Application Guide
How to Apply for Summer Intern, Policy and Government Affairs: Climate and Energy
at Emerson Collective
🏢 About Emerson Collective
Emerson Collective is unique for its integrated approach to social change, combining philanthropy, impact investing, and policy innovation under one roof. This allows for a holistic strategy where policy work directly informs and is informed by on-the-ground community investments, making it an ideal place to see how advocacy translates into tangible outcomes. Working here means contributing to a mission-driven organization that tackles systemic issues like climate change through multiple, coordinated levers of influence.
About This Role
This internship involves being the research and operational backbone for the Climate and Energy policy team in Washington, DC. You'll directly impact the team's strategy by monitoring legislative developments, preparing briefing materials for internal discussions and external partners, and helping coordinate events and engagements. Your work will ensure the team stays informed and organized, enabling them to advocate effectively for clean energy and climate priorities.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might start with compiling a morning news recap on climate policy developments, then shift to researching background for an upcoming briefing on state clean energy legislation. In the afternoon, you could assist in preparing materials for a team strategy session, take notes during a partner meeting, and help update tracking systems for legislative bills. The day often blends research, writing, and logistical support to keep the team's advocacy efforts running smoothly.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Emerson Collective Is Looking For
- A rising junior, senior, or recent 2026 graduate with a major in Environmental Policy, Political Science, Public Policy, or a related field, who can articulate a specific interest in the intersection of climate policy and government affairs.
- Demonstrates strong research skills with examples of synthesizing complex policy or technical reports (e.g., IPCC summaries, legislative text) into clear, concise summaries or memos.
- Possesses exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail, proven through experience managing multiple projects, maintaining filing systems, or coordinating event logistics.
- Shows collaborative aptitude and comfort in a fast-paced environment, ideally with experience in team settings like student government, policy clubs, or previous internships.
📝 Tips for Applying to Emerson Collective
Tailor your resume to highlight specific policy research or analysis projects, using action verbs like 'synthesized,' 'monitored,' or 'summarized' to describe your work on climate/energy topics.
In your application materials, explicitly connect your academic or extracurricular experience to Emerson Collective's integrated model—mention how you've seen or are interested in the link between policy, philanthropy, and investment.
Prepare a 1–2 page writing sample that demonstrates your ability to distill complex information; a policy brief, research memo, or even a well-argued academic paper on a climate-related topic would be ideal.
If you have experience with legislative tracking tools (e.g., Congress.gov, state legislature websites) or news aggregation for policy monitoring, mention it specifically in your cover letter or resume.
Show you understand the DC policy landscape by referencing a current federal or state climate/energy policy (e.g., Inflation Reduction Act implementation, state clean energy standards) in your cover letter.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your demonstrated interest in climate policy and government affairs, with specific examples from coursework, projects, or extracurriculars.', 'Your research and analytical skills, highlighting an instance where you synthesized complex information into actionable insights.', 'Your organizational abilities and how they contribute to team efficiency, perhaps referencing experience with scheduling, note-taking, or file management.', "Why Emerson Collective's integrated approach to social change (philanthropy, investing, policy) resonates with you and aligns with your career goals."]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Explore Emerson Collective's website, focusing on their 'Climate' and 'Policy & Advocacy' sections to understand their specific priorities and recent initiatives.
- → Research their key leadership in policy and government affairs (e.g., on LinkedIn or via news articles) to understand their background and potential focus areas.
- → Look into their grantee partnerships or impact investments related to climate and energy to see how policy work connects to their broader model.
- → Review recent DC-based climate policy news (e.g., from Politico, E&E News) to understand current legislative or administrative actions relevant to the role.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn't mention Emerson Collective's unique integrated model or specific climate policy interests.
- Failing to provide concrete examples of research, writing, or organizational skills in your application, relying only on vague statements like 'good at research.'
- Showing no awareness of current climate and energy policy developments at the federal or state level, which is core to the role's monitoring responsibilities.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Emerson Collective!