Advancement and Advocacy Intern (IINE Boston)

Fall 2025 Immigration Research Intern (IINE Boston)

The International Institute of New England is a 501(c)(3) non-profit serving refugees and immigrants in Boston, MA, Lowell, MA, and Manchester, NH. The Institute offers internships to students, graduate students, and recent graduates with demonstrated interest or experience in supporting refugee, asylee, and immigrant populations. Each internship includes an educational component, through which interns contextualize their experience and reflect on their service.

All internships are unpaid and correspond roughly with the US semester system:

• Fall Internship: September through December 2025.

First consideration is given to applicants that can commit at least 16 hours per week over the course of the semester outlined above. Applicants are encouraged to apply regardless of whether their schedule fits the semester system; IINE makes exceptions on a case-by-case basis. Slots fill quickly and candidates are encouraged to apply earlier than the requested date above.

Please note that this internship will be a hybrid format, meaning that some in-person hours at our Boston, MA office are required.

Immigration Research Internship Overview

As an Immigration Research Intern, you will work closely with the Board Liaison & Advancement Administrator to create and streamline an internal resource library for IINE. You will be collecting digital resources to create a digital resource library of materials relating to policy changes, the cultures of our clients, and data on the impact of refugee resettlement in order to enhance the work and of IINE staff.

Reports To: Director Public policy and advocacy

Location: Boston, MA

Key Responsibilities

• Research proposed legislation and initiatives to determine potential impacts on our clients and similarly situated immigrants.

• Assist with organizing and communicating with volunteer advocates in identifying potential calls to action and participating in monthly meetings with volunteers.

• Research materials and data that will better equip IINE staff in their advocacy and public policy work.

• Become familiar with advocacy resources from think tanks, government bodies, USCRI, and other non-profits to identify best practices and approaches for IINE.

• Participate in fundraising-related meetings and activities to gain exposure to the various aspects of nonprofit development and contribute insights.

Qualifications

• Interest in international, refugee, asylee, and/or immigrant issues.
• Classwork in international relations, political science, law, or similar fields.
• Familiarity with research, especially in the context of resource reliability.
• Excellent organizational, verbal, written, and interpersonal skills.
• Experience in development, research, fundraising, and/or networking preferred (but not required)
• Highly organized with great attention to detail, deadlines, and time management skills
• Self-motivated, with the ability to work both collaboratively in a team and independently.
• Strong computer skills are essential.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the internship, the Immigration Research Intern will:

1. Enhance their understanding of crucial immigration-related topics such as housing needs, refugee health, and the U.S. immigration system.
2. Develop presentation skills to relay research both in written and verbal communications.
3. Understand the importance of research organization and materials.
4. Learn about the intricacies of non-profit research, including data management, crafting resources for internal use, and presenting research findings.
5. Enhance organizational and time management skills by effectively prioritizing tasks.
6. Respectfully express and engage with ideas and values in a multicultural, multilingual environment.