Introduction

College students from all over the country experience our nation’s capital through various internship programs. A professional internship experience with a Washington, DC, firm can lead to a successful career in law, public service, lobbying, issue advocacy, public relations, consulting, or working on political campaigns. A Washington, DC, internship can spur a college student in many different directions. With this in mind, McAllister & Quinn, a diverse government relations and grants consulting firm located in the heart of Washington, DC, has developed a comprehensive internship program that will give these students unique access to the many different aspects of Washington, DC. McAllister & Quinn has a specialty in grants consulting and lobbying. Our clients include higher education institutions, research universities and institutions, healthcare systems, advanced technology corporations, and non-profits.

We are committed to securing funds for our clients that are transformational for the companies who are awarded them, the people who work at these companies every day, and the communities that surround them. The social impact of our work drives us daily to succeed in securing funding for our industry clients and is a major component of why we do what we do. We know that our success leads to better outcomes, changed lives, and a more equitable society for generations to come.

The McAllister & Quinn 360° Internship Program provides participants with a well-rounded experience of the various components that make Washington, DC, what many have called the most powerful city in the world. The 360° Internship Program is an excellent fit for a college student with a career interest in public policy and federal/foundation funding, or sponsored research arena and desire to explore the various options that exist in that realm.

The McAllister & Quinn 360° Hybrid Internship Experience

Congress

Interns will work with McAllister & Quinn professionals to participate in lobbying Congress in a virtual or in-person consulting experience. Interns will assist with scheduling, preparing background materials, monitoring congressional hearings, and joining virtual meetings with congressional offices or congressional briefings when possible.

Grants and Federal Agency Exposure

Interns will gain insight into how federal agencies operate along with exposure to federal and foundation funding mechanisms. Interns will learn the critical role that agencies play in the overall federal budget process. This will involve research on federal grants and tracking of other agency activities and announcements.

Policy and Programmatic Research
Interns will be responsible for developing policy and program-specific research memos and reports to be utilized by McAllister & Quinn and shared with various clients of the firm. We will work with interns to demonstrate the importance of strong writing, attention to detail, prioritization, and attention to meeting internal deadlines.

Political Fundraising
Interns will get first-hand experience in the political process by making political fundraising phone calls and attending virtual fundraisers with Members of Congress when possible.

Consulting and Office Culture
Interns will experience how a consulting firm operates with an emphasis on client service interaction and the overall culture of an over 90-person consulting firm operating in a hybrid remote/in-person environment. Interns will assist in building internal team resources and infrastructure to support multiple client service models. Interns will receive guidance, knowledge, and direct feedback on the importance of communication skills, virtual communication etiquette, professionalism, networking, and other keys to success in an office environment.

Professional Development and Intern Mentors
Interns will participate in several McAllister & Quinn sponsored events involving experienced speakers focused on public policy, career development, and other relevant topics. In addition, each intern will be assigned an individual McAllister & Quinn mentor who will serve as a resource and sounding board for career advice, resume development, networking and other areas.

Program Specifics

• The McAllister & Quinn Higher Education Internship is a paid hourly internship, running from mid-January through May (Negotiable).
• The intern must work in person in our DC office on from 8:30 am-5:30 pm with a 1-hour lunch break. 
• Interns are required to work 24 – 32 hours a week.
• McAllister & Quinn will gladly work with universities to enable students to satisfy course credit requirements through the internship program.
• Interns are required to find their own housing for the duration of their internship.
• The intern will work both within the Higher Education practice on targeted initiatives and deliverables, and for the firm at large with routine administrative tasks.

Higher Education tasks may include:

• Conduct substantive issue/topic area research related to trends and priorities of client institutions.
• Prospect for federal and foundation funding opportunities to align with client needs and synthesize information for client deliverables. 
• Research and analyze grant opportunity history and various award details.
• Prepare for, attend, and document key points from Federal agency webinars and disseminate the findings to the team.
• Assist the team in formatting materials, opportunity / legislative tracking, correspondence, internal resource management, and other tasks as assigned.

Routine Administrative tasks may include: 

• Support team-wide meetings and multi-day retreats. 
• Monitor office environment and re-stock supplies as needed. 
• Greet and direct visitors and clients. 
• Manage incoming and outcoming mail. 
• Manage invoices and aid with banking and checking. 

Candidate Qualifications

• The preferred candidate will be in their Junior or Senior year of university. 
• Preferably has a demonstrated interest in higher education, federal agencies, grants, consulting, and research and analysis. 
• Prior experience working with grants and federal agencies is a plus. 
• Prior experience in an office environment is a plus. 
• Very strong proficiency in Microsoft Office and Adobe, with a focus on Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills in person, via email, and over the phone. 
• Superior attention to detail. 
• Ability to synthesize and accurately summarize lengthy and complex materials.
• Eager to learn and take on new tasks, and comfortable balancing short-term and long-term tasks. 
• Strategic, creative, service-oriented, and adaptive professional mindset.

McAllister & Quinn is committed to building a culturally diverse and pluralistic team and network, who are committed to working in a multicultural environment where differences are valued and respected. Women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and intersectional individuals are encouraged to apply.