Jump-start your career in politics! Join the Leadership Institute staff team as a summer 2027 intern.

The internship will run from May 10, 2027 through August 13, 2027. The deadline to apply is April 9, 2027.

This intensive program allows you to gain professional experience in a real working environment, further your knowledge of the conservative movement, and sharpen your skills for future success. Leadership Institute interns receive free housing, a $1,000 monthly stipend, priority access to the Institute’s Employment Placement Service, free tuition to all Leadership Institute schools and workshops, weekly private lunches and dinners with conservative VIPs, and the opportunity to build public policy references.

For more information, please visit us on the web by clicking here.

To apply, please submit a resume, cover letter, and a letter of recommendation through Conservative Jobs.

Cover letters and letters of recommendation should be addressed to the Intern Program Manager, Arin Steiner.

Jump-start your career in politics! Join the Leadership Institute staff team as a fall 2026 intern.

The internship will run from September 14, 2026 through December 18, 2026. The deadline to apply is August 7.

This intensive program allows you to gain professional experience in a real working environment, further your knowledge of the conservative movement, and sharpen your skills for future success. Leadership Institute interns receive free housing, a $1,000 monthly stipend, priority access to the Institute’s Employment Placement Service, free tuition to all Leadership Institute schools and workshops, weekly private lunches and dinners with conservative VIPs, and the opportunity to build public policy references.

For more information, please visit us on the web by clicking here.

To apply, please submit a resume, cover letter, and a letter of recommendation through Conservative Jobs.

Cover letters and letters of recommendation should be addressed to the Intern Program Manager, Arin Steiner.

Jump-start your career in politics! Join the Leadership Institute staff team as a spring 2027 intern.

The internship will run from January 11, 2027 through April 9, 2027. The deadline to apply is December 1, 2026.

This intensive program allows you to gain professional experience in a real working environment, further your knowledge of the conservative movement, and sharpen your skills for future success. Leadership Institute interns receive free housing, a $1,000 monthly stipend, priority access to the Institute’s Employment Placement Service, free tuition to all Leadership Institute schools and workshops, weekly private lunches and dinners with conservative VIPs, and the opportunity to build public policy references.

For more information, please visit us on the web by clicking here.

To apply, please submit a resume, cover letter, and a letter of recommendation through Conservative Jobs.

Cover letters and letters of recommendation should be addressed to the Intern Program Manager, Arin Steiner.

Leadership Institute (LI) trains conservatives to lead and win in the public policy process. 

Since 1979, LI has trained more than 368,000 conservative activists, students, and leaders.  Today, Leadership Institute graduates serving in elected office include four U.S. Senators, 37 U.S. Representatives, and more than 400 state legislators nationwide.

Leadership Institute's Development Associate advances this mission by working with LI's Principal Gifts Officer to help strengthen relationships between generous donors and Leadership Institute.

The Development Associate will be part of LI's Development Department and will report directly to the Principal Gifts Officer.  This position is well-suited for someone who is highly organized, detail-oriented, and interested in professional growth in fundraising and donor relations.

Key Responsibilities

• Support LI's Principal Gifts Officer in managing donor and prospect relationships, including scheduling, preparation, follow-up, and stewardship.

• Coordinate donor meetings, calls, travel logistics, small gatherings, and related development activity.

• Prepare donor briefing materials, background research, meeting notes, and supporting documents.

• Track donor outreach, relationship history, next steps, interests, and follow-up activity in Salesforce and related systems.

• Maintain accurate donor records, contact information, giving history, meeting notes, and communication history.

• Draft and coordinate donor correspondence, including thank-you notes, acknowledgments, follow-up emails, meeting summaries, and stewardship communications.

• Help prepare internal reports on donor activity, portfolio priorities, outstanding next steps, and fundraising progress.

• Coordinate with other Leadership Institute departments and staff to ensure donor requests and follow-up items are completed accurately and promptly.

• Assist with planning and execution of donor visits, briefings, events, webinars, and other engagement opportunities.

