Intern at Tax Foundation

Program Overview 

Federal team interns conduct research and analysis on timely debates in federal tax policy while also supporting our modeling efforts to score the economic, distributional, and revenue effects of proposed federal tax changes.  

Ideal Candidate & Qualifications 

• You are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or master's program. 

• You have an established interest in federal tax policy and alignment with the Tax Foundation's mission. 

• You possess strong communication and data analysis skills. 

• Ideally, you have an academic background in economics, political science, or public policy. 

• Previous work experience in public policy and familiarity with Python are preferred. 

Key Responsibilities 

• You will conduct research on current federal tax debates. 

• You will support modeling efforts for economic and revenue scoring. 

• You will analyze the distributional effects of proposed tax changes. 

Cover Letter Prompt 

In your cover letter, we would like to hear about what part of Tax Foundation's work most interests you and what sort of work you would hope to contribute to here.  

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Program Overview 

State team interns help write about important state-level tax developments and assist in the research for major Tax Foundation publications. 

Ideal Candidate & Qualifications 

• You are an undergraduate or graduate student who has completed one or more public policy internships. 

• You have experience conducting statutory research at the state level and exposure to fiscal policy issues. 

• You demonstrate strong research and writing skills. 

• You likely have an educational background in public policy, political science, or economics. 

Key Responsibilities 

• You will monitor and write about significant state tax developments. 

• You will perform statutory research at the state level. 

• You will assist in producing primary research for major publications. 

Cover Letter Prompt 

Standout candidates are those who (1) explain in their cover letter why they are interested in interning with the state tax policy team specifically, (2) why they believe in the principles of sound tax policy, (3) and mention having public policy-oriented research and writing experience.

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Program Overview 

Global team interns help conduct comparative analyses of tax systems in countries around the world, facilitate meetings with policymakers and stakeholders, and track tax policy developments at the OECD and European Union. 

Ideal Candidate & Qualifications 

• You are enrolled in (or recently completed) a graduate or advanced undergraduate program in a related field like economics, law, or public finance. 

• You are comfortable navigating both technical tax rules and broader economic implications. 

• You have a keen interest in how tax policy affects incentives and economic growth. 

• You possess excellent written communication skills and the ability to translate technical issues for a non-specialist audience. 

Key Responsibilities 

• You will track and summarize international tax developments from the OECD, EU, and national finance ministries. 

• You will support research on digital services taxes and the global minimum tax. 

• You will assist with comparative analysis of tax systems across countries. 

• You will contribute to data collection, modeling, and the drafting of blog posts and memos. 

Cover Letter Prompt 

US and European lawmakers have both been changing their approaches to international tax policy in recent years. Which recent or upcoming policy changes interest you most, and why? What do you think about the tradeoffs they are navigating?  

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Program Overview 

Development team interns help maintain key relationships with the Tax Foundation’s large donor network. Interns obtain a working knowledge of the fundamentals of fundraising including stewardship with top organizations and policymakers, engaging in research, CRM database management, developing communication materials, and representing the Tax Foundation to our diverse donor base. 

Ideal Candidate & Qualifications 

• You are an energetic and detail-oriented student or recent graduate. 

• You are interested in nonprofit management, public policy, or philanthropy. 

• You are highly motivated and ready to work in a seasoned development environment. 

Key Responsibilities 

• You will manage donor records and maintain clean data within Salesforce. 

• You will draft donor communications and manage the acknowledgement and receipting process. 

• You will research prospective donors and create donor profiles for meetings. 

• You will assist in drafting and editing grant proposals and reports. 

Cover Letter Prompt 

Please submit a brief cover letter explaining your interest in the Development Intern position at Tax Foundation. We’d like to learn why you’re interested in nonprofit development and donor engagement, what draws you to the Tax Foundation’s mission and work, and how your skills or experiences would contribute to our fundraising team. Additionally, please tell us about any time that you have fundraised for a specific cause. This does not have to be strictly “dollars in the door” but a time that you pooled together people or resources, garnered support for a cause that you care about, or had to pitch something to an external party to bring them into your corner through diligence or training.  

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Program Overview 

Marketing and Communications interns increase Tax Foundation’s reach by supporting media analysis and outreach, SEO and website maintenance, metrics tracking, email marketing, and social media and ad campaigns. 

Ideal Candidate & Qualifications 

• You are a sharp, curious, and highly organized individual with a strong interest in tax policy and media. 

• You are a skilled writer who can distill complex issues into clear, engaging content. 

• You are comfortable juggling multiple projects and enjoy tracking media trends. 

Key Responsibilities 

• You will support media analysis and build media databases. 

• You will assist with SEO, website maintenance, and email marketing. 

• You will draft content for op-eds, social media, and web audiences. 

• You will track metrics and analyze how ideas gain traction in the press. 

Cover Letter Prompt 

Please describe a time you translated a complex policy or topic into clear written content for a non-expert audience. What was the topic, who was the audience, and what format did you use? What was your approach?  

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Program Overview  

Education interns advance tax literacy via our TaxEDU program by helping develop free educational materials and conduct outreach to college and high school educators, students, taxpayers, and lawmakers nationwide. 

Ideal Candidate & Qualifications 

• You have an interest in fiscal policy and education or community involvement. 

• You have a background consisting of active participation in student groups. 

• You are creative and possess an outgoing personality fit for outreach. 

• You are preferably majoring in economics, social studies education, or public policy. 

Key Responsibilities 

• You will assist in the development of TaxEDU resources. 

• You will conduct outreach to high school and college educators. 

• You will help provide educational materials to students, taxpayers, and lawmakers. 

Cover Letter Prompt  

Your cover letter should express both your interest in interning with the Tax Foundation and why advancing tax literacy or the general work of TaxEDU appeals to you as an individual or in your future career.  

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