Institute of Politics

Overview of Organization:

Reform for Illinois (RFI), formerly known as the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform (ICPR), was established in 1997. RFI is a nonpartisan nonprofit committed to creating a democracy that works for every Illinoisan. Through policy advocacy, research, and education, RFI addresses critical areas such as money in politics, anti-corruption/ethics, and election reform.

Internship Summary:

RFI is seeking motivated interns interested in gaining experience in policy crafting and research, as well as in fundraising, event planning, and communications. Our small staff size offers interns a unique opportunity to make meaningful contributions to the organization and gain in-depth experience.

Responsibilities:

• Engage in quantitative analysis, research, and writing for policy projects.
• Collect and analyze campaign finance data for research initiatives.
• Participate in donor outreach and contribute to fundraiser planning.
• Assist in planning educational events aligned with our mission.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong research and writing skills.
• Genuine interest in RFI's mission and the field of government reform.
• Adaptability to a variety of tasks and responsibilities.
• Past exposure to government or politics is advantageous.
• Effective interpersonal skills for collaboration with RFI staff and fellow interns.
• Ability to work autonomously and meet deadlines.
• Proficiency in Google Docs and Sheets.

About the Supervisor:

Your supervisor will be Kiley Marron. Kiley is a lifelong Chicagoan who brings a background in political organizing, research, and advocacy to Reform for Illinois. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2021. Before joining RFI, Kiley was a Policy & Program Fellow at the Committee of Seventy, a good government organization based in Philadelphia that focuses on ethics, transparency, and election reform in Pennsylvania. Kiley is especially passionate about engaging Illinoisans in state and local government, as well as efforts to make our political system more ethical, equitable, and accountable to the people.

Eligibility:

• Undergraduate students
• Domestic and international students

Location, Modality, and Commute:

-Ideally, our intern would be comfortable with a majority virtual workplace, with occasional in-person opportunities throughout the year as schedules allow. -This is about 1.5 hours from UChicago’s campus via the Red and Purple Lines. Transfers from the Red Line are possible at either Fullerton or Belmont; the closest Purple Line stop is Foster, which is about a six-minute walk away. Given that this is a substantial commute from Hyde Park, we will very likely look at co-working spaces, cafes, and other options for in-person work near downtown Chicago instead! -1918 Orrington Ave, Evanston, IL 60201

Start and End Date:

The Academic Year internships will take place according to the IOP’s timeline, with specific dates and weekly hours to be determined by the employer partner and intern during the interview process:

• Onboarding: November – December 2025
• Intern Work Period: January – May 2026