• Organize files, templates, collateral materials, donor communications, and other resources that support consistent development operations.

• Monitor deadlines and follow-up items to help ensure timely donor communication and strong portfolio management.

Qualifications

Required

• 1-2 years of professional experience, preferably in political, conservative movement, or other values-based fundraising.

• Exceptional verbal and written communications skills.

• Sound judgment and high integrity, with the ability to handle confidential donor information.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

• Demonstrated initiative and ability to learn new systems, processes, and workflows quickly.

• Occasional evening, weekend, and travel availability required, including approximately 10% to 15% travel, to support donor events, meetings, and organizational priorities.

• Strong personal commitment to Leadership Institute’s mission and values.

Preferred

Strong preference for job candidates available to work from Leadership Institute's Arlington, Virginia headquarters.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is between $55,000 and $70,000.  Salary range is a good-faith estimate but not guaranteed, and final salary will be based on qualifications and experience.

Leadership Institute offers generous benefits including medical, dental, and vision insurance, paid time off, retirement savings, company holidays, employee appreciation events, and free access to Leadership Institute training programs.

Leadership Institute is hiring a Donor Services Advisor, an early-career fundraising position on the Donor Services team.

The Donor Services Advisor works directly with Leadership Institute donors to steward their support, strengthen donor relationships, and help ensure gifts are processed, acknowledged, and communicated with excellence.  

This position reports directly to the Deputy Director of Donor Services, who reports to the Senior Director of Donor Communications.

This is an ideal position for someone looking to begin or grow a career in fundraising, donor relations, nonprofit development, or the conservative movement.  

This role will provide candidates with the skills and knowledge to build a strong foundation for future opportunities in major gifts, donor communications, development operations, direct mail fundraising, data management, and other career paths.

This important work directly supports Leadership Institute’s mission to train conservative leaders, activists, and students through its training programs.

Responsibilities

The Donor Services Advisor serves as a key member of the Development team by cultivating relationships with donors, processing donors’ gifts, maintaining accurate donor records, and providing the highest level of service to LI supporters.

Responsibilities include:

• Provide excellent customer service to all LI donors.

• Serve as one of the front-line representatives of Leadership Institute’s Development team.

• Process donor correspondence and promptly communicate important donor feedback, requests, or concerns to appropriate team members.

• Cage and process incoming gifts that are made by donors via phone, mail, and online.

• Acknowledge and receipt donations promptly and accurately.

• Call, email, and correspond with donors to steward their support and strengthen their connection to LI’s mission.

• Research donor backgrounds, giving history, interests, and financial information.

• Maintain data hygiene within LI’s donor database.

• Ensure donor records, contact information, donation history, and correspondence notes are accurate and up to date.

• Work closely with the Donor Services team, major gift officers, and key Development staff members to provide a high level of donor care.

• Participate in professional development opportunities through Leadership Institute trainings and one-on-one mentoring from LI Development staff.

• Additional fundraising and stewardship-related projects as requested.

Professional Development

This role offers significant opportunities for professional growth.  As a Donor Services Advisor, you will learn the tactics and strategies behind relational fundraising, donor stewardship, high-dollar fundraising, online fundraising, direct mail fundraising, and donor care.

The Development team will work with you to identify your strengths, interests, and opportunities for growth.  Past employees in related roles have gone on to succeed as major gifts officers, Salesforce specialists, direct mail marketing managers, and other fundraising and conservative movement professionals.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is:

• Highly personable, professional, and warm.

• Detail-oriented and personally organized.

• Comfortable speaking with donors by phone.

• Hard-working and self-motivated.

• Able to work closely with a tight-knit team.

• Excited to learn and grow quickly.

• Able to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

• Innovative, creative, and driven.

• Committed to providing excellent service to donors.

• Interested in fundraising and the conservative movement.

Strong applicants will have customer service experience, strong interpersonal skills, a working knowledge of issues in the conservative movement, and an appreciation for Leadership Institute’s mission.

