Fall 2026 Food Assistance Intern

CTR BUDGET POLICY • Washington, DC

12d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) is a high-caliber strategic policy institute that informs and shapes public policies to reduce poverty, promote equity, and build opportunity. It has a national reputation for conducting rigorous research and analysis, developing evidence-based policy ideas and strategies, shaping a broad array of policy debates at the federal and state levels, and influencing policy outcomes on a range of critical issues. It focuses on improving the lives of people with low or moderate incomes and examines how policies affect particular groups, including Black, Indigenous, and other people of color; immigrants; people with disabilities; and LGBTQ+ people. CBPP is known for its unique capacity to blend rigorous, timely analysis with effective communications that enable policymakers and the media to make use of its work.

The Food Assistance team works at both state and federal levels to strengthen federal food assistance programs, primarily the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), by analyzing proposed changes in government policies, designing and sharing new ideas to improve these programs, providing technical assistance to policymakers, conducting program research, and working with federal and state nonprofits on these issues. The Food Assistance Intern compiles and analyzes data, assists with research projects, and monitors legislative developments related to SNAP, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and other nutrition assistance programs.

Requirements

• Interest in nutrition assistance.
• Demonstrated quantitative skills, including experience working with Microsoft Excel and strong attention to detail.
• Must have documentation of work authorization for the U.S. AND a U.S. Social Security number, as of the start date of the internship, to be employed by CBPP.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with graphics software or statistical software such as R or Stata is a plus but not required.
• Experience with nutrition policy, social policy, and/or research experience preferred.
• Work experience with food banks or similar hunger-related organizations is a plus.
• Current or recent undergraduate and graduate students with coursework in public policy, public health, public administration, social work, or a similar field of study preferred.
• Commitment to CBPP’s mission to improve the well-being of low- and moderate-income people and advance racial equity.
• Highly motivated candidates — particularly those with experience with communities that are underrepresented in policy debates — with a demonstrated interest in working on public policies that affect low-income and diverse communities and have implications for racial equity.

Responsibilities

• Compiles and analyzes data.
• Assists with research projects.
• Monitors legislative developments related to SNAP, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and other nutrition assistance programs.

Benefits

• Undergraduate students receive $18.00 per hour.
• Students with a bachelor's degree receive $19.00 per hour.
• Graduate students receive $20.00 per hour.
• Students with a master’s or law degree receive $21.00 per hour.
• Doctoral students may receive between $20.00 and $22.00 per hour, depending on progress toward completion of degree requirements, relevant coursework, and research.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: Associate degree