The Peter G. Peterson Foundation’s Fiscal Internship Program

Posted in Undergrad Opportunities

Posted on 1/8/2025: The Peter G. Peterson Foundation established its Fiscal Internship Program in Washington DC with the goal of encouraging young people to engage in fiscal and economic policy.

Through the program, interns will gain first-hand research experience at public policy institutions while living and working in Washington DC for 10 weeks. Over the summer, PGPF Fiscal Interns will have the opportunity to work for leading scholars while gaining professional experience, skills, and contacts that will serve them throughout their careers.

Participants in this program will:

  • Work as a research intern for 10 weeks at a leading policy organization
  • Receive a $7,200 stipend for the duration of the summer
  • Participate in other social, educational, and career-oriented eventsJoin a diverse community of experts and students interested in budgetary and economic issues
  • Attend seminars on fiscal issues featuring leading scholars from participating organizations

Interested applicants may apply to work with any of the host institutions listed below (there will be 1 intern per organization). The host institutions’ work spans a variety of issues including healthcare, Social Security, economic policy, and tax policy, and includes a range of perspectives from progressive to conservative. If selected, interns will work on research assignments related to federal fiscal policy issues under the direct supervision of a leading scholar at their host institution.

This year’s hosts will include:

  • Bipartisan Policy Center
  • Brookings Institution
  • Center for American Progress
  • Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget
  • Employee Benefit Research Institute
  • Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity
  • Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies
  • Kaiser Family Foundation
  • Niskanen Center
  • Progressive Policy Institute
  • R Street Institute
  • Tax Foundation
  • Urban Institute/Tax Policy Center

Qualifications

The Peter G. Peterson Foundation Fiscal Internship program is looking for a diverse group of talented students who are passionate about policy and good with numbers. The most successful candidates are ambitious, actively involved on campus or in their communities, and have demonstrated superior academic performance.

We seek applicants who have:

  • An academic background in economics, political science, public policy, public administration, or a related field
  • A demonstrated interest in fiscal and economic policy
  • An aptitude for numbers
  • Written communication skills
  • An open mind and willingness to engage with those who share different opinions and beliefs
  • A natural curiosity for learning new things
  • A desire to live and work independently in Washington DC

Rising juniors, rising seniors, and current graduate students are eligible to apply. Students must have completed at least two courses in economics, math, statistics, or political science, and have a working fluency with numbers. Experience with Microsoft Excel is highly recommended.

Required Documents:

  1. Resume
  2. Unofficial Transcripts
  3. Personal Statement (250 words): Please describe your future career goals — outlining factors that have influenced you along the way (personal, academic, or professional), and how you feel the PGPF Fiscal Internship program would help you to further your professional journey (250 words). Please use examples and be specific.
  4. Statement of Policy Interest (250 words): Please choose ONE policy issue that interests you from the following list:
    • National Debt
    • Social Security or Medicare sustainability
    • Federal taxes
    • Cost and quality of the U.S. healthcare system
    • National defense spending
    • Federal budget process
    • Interest rates and/or interest payments on the federal debt
    • Another fiscal policy topic
  5. Thinking about this issue, answer ONE of the following prompts (250 words):
    • Describe one aspect of this issue that you would like to reform and why; OR
    • Describe why you feel that this issue is important and why it should be a policy priority in the coming year.
  6. Contact information for two references

2025 Internship Dates: June 2 – August 8, 2025
Summer Stipend: $7,300
Deadline to Apply: January 26, 2025
Website: https://www.pgpf.org/programs-and-projects/engaging-young-americans/fiscal-internship/
Contact email: fiscalinternship@pgpf.org
Applications now open. Apply here!