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Internships

The CAIR internship and externship program

As an organization, we believe that the best way to secure a better future for all of us is to empower young Americans with the skills they need to make a difference. There is no better teacher than experience. Interns at CAIR’s National Headquarters in Washington DC work on substantive projects that lay the foundation for a fair and more inclusive America. They develop professional skills, gain insight into the societal impact of public service, and can work with our departments so they might holistically understand the daily operations of a non-profit civil rights organization.

*Note* CAIR National recruits and accepts applicants with the understanding that positions are conducted on a hybrid modality, as the National office is still working on a mostly remote basis. All applicants are considered equally whether you will be physically in Washington DC or not.

Why join CAIR?

CAIR has a wide array of projects and activities to suit your level of expertise and will empower you to make a difference! Opportunities are available throughout the year for all students to apply–full-time or part-time, undergraduate or graduate, and all majors. Interns can earn academic credit or community service hours, or simply enrich their experience and insight to advocacy and civil rights efforts.

Application guidelines:

To be considered a complete application must be emailed to internship@cair.com, and include all of the following:

  1. An application form, signed and dated with all spaces completed with the most updated information and truthful responses.
  2. A cover letter that specifies the position(s) and session (i.e., winter-spring, summer, or fall) you are applying for, as well as your interests and qualifications. Applicants must clearly indicate which internship position(s) they are applying for in the cover letter. Applicants are welcome to apply for more than one department if they wish, please indicate your preference by ranking by number (1 being top priority) via the boxes on the Application Form linked above
  3. A resume that lists your most relevant and updated profile and contact information; and
  4. Writing Sample: This could be a drafted legal document, press release, blog, or previously submitted essay or writing assignment you’ve written that connects to civil rights and advocacy issues as they pertain to CAIR’s scope. We just want something that best exemplifies your writing and/or analytical skills. If none of the above are available, an original academic essay will also be considered. [maximum length: 5 pages; if longer, please select an excerpt].
  5. If you are a student, a course schedule for the most current academic period (only applicable for Fall and Spring session)
  6. Letters of recommendation are welcome but not necessary. Writers are welcome to submit directly via email or have them sent by the applicant with their other materials.

All interns are subject to the applicable CAIR employee rules. All interns are subject to a criminal background check.

Academic credit and community service hours

Interns may receive academic credit or community service hours if arrangements are made between CAIR and the intern’s school. It is the student’s responsibility to research the requirements, work with the supervising director to tailor the internship, and ensure that appropriate forms are completed if they wish to receive academic credits from their respective institutions.

Stipend

CAIR National offers a $1,500/semester stipend during the Summer session to offset housing & living costs. Unfortunately we are unable to offer this during the Spring & Fall at this time. No other financial compensation is offered at this time, although we are always happy to assist with securing funding through your academic institution or other third party programs. 

Timeline and minimum expectations

CAIR’s internship program is open throughout the year and we accept applications on a rolling basis. We consider and accept applications as soon as they are submitted, so we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible. Considering academic calendars, each session generally runs between the following months, though this may be adjusted depending on your availability:

  • Winter/Spring: January – May (Suggested application deadline: December 1)
  • Summer: May – August (Hard application deadline: April 1)
  • Fall: September – December (Suggested application deadline: August 1)

Due to the high volume of applicants, particularly for some of our more popular positions, it is recommended that you send in your application early in the application cycle. We cannot guarantee that certain roles will be remain available at the application deadline.

Selection process

Applicants should be contacted within five (5) business days of sending their complete applications. If an applicant is identified as a viable candidate for the program, an interview is scheduled. Candidates may be asked for additional documents to complement their applications prior to their interview.

Scheduling requirements

For Fall/Spring semesters most positions require 10-15 hours per week, with flexibility of more depending on the needs of the department and the student’s calendar. For the summer sessions interns typically work 15-20 hours a week, again flexible to needs of the department and the student’s calendar. Specific hours will be agreed upon by the student and department supervisor at the start of the internship.Internships are approximately 10 weeks long but can be longer depending on the intern’s availability. Please include your specific availability in your cover letter.

Questions or concerns

For general inquiries, email or call David Manning, CAIR National’s Internship Coordinator, at internship@cair.com or 202-657-9843.

Legal Intern

The Civil Rights Legal Intern will gain an inside look at CAIR’s civil rights work, providing exposure to a variety of case types and various aspects of a non-profit law office. Interns will conduct intake interviews with clients who call the hotline and manage their own caseload of clients.