Qualifications

Applicants must understand conservative ideals and principles.

To apply, applicants must complete the Public Policy Questionnaire and submit a resume.

A personalized cover letter is encouraged.

This role is not remote-eligible, and applicants must be available to work in the Arlington office.

Compensation & Benefits

This is a full-time, on-site position at Leadership Institute’s headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. 

The annual salary for this position begins at $55,000.

Leadership Institute offers generous benefits including a company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance, paid time off, retirement savings, company holidays, employee appreciation events, and free access to Leadership Institute training programs.

About the Role

The Leadership Institute is hiring a Spokesperson for its news website Campus Reform (www.campusreform.org). As America’s leading source for conservative college news, Campus Reform serves as a watchdog to our country’s higher education system, with a mission to expose liberal bias and abuse on college campuses.

The Spokesperson will serve as a reporter on the editorial team and be responsible for breaking higher education news stories, cultivating relationships with sources, conducting research, writing news articles, and representing the Leadership Institute’s Campus Reform on national and local media. The Spokesperson will also be expected to help train and mentor Campus Reform’s freelance student correspondents in its Young Journalists program.

This is a full-time position that reports directly to the Deputy Editor. Given Leadership Institute’s proximity to the Washington, DC, media market, candidates who can work five days per week in Campus Reform’s Arlington, VA, newsroom are strongly preferred.  

Responsibilities

·      Write daily news articles for Campus Reform on breaking stories, exclusive tips, new data, education policy, and emerging trends among college-aged Americans  

·      Report long-term investigative news based on research and sourcing  

·      Maintain professional relationships and rapports with industry experts, higher education officials, and college students

·      Mentor student correspondents in Campus Reform’s Young Journalists program

·      Campus Reform on television, radio, podcasts, and other news media

Required Skills

·      Bachelor’s Degree

·      Strong understanding of the higher education system, education policy, and related national news

·      Familiarity with AP Style

·      Ability to multitask under deadline and keep up with breaking and emerging news cycles

·      Strong verbal and written communication skills

·      Interest in working with college students in a mentor or training capacity

Desired Skills

·      3-5 years’ experience in media, journalism, communications, or a related field

·      Strong research and fact-checking skills

·      Avid consumer of national and higher education news across platforms and outlets

·      Expertise on issues relating to the higher education sector

Compensation

Salary range is $55,000 - $85,000 based on experience. Leadership Institute employee benefits include medical, dental, vision, PTO, and disability. The Campus Reform Spokesperson will also have access to a dedicated public relations and media booking consultancy to support and coordinate media appearances.

To Apply

Qualified candidates should submit their resume and cover letter to Deputy Editor Jared Harris at jharris@leadershipinstitute.org. Cover letters should note salary requirements and willingness to relocate to the Washington, DC area.

Summary:

LI Recruiters identify and recruit students to start conservative student organizations or publications on campus within an assigned territory.  Recruiters will develop a territory action plan to evaluate all college campuses within the territory and assign recruitment and training resources.  Recruiters will also approve or deny membership into LI’s CLP network and develop a strategic activism and training plan.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Includes the following: the exercising of discretion and independent judgment with respect to matters of significance and other duties as required.

Regional Network Development:

a)     Build and maintain relationships between LI, students, and groups within the region.

b)    Research, analyze, and recruit conservative students to participate in LI programs.

c)     Make membership decisions. Analyze and determine which groups within the region qualify to participate in LI’s CLP network.

d)    Develop a strategic plan to expand membership with LI in a territory each semester.

e)     Create and develop a regional training plan for your territory.

f)     Approve and distribute LI resources to CLP groups.

g)    Approve or deny requests from new CLP groups to join LI’s CLP network.

h)    Approve or deny activism grant requests for the group in the LI network

i)      Evaluate all higher education institutions to determine overall compatibility with CLP programs.

j)      Build relationships with partner organization counterparts

 Program Management:

a)     Manage your territories’ activism budget

b)    Approve or deny students for the Campus Ambassador program  membership

c)     Approve or deny scholarships for Leadership Institute trainings

Qualifications:      

Candidates for this position must have knowledge and understanding of conservative philosophy with a dedication to grassroots activism and organization. Candidates should also have strong interpersonal skills and should excel in both written and oral communication.

