Arena Careers

The Democratic Party of Illinois is seeking dynamic individuals to fill multiple internship positions at our headquarters in Chicago and Springfield. The intern will assist party staff with day-to-day tasks as well as complete a long-term project based on which track they are placed in at the start of the internship. These tracks include organizing, finance, and communications.

About the Democratic Party of Illinois

Our work is year-round, and our programs focus relentlessly on supporting those who champion our causes and our communities. We seek outstanding applicants to help us achieve our mission of developing a robust state party organization that meets the diverse needs of our party stakeholders, from local leaders to our constitutional officers.

What Will You Do?

As an intern, you will assist party staff with day-to-day party functions in the track you are assigned. Each track will also be given a long-term project to complete by the end of the internship. In addition to these responsibilities, DPI will offer professional development opportunities by DPI’s partners, elected officials and DPI staff. Interns are required to work out of our offices in Chicago or Springfield. Preference will be given to applicants that can be in the office as many hours as possible during the week.

Tracks and Responsibilities Include:

• Organizing
  • Work to elect Democrats up and down the ticket
  • Implement grassroots field tactics, including execution of effective activities, such as high traffic canvassing, door-to-door canvassing, voter registration, texting, and more
  • Engage with local stakeholders and constituency groups, local grassroots organizations, and partner/ally groups
  • Meet voter contact and capacity building goals by recruiting, training and managing volunteers
  • Learn and use digital tools to engage new volunteers, expand the electorate, and highlight our work on the ground
  • Provide organizational support as requested or necessary

• Finance
  • Assist in call time preparation, staffing, and follow up with the Chair and senior staff
  • Prospect potential Illinois and national donors
  • Maintain NGP database
  • Assistant finance team in preparing for and staffing fundraisers, including DPI’s inaugural fundraising gala this fall
  • Assist in donor acknowledgment program
  • Draft invitations, memos, and other fundraising materials
  • Provide organizational support as requested or necessary

• Communications
  • Prepare press clips from national and local news outlets for the organization
  • Work with communications department to create and maintain press lists
  • Assist with drafting of press materials like releases, advisories, newsletters, talking points, letters to the editor, and communications research
  • Provide general staff support to the communications department
  • Monitor news outlets and social media for stories to uplift in Party communications
  • Assist with drafting and creating content for DPI social media pages
  • Provide organizational support as requested or necessary

Who Are You?

A passionate promoter of Democratic values with a growth mindset who is looking for part-time experience in politics. Preference is given, but not limited, to college students with at least one year of undergraduate studies or recent graduates in any field of study.

Application Requirements:

• Full Application
• Resume
• Letter of Recommendation
• 1 Professional Reference
• Dependable methods of transportation, including means to public transportation or other methods to commute within the Chicagoland region or Springfield metro area.
• A valid driver’s license.
• Access to a laptop and cell phone.

Paid Internship:

Interns will be paid $16/hour. A commitment of at least 20 hours of work is required with a maximum of 24 hours per week, with specific days and schedule based on the interns’ availability. Interns are expected to be at our office whenever possible on days when staff is at the office Tuesday through Thursday.

How To Apply:

Interested candidates fill out the DPI internship application form. Applications for summer internships must be received by August 22, 2024. Summer internships begin the week of September 5, 2024.

The Democratic Party of Illinois is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. The Democratic Party of Illinois strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees or applicants because of actual or perceived race (including traits associated with race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles, such as braids, locks, and twists), color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender (including gender-related identity, gender nonconformity, and status as a transgender or transsexual individual), age (40 and over), physical or mental disability (including unlawful discrimination against an individual because of the individual’s association with a person with a disability), citizenship status, work authorization status, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, military status, unfavorable discharge from military service, genetic information, order of protection status, marital status, arrest record (including an arrest not leading to a conviction, a juvenile record, or criminal history information ordered expunged, sealed, or impounded), conviction record (unless there is a substantial relationship between the previous criminal offenses and the position or the employment would involve an unreasonable risk to property or to the safety or welfare of specific individuals or the general public), status as a victim or perceived victim of domestic violence, sexual violence, gender violence, or any other crime of violence, credit history or credit report, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

The Democratic Party of Illinois complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as amended by the ADA Amendments Act, the Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA), and all applicable state and local law. Consistent with those requirements, The Illinois Democratic Party of Illinois will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with a disability if such accommodation would allow the individual to perform the essential functions of the job, unless doing so would create an undue hardship. If you believe you need accommodation during the hiring process, please contact us. The Democratic Party of Illinois will also, where appropriate, provide reasonable accommodations for an applicant or employee’s religious beliefs or practices.