Responsibilities:

  • Conducting legal case intakes and screening potential cases
  • Legal research and writing related to pertinent civil rights issues
  • Providing litigation and administrative support to the legal department
  • Assisting admin staff in office processing and management
  • Supporting projects and tasks assigned by attorneys
  • Other tasks as assigned

Qualifications:

  • Demonstrated commitment to public interest or civil rights work
  • Strong research and writing skills
  • Excellent interpersonal and phone skills
  • Ability to work well in team environments

Requirements:

  • Minimum time requirement of one semester
  • Part- or full-time schedules preferred.

Law Clerk

Law clerks will handle a wide variety of work related to civil rights matters that the CAIR Civil Rights Department handles, including: watchlist, incarceree rights, employment discrimination, free speech, discrimination by law enforcement, access to public accommodations, and other areas.  

Responsibilities:

  • Litigation support: Law clerks are responsible for assisting attorneys with all aspects of litigation including client-management, conducting legal research, drafting memoranda, drafting discovery requests, drafting motions and pleadings, drafting briefs, and other related work.
  • Pre-litigation support: Law clerks are responsible for assisting with cases in the pre-litigation stages, including assisting with client-management, conducting research and drafting memoranda, assisting with advocacy, drafting letters on behalf of clients, drafting administrative complaints to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, drafting administrative complaints to human rights commissions regarding employment discrimination and denial of public accommodations, drafting complaints to the Department of Justice, and other tasks as needed. 
  • Additional support: Law clerks will provide ancillary administrative support to team members, as needed, in maximizing office processing and management.  

Qualifications:

  • Strong legal research and writing skills
  • Excellent interpersonal and phone skills
  • Interest in civil rights work and issues affecting the American Muslim community
  • Preference given to students who have taken constitutional law, administrative law, and federal courts

Requirements:

  • All law students are welcome to apply; preference is given to 2Ls and 3Ls.
  • Minimum time requirement of one semester
  • Part-time or full-time schedules preferred.

Government Affairs Intern

The Government Affairs intern will work closely with the Government Affairs Director to fulfill government relations, communications and administrative functions. CAIR’s expanding government affairs department coordinates nationwide advocacy work on issues of public policy. Former CAIR interns and staff have gone on to accept jobs with members of Congress and in the White House.

Responsibilities:

  • Conduct legislative research and policy analysis on issues facing the American Muslim community
  • Attend and summarize hearings and briefings on Capitol Hill and other government events
  • Assist the department in tracking legislation
  • Write press releases and action alerts
  • Participate in grass roots Get Out the Vote campaigns and community engagement
  • Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

  • Be enrolled in college or be a recent graduate with a bachelor’s degree in government, public policy, international relations, or another related field
  • Previous government or advocacy experience preferred
  • Previous campaign experience preferred
  • Basic knowledge of legislative processes
  • Possesses excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to write quickly and effectively under deadline
  • Demonstrates follow-through and time management skills with assigned tasks

Requirements:

  • Must be willing to work 20 hours per week around intern’s schedule

Research and Advocacy Intern

The Research and Advocacy Intern is an internal liaison and point of contact on a variety of projects and activities for the Research and Advocacy Department. They will report to the Research & Advocacy Coordinator. The work requires a high level of discretion, attention to detail, and often requires the use and handling of confidential, sensitive information.

Responsibilities:

  • Assisting with compiling & organizing Civil Rights data
  • Assist with research related to the annual Civil Rights Report
  • Monitor and document Islamophobic content, actors, and organizations
  • Work with Research and Advocacy Coordinator to write blogs for the Islamophobia website & provide periodic updates to website material
  • Additional tasks when deemed necessary

Qualifications:

  • Must be motivated, organized, and possess good communication skills
  • 1-2 years of experience within and humanities or social science research preferred, but not required
  • Excellent research and writing skills

Requirements: 

  • Must be willing to work a minimum of 10 hours to a maximum of 40 hours per week, around the intern’s schedule during the academic year

Community Advocacy Intern

The Community Advocacy intern is a liaison and point of contact on a variety of projects & activities for the Community Advocacy Department (CAD). The Department ensures fair and equal treatment for all American Muslims, using advocacy techniques to provide direct services to those impacted by bias. Interns will report to the Community Advocacy Director. The work requires a high level of discretion, detail, and often requires the use and handling of confidential, sensitive information.

Responsibilities:

· Assist in the management, tracking, and resolution of incoming complaints of discrimination, harassment, or Islamophobic bias using traditional non-legal advocacy tools, including but not limited to helping draft demand letters.

