Democracy Summer

We transform outstanding students into frontline advocates for democracy.

Now in its 26th year, Democracy Summer is an innovative internship program that exposes young leaders to new ideas and political movements. We teach our “friendterns” how to organize people around a shared vision for a better democracy in our state, address structural barriers to civic engagement, and build power alongside historically marginalized groups. This program equips young people with lifelong skills that they can use to work for positive social change in their communities.

• Students work in one of our departments — Organizing, Communications, Policy, Development or Operations — to gain valuable skills and experience while fighting for a democracy that works for all.
• Student interns work up to 40 hours per week (including some evenings and weekends) from late May to late July for a total of 9 weeks and earn a stipend of $6,000 (taxable) for the summer.
• Applicants must be a rising sophomore, junior, senior, or graduating senior, or graduate student (policy track only) enrolled in a North Carolina community college, college, or university. This is a full-time job, so students taking summer classes or who have other part-time work cannot realistically participate in the program.

The Democracy Summer Internship includes five tracks.

COMMUNICATIONS

Communications friendterns will use new media techniques and storytelling in the world of activism, including: producing our podcast “Built By Us”; generating social media content (primarily Instagram + TikTok); producing short videos; planning media opportunities; and writing editorials and press releases. The communications interns work in-person with our team at the Morrisville office or on the ground at various locations an average of 2 days per week.

DEVELOPMENT (FUNDRAISING)

The development intern will create content for donor communications; connect with Democracy Summer alumni; plan a grassroots fundraising campaign; and support digital outreach to target audiences. The development intern works in-person with our team at the Morrisville office an average of 2 days per week.

OPERATIONS

The Operations friendtern will have the chance to explore the inner workings of a nonprofit organization, gaining hands-on experience in areas like human resources, finance, administration, and volunteer management. As an intern, you’ll shadow members of the operations team, learning about nonprofit budgeting, helping develop employee resources through research and strategic thinking, and assisting with the planning and evaluation of volunteer activities. The operations intern works in-person with our team at the Morrisville office an average of 3 days per week.

ORGANIZING

Democracy Summer introduces Organizing Friendterns to the culture and practices that make grassroots organizing the soul of the movement. Friendterns will: Recruit local volunteers to partake in mobilization efforts; advocate for local and state policies; develop lasting relationships with advocates and coalition members; and create communication and marketing approaches for increasing turnout. The organizing interns will be working in one of five regions: Charlotte/Western Piedmont, Fayetteville/Southeast, Greenville/East, Raleigh/Greater Triangle, Winston-Salem/Greensboro/Central Piedmont.

POLICY

Policy Friendterns will gain practical experience and skills in policy and research including: Collecting data in response to urgent internal and external/stakeholder requests; conducting policy research for voter education materials; analyzing quantitative and qualitative data; drafting policy reports; and preparing testimony and engage in legislative advocacy. The policy interns work in-person with our team at the Morrisville office an average of 2 days per week.

Democracy Summer starts with a required training orientation, then interns work in their respective departments fighting for social change. They interact with civic leaders, veteran activists, elected officials, the news media, and of course each other and Democracy NC staff. Interns gain an insider’s view of the political climate, legislative process, and power structure in North Carolina.

Who Can Apply

Students must be able to participate in the entire summer program to be eligible. Democracy Summer is ideal for students interested in a career in public service, politics, a non-profit field, or community-based work. Because student interns are responsible for covering their own housing, most participants apply to work in cities where they have family or other living arrangements available. Other requirements:

• You must live in North Carolina for the 2025 summer.
• As of the summer of 2025, you must be a rising sophomore, junior, senior, or graduating senior enrolled in a North Carolina community college, college, or university. Graduate students are welcome to apply but only for the policy track.
• This is a full-time job, so students taking summer classes or who have other part-time work cannot realistically participate in the program.
• Students are expected to be available and in person for Democracy Summer orientation (5/20-22), Midpoint (6/23-27), and Graduation (7/25).

The ideal applicant will have:

• A passion for racial, social, and economic justice
• An ability to communicate with diverse groups of people
• An interest in and a general understanding of local and/or state level politics
• An ability to work independently and as part of a team

RELATED

• WATCH: Democracy Summer: A Documentary of the 20th Anniversary Class