Summer 2026 State Fiscal Policy Research Intern
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 State Fiscal Policy (SFP) team conducts research and analysis of tax and budget developments in the states, with a focus on how they affect low-income families and individuals and build antiracist, equitable, and inclusive communities and economies. SFP’s areas of research include state budget and tax reform, taxes and state economies, anti-poverty programs, criminal justice, higher education, K-12 education, and immigration. The team’s recent work can be found here [https://www.cbpp.org/research/topics/state-budget-and-tax]. SFP also coordinates and provides in-depth assistance to the State Priorities Partnership, a nationwide network of state-level policy organizations. Interns are an integral part of the SFP team and work closely with CBPP’s state policy analysts. Tasks may include tracking budget and tax developments in states, summarizing research on tax and budget issues, performing data analysis in Excel using government and other datasets, drafting policy memos and other research materials, and attending briefings and events on topics of interest. Interns routinely contribute to public-facing materials such as papers, blogs, and presentations. Interns will also have a chance to assume a significant role in a research project that aligns with team goals and the intern’s policy interests. Lastly, while interns share core responsibilities year-round, particular focus areas of the role are often tailored to the shifting needs of the SFP team.
Requirements
- Experience in policy analysis, data analysis, issue advocacy, or public finance. Previous work focusing on public policies that reduce poverty and build antiracist, equitable, and inclusive communities and economies is a plus.
- Strong interest in CBPP’s mission, particularly state tax and budget issues.
- Prior personal, professional, or community experience that demonstrates a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Quantitative skills and experience working with Excel. Experience with Stata or R is a plus but notrequired.
- Strong writing skills.
- Education:preference for recent graduates or graduate students with a major/coursework in public policy, public administration, public health, political science, or a related field.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with Stata or R is a plus but notrequired.
- Experience coordinating events is a plus.
Responsibilities
- Tracking budget and tax developments in states
- Summarizing research on tax and budget issues
- Performing data analysis in Excel using government and other datasets
- Drafting policy memos and other research materials
- Attending briefings and events on topics of interest
- Routinely contribute to public-facing materials such as papers, blogs, and presentations
- Assume a significant role in a research project that aligns with team goals and the intern’s policy interests
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What This Job Offers
Career Level
Intern