· Assist in the development and implementation of non-legal advocacy trainings for the American Muslim community.

· In coordination with Communications Department, create talking points, action alerts, social media posts, etc., around key advocacy complaint areas.

· Liaise with advocacy professionals throughout the CAIR network to promote network-wide resources, facilitate working group meeting, etc.

· Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

· Excellent intake and complainant interviewing skills

· Excellent communication, public speaking, and interpersonal skills

· Mastery of PowerPoint, Canva, and/or graphic design

· Well versed in artificial intelligence

· Must be motivated and organized

· Data collection & analysis experience preferred

· Familiarity with advocacy strategies and content development

· Community advocacy experience preferred

Requirements:

· Must be willing to work 10-20 hours per week around intern’s schedule during the academic year; up to 40 hours per week during the summer

Development Intern

Development will work closely with the Development Manager to complete a variety of marketing & fundraising projects including research, social media, digital advertising, and search engine optimization. Interns can expect to work on initiatives that support the work of a variety of teams at CAIR National. The objective of this position is to help manage donor relationships and strengthen the organization’s fundraising capabilities by highlighting CAIR’s variety of work.  

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  

  • Assist with developing and executing fundraising campaigns 
  • Assist in donor relations via phone, email, and text  
  • Collecting, cleaning, and joining datasets from diverse sources  
  • Identify revenue opportunities through data analysis   
  • Analyzing campaign data, optimizing performance, and coming up with new marketing strategies.  
  • Help create, manage, and optimize high-performing media campaigns and advertisements  
  • Identify useful data for uncovering stories related to our mission 

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS  

  • Have work experience or pursuing studies related to business/marketing/development 
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, and PowerPoint skills  
  • Proven analytical/problem-solving skills as well as demonstrated attention to detail 
  • Ability to prioritize, organize and summarize data 
  • Background in statistics preferred  
  • Experience working with digital marketing platforms preferred 
  • Experience working with customer relationship management (CRM) platforms preferred 

REQUIREMENTS  

  • Must be willing to work for a minimum of 3 months  
  • Must be willing to work a minimum of 10 hours a week, up to 20 hours is preferred   

Operations Management Intern

The Operations Management Intern will work with the Operations departments to help the development and management of the National office and CAIR chapters nationwide. The position will report to the Chief Operating Officer and work closely with the Operations Coordinator. Students will gain an understanding of issues affecting the Muslim community in addition to many aspects of nonprofit management. 

Responsibilities: 

  • Assist with initiatives to build and expand the capacity of CAIR National in
    • Advocacy 
    • Fundraising 
    • Governance 
    • Programming 
    • Operations 
  • Community outreach 
  • Assist with project development and management  
  • Develop training materials & standard operations procedures 
  • Assist with Board outreach & coordination  
  • Assist with management of internship program & volunteer program  
  • Provide administrative support and organization of department activities  
  • Perform other related duties as assigned 

Qualifications: 

  • Strong research and writing skills 
  • Strong interpersonal communication skills 
  • Ability to work well in teams 
  • Detail-oriented and creative; self-starter and can work under minimum supervision 
  • Strong organizational, interpersonal, analytical and communication skills 
  • Proficient working knowledge of Microsoft Outlook and Office Suite  

Requirements:  

  • Freshman status (or greater) at an accredited university is preferred 
  • A minimum of 15 hours/week with flexible schedule 

Administrative Operations Intern

Position Overview:

CAIR is seeking proactive and enthusiastic Administrative Operations Interns to join our team. This internship will provide you with practical experience in non-profit administrative functions and operations. You will support our Chief Operating Officer in various tasks that contribute to the smooth operation of the office the COO. If you are passionate about civil rights and eager to learn more about non-profit administration, we encourage you to apply.

Key Responsibilities:

· Administrative Support: Assist with daily administrative functions, including managing calendars, scheduling meetings, and coordinating office tasks.

· Data Management: Help with data entry, updating and maintaining databases, and preparing reports. Ensure accuracy and confidentiality of information.

· Communication: Handle phone calls, emails, and other correspondence professionally. Assist in drafting and proofreading documents and communications.

· Research Assistance: Conduct research on topics relevant to CAIR’s advocacy and initiatives. Summarize findings and prepare reports or briefs.

· Office Operations: Aid in maintaining office supplies, managing file systems, and assisting with basic office technology needs.

· Project Support: Contribute to various projects as assigned by the administrative team, including tracking project progress and preparing necessary materials.

