KIP Spring 2026 - Operations Intern - Mercatus Center

KIP Spring 2026 - Operations Intern - Mercatus Center

The Koch Internship Program (KIP) is a paid, 12-week experiential learning program run by Stand Together Fellowships that offers meaningful work experience at non-profits all over the United States tackling some of our nation's most pressing challenges. Eligible candidates will be geographically located within the U.S. and authorized to work in the U.S. through the duration of the program. Throughout your internship, you will gain meaningful professional experience at a partner organization and participate in professional development built around a 2-day, in-person summit hosted by Stand Together Fellowships at Stand Together's Headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, supported by virtual programming that takes place every other Thursday between 1-3 : 30 pm ET. Interns will receive either a $7,500 or $5,500 stipend from Stand Together Fellowships depending on whether they are participating full-time (40 hours / week) or part-time (24 hours / week). The programming provided by Stand Together Fellowships focuses on three objectives : understanding the foundational principles of a free society such as individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and the rule of law; learning the Stand Together community's vision for change and how a principled approach to problem solving can help address society's biggest challenges; and presenting opportunities and pathways to build a career that advances liberty and free society. Successful candidates will interview with both our non-profit partner organizations and Stand Together Fellowships staff, so we strongly encourage you to apply in advance! Please note that all Koch Internship Program interns MUST be available every other Thursday (Jan. 22, Feb. 12, Feb. 26, March 12, March 26, and April 9) from 1-3 : 30 PM ET for virtual professional development training AND the in-person summit at Stand Together's Headquarters in Arlington, VA Feb. 6-Feb. 7.

About The Mercatus Center : The Mercatus Center at George Mason University advances knowledge about how markets work to improve people's lives and fosters understanding of the institutions that support prosperity and human well-being. EEO Statement : We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

About the role : The Mercatus Center at George Mason University is seeking an Operations Intern as part of our Research and Programs team to assist with operations work for the department. Through this internship, you will learn the ins-and-outs of non-profit organizational structure, and will get comprehensive exposure to the logistics of managing higher education programs. Along the way, they will gain experience with various processes and softwares, including Adobe Acrobat, Excel, Pitney Bowes, and more. At the same time, they will have the opportunity to learn a great deal about classical liberalism and the economic theories underlying it. This role is onsite in Fairfax, VA.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Research and Programs operational team.
• Assist program leads with event management as needed.
• Assist with any copyediting and indexing projects.
• Assist with producing Research and Program materials / documents.

Minimum Qualifications

$5,500 - $7,500 a year

Stand Together Fellowships believes that diversity in experiences, perspectives, knowledge and ideas fuels creativity, broadens knowledge, and helps drive success. Our admissions office treats all program participants and applicants with honesty, dignity, respect and sensitivity. We welcome all qualified applicants regardless of color, race, religion, religious creed, sex, gender or gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, ancestry, age, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy (including medical needs which may arise from pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), military and veteran status, genetic information, marital or familial status, political affiliation, or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances. We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.