Summer 2026 Graduate Intern, Executive Office- Strategy

The ACLU seeks a Graduate Intern in the Executive Department (Strategy Office) of the National ACLU Office in New York. This is a full-time Remote or Hybrid position. Intern is required to be based in the U.S.

The Team:

The ACLU works on some of the most pressing civil rights and civil liberties issues facing American society today. The Strategy Office is charged with working with leadership to set the direction of the organization and supporting the ACLU to work in a coordinated way to protect and advance civil rights and civil liberties in the United States supports the ACLU to advance civil rights and liberties for all through the development and delivery of a bold strategy with shared goals that maximizes our impact today and in the long-term. The office resides within the Executive Department, which drives strategic direction, governance partnership, and a values-driven and inclusive.

What You’ll Do:

The intern will have the opportunity to gain valuable experience by working with various members of the Strategy Office on multiple projects. The intern will be joining the Strategy Office at a pivotal time – when we will be responding to the actions of the Trump administration in support of civil rights and liberties and implementing our 2030 strategic plan. The intern will support the Strategy Office to ensure integrated strategic planning, promote clear cross-ACLU communication, and remove barriers or pursue opportunities to support our strategic objectives.

Your Day to Day

• Support election safeguarding and rapid response preparations to drive alignment and efficiency in ensuring a free and fair election

• Evaluate progress towards our strategic objectives and identification of learnings to inform how we shift our approach

• Support annual planning and budgeting processes

• Support process development and improvement that address barriers or create opportunities to advance ACLU strategy

• Draft memos, emails, and presentations and support agenda-setting, note taking and project planning for Strategy Office initiatives   

What You’ll Bring:

• Exceptional organizational, planning and project management skills and the flexibility to manage multiple priorities and prioritize effectively against simultaneous demands

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and demonstrated ability to speak and write in a clear, succinct and persuasive manner

• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills and ability to distill information into insights and recommendations

• Ability to work proactively in an ambiguous, yet dynamic and fast-paced environment

• Strong interpersonal skills that contribute to a collaborative working environment 

Future ACLU-ers Will:

• Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU

• Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives

• Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflict

Internship Logistics:

• Location: Our internship program offers a limited number of remote or hybrid intern positions. This internship is part-time and Remote or Hybrid from our NYC National office.

• Time Commitment: Full-time (35 hours/week).

• Internship Duration: Full-time internships span 10 consecutive weeks. This internship has a start date of: May 26th or June 8th

• Stipend: A stipend is available for students who are lawfully authorized to work. Arrangements can be made with educational institutions for work/study or course credit.

• Below is the stipend rate:

• $24/hr for graduate and law students or equivalent experience

Why the ACLU:

For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people.

Our Commitment to Accessibility, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Accessibility, equity, diversity, and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. For us diversity, equity and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities, but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change. We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us.

With this commitment in mind, we strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

The ACLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please email [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request accommodations for the interview process.