· Technology: Manage WhatsApp, Teams, Click-Up

Qualifications:

· Education: Current enrollment in or recent graduation from an undergraduate program in Business Administration, Non-Profit Management, Public Administration, or a related field.

· Skills: Strong organizational and multitasking skills. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and familiarity with office equipment.

· Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to interact effectively with diverse groups of people.

· Attention to Detail: High level of accuracy and thoroughness in managing tasks and information.

· Team Orientation: Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and adapt to changing priorities.

· Commitment to CAIR’s Mission: Genuine interest in civil rights, social justice, and the mission of CAIR.

· Experience using WhatsApp, Teams, ClickUp would be a plus.

Benefits:

· Hands-On Experience: Gain practical experience in non-profit administrative operations and advocacy work.

· Professional Development: Opportunities for mentorship and networking with professionals in the civil rights and non-profit sectors.

· Impactful Work: Contribute to CAIR’s mission of protecting civil liberties and promoting justice for American Muslims.

To apply: Please submit a cover letter with a résumé, writing sample, and a list of three professional references, to jobs@cair.com.

Please reference “Administrative Operations Intern” in the subject line.

Application Deadline: Intern applications will be accepted until the internship is filled.

Communications and Programs Intern

The Communications Intern will work closely with the Communications Director & Communications Coordinator to provide programmatic & content creation support to the Communications Department. They will also work alongside other CAIR departments to enhance departmental projects & initiatives.

Responsibilities:

· Assist with:

o Writing, collecting, and editing content for written publications and website

o Aggregating & writing content for daily & weekly email newsletters

o Analyzing engagement on online content

o Historical media preservation

o Management and operation of CAIR’s social media platforms and online outreach

· Contributing to the development of social media strategies and campaigns

· Cover events and press conferences

· Write original op-eds and blog posts

· Help promote our work across various platforms

Qualifications:

· Excellent command of written English

· Possess strong logical reasoning skills

· Demonstrated ability to craft strategic, compelling messaging for target audiences

· Ability to work under very strict time constraints

· A strong interest in, and familiarity with broadcast, online & print media, especially concerning stories and issues related to Islam and Muslims

· Social media experience management experience preferred

· Graphic design experience highly preferred

· Media archiving experience highly preferred

Requirements:

· The minimum commitment is 1 semester, but encourage longer

· The minimum average hours per week is 10, with a maximum of 40 hours per week

· Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate academic program

Nonprofit Management Intern

CAIR is seeking an intern in its Chapter Department. The Nonprofit Management Intern will report to the National Chapter Manager and Civil Rights Chapter Support Specialist.

Responsibilities:

  • Assist with initiatives to build and expand the capacity of CAIR chapters in
    • Advocacy
    • Community service
    • Fundraising
    • Governance
    • Programming
  • Develop training materials for CAIR chapters
  • Coordinate chapter trainings
  • Assist in the creation and dissemination of publications and resources for chapters
  • Perform other related duties as assigned

Qualifications:

  • Sophomore status (or greater) at an accredited university
  • Enthusiastic, optimistic, focused, and motivated
  • Detail-oriented and creative; self-starter and can work under minimum supervision
  • Strong organizational, interpersonal, analytical and communication skills
  • Thorough working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint

Requirements: 

  • 10 hours/week with flexible schedule.

Accounting and Finance Intern

Accounting & Finance Intern

The Accounting & Finance Intern directly assists the Controller and Accounting team with a range of projects related to account reconciliation, invoicing, payroll entries and more. Will also provide similar support as needed for the Legal Defense Fund. This internship is designed to be both educational and practical to provide an intern the opportunity to gain valuable on-the-job training within a professional non-profit setting.

Responsibilities:

  • Data-entry of invoices into the financial system
  • Printing and mailing of checks
  • Processes employee reimbursements
  • Maintains and updates W9 vendor information & 1099s
  • Filing monthly accounting paperwork
  • Audit support
  • Budget Data Entry Support
  • Assist with other administrative tasks and special projects as needed

Qualifications:

  • Current undergraduate or graduate student majoring in accounting, finance, or similar program
  • Demonstrated interest and experience in finance & accounting
  • Intermediate Excel experience to create and maintain accounting spreadsheets
  • Familiarity with QuickBooks, understands T-Accounts
  • Possess a high degree of discretion dealing with confidential information
  • Must be motivated, organized, and possess good communication skills

Requirements:

Must be currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate student. Must be willing to work 10 hours per week around intern’s schedule during the academic year.

In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goal of diversity, CAIR is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on any legally recognized basis including, but not limited to race, age color, religion, sex, marital status, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis.

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