Policy & Advocacy Intern (Summer 2025)

About First Five Years Fund

The first five years last forever. At First Five Years Fund, we work to build bipartisan support for quality child care and early learning programs at the federal level. Reliable, affordable, and high-quality early learning and child care enhances a child's prospects for a brighter future while also bolstering working parents and fostering economic stability nationwide.

FFYF uses its expertise in policy, government relations, and communications to work with federal policymakers from both political parties to build consensus and advance commonsense solutions that give working families with young children access to the affordable, quality child care options they need.

Position Summary

The Policy & Advocacy Intern will support the three core pillars of the FFYF team - Government Relations, Policy, and Communications – through the following activities:

• Conducting policy and practice research in support of FFYF’s advocacy initiatives
• Assisting in drafting advocacy documents such a reports, briefing notes, talking points, etc.
• Attending meetings, hearings, and briefings of interest to FFYF and reporting back on key issues
• Reviewing external reports and publications and summarizing relevant findings

Internship Purpose

FFYF’s Policy & Advocacy Intern assists with FFYF’s efforts to ensure all children from birth through age five have equal access to affordable, comprehensive, high-quality ECE to support their healthy development and help them achieve their full potential in school and life. Through this experience, the Policy & Advocacy Intern develops a practical understanding of: 

• How the federal government addresses ECE issues;
• Policy issues that impact federal ECE programs;
• Research, policy analysis, and legislative process;
• Developing and executing federal policy strategy; and
• How to use communications and marketing as influence tools.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities 

• Monitor federal legislation and regulations. Analyze and prepare summaries for Policy Team.
• Accurately input data from various sources into designated databases or trackers. Examples include uploading data into Quorum (FFYF’s primary legislative tracker/CRM), Member quotes tracker, press lists, etc.
• Assist in the planning and execution of FFYF events.
• Research and draft briefing materials for meetings with policymakers.
• Conduct policy research and analysis on issues that impact the ECE community.
• Attend and prepare summaries of virtual briefings, meetings, and other internal and external engagements.
• Draft resources such as comments, responses, fact sheets, one-pagers, policy briefs, letters, blogs, and social media posts.
• Assist with additional projects throughout the organization as time and interest permit.
• Administrative and other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Current undergraduate student, graduate student, or recent graduate.
• Major in public policy, political science, public health, public administration preferred, but not required.
• Demonstrated interest in ECE issues.
• Proficient computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Energetic and eager to tackle new projects and ideas.
• High level of professionalism.

First Five Years Fund is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to our core values by creating an inclusive environment for all staff.