budget, transit and infrastructure issues, and advises the organization’s work on a variety of issues include public pensions, debt, and economic development. She is a lecturer at the University of Chicago Harris School and Public Policy.

Based on the collaborative nature of our small team, the Policy and Research Intern will work directly with all members of the research staff. Other members of our research team may provide direct management of the intern’s projects, depending on the topics. Policy and Research Associate Danny Vesecky will work closely with the intern on projects to provide additional feedback and guidance on projects.

Partnerships and programming work is supported by Ellen Morris Palermo, Director of Program and Strategy. The Policy and Research Intern may work with Ellen as needed to help support content production and messaging as part of external-facing meetings.

Eligibility:

• Domestic and International students
• Graduate students

Location, Modality and Commute: Our team is in the office Monday-Thursday. Ideally our intern would work in the office on at least one of those days, but will work out a specific weekly schedule with their supervisor. Our office is currently located at: 10 N Dearborn Street in the Chicago loop, but will be moving to a new office located at 141 W. Jackson Blvd (Chicago Board of Trade building) beginning on April 1, 2026. Students can take the Metra Electric (ME) Line to Van Buren or several bus lines from the Hyde Park Campus (#2, #6, #15). We are also located within a few blocks of loop stops for all “L” lines.

Start/End Date: Summer internships will take place during the period of June 8 - September 25, with specific dates to be determined by the employer partner and intern during the interview process.

Required Materials:

• Resume
• Cover Letter