Salary is $70,304

Donor Communications Manager

Leadership Institute (LI) trains conservatives to lead and win in the public policy process.  Since 1979, LI has trained more than 368,000 conservative activists, students, and leaders.  Today, Leadership Institute graduates serving in elected office include four U.S. Senators, 37 U.S. Representatives, and more than 400 state legislators nationwide.

Leadership Institute’s Donor Communications Manager advances this mission with the production of direct mail communications with Leadership Institute’s generous donors.  The position reports to LI’s Senior Director of Donor Communications.

This position is based on-site at Leadership Institute headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. Remote work is not available.

Key Responsibilities

Direct Mail Production

• Manage the production of direct mail campaigns from planning through completion

• Coordinate with internal teams and outside vendors to ensure campaigns are accurate, timely, and cost-effective

• Maintain quality control across campaign materials, data, proofs, and final production

• Anticipate production challenges and help resolve issues before they affect deadlines or results

Budget and Expense Management

• Track production costs, vendor invoices, estimates, and campaign expenses

• Coordinate with Finance to ensure accurate coding, reconciliation, and reporting

• Help evaluate vendor pricing and identify opportunities for cost savings

Data Management and Reporting

• Maintain accurate campaign records in Salesforce and internal systems

• Support reporting on campaign performance, donor response, and trends

• Coordinate with internal teams to ensure gifts and campaign results are recorded accurately

Qualifications

Required

• 2+ years of professional experience

• Sound judgment, integrity, curiosity, and a proactive approach to solving problems

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines in a fast-paced environment

• Demonstrated initiative and ability to learn new systems, processes, and workflows quickly

• High standards for accuracy, quality, and accountability

Preferred

• Experience in direct mail or direct marketing production

• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Salesforce CRM

• Experience with data management and/or data analysis

Compensation and Benefits

Leadership Institute offers a competitive salary and benefits package, commensurate with experience.

To Apply

Please apply through Leadership Institute’s ConservativeJobs.com and include a cover letter, resume, and completed Public Policy Questionnaire.

Summary

This office-based role facilitates the flow of information and resources between the Leadership Institute, students, and groups within LI’s Campus Leadership Program (CLP) network.  The Regional Field Manager will distribute LI grants, scholarships, and resources among members within the region.  In addition, the Manager will conduct a semi-annual audit of the groups.

Objectives:

Includes the following, the exercising of discretion and independent judgment with respect to matters of significance and other duties as required.

 Membership Relations

a)     Market and distribute LI trainings and resources to students in your region.

b)    Research and identify LI training, and recruitment opportunities.

c)    Approve and award Campus Ambassadors scholarships to students within the region.

d)     Approve or deny speaker grants and requests

e)     Approve or deny activism kits to groups within the regions

gf)    Perform a semi-annual membership audit of all groups within your region.

g)    Review, analyze, and determine membership status of groups within your region.

h)     Analyze the activity and effectiveness of existing Campus Ambassadors at the beginning of each semester to renew or deny their placement in the program.

Program Management

a)     Manage regional travel budget each semester

b)    Decide what groups receive speaker grants

c)     Manage regional speaker budget and authorize grant payments to speakers.

d)    Recruit, evaluate, and elect candidates for Field Staff Interviews.

Supervisory

Supervisory

Responsibilities:

Oversee, budget for, and pay Campus Ambassadors

Qualifications:  

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily and make independent decisions. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, or ability required.

Well organized, have the ability to handle several projects at one time under time constraints and a willingness to travel and work nights and weekends. Experience as a campus activist or political grassroots organizer is preferred.

Salary range is $55,000-$65,000