Internships

Intern with RAMW

RAMW is a dynamic, member-driven and impactful organization committed to promoting and sustaining the growth and development of the local restaurant industry while providing our members legislative and regulatory representation, marketing and small business support, programming, and events. 

RAMW offers year-round internship opportunities in three primary areas: Government Affairs and Advocacy, Economic Intelligence and Insights, and Fundraising and Nonprofit Management. 

Internships are 18 to 24 hours per week in person at the RAMW office and paid $20 an hour. To apply, send a cover letter, resume, and three samples of work to internships@ramw.org. Work samples should include at least one academic sample (coursework, papers, projects completed for classes) and at least one applied sample (work completed for internships, student organizations, volunteer roles, independent projects, or other non-classroom settings).

RAMW is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any individual on the grounds of race, color, religion, national origin, age, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or beliefs.

 

Government Affairs and Advocacy Internship

The RAMW Public Policy Intern will work closely with our Government Affairs team to monitor legislative developments, mobilize restaurant owners and operators, engage with key stakeholders, and contribute to advocacy initiatives that directly impact our organization and members. This internship provides a unique opportunity for individuals interested in gaining hands-on experience in government relations, grassroots organizing, and advocacy campaigns, including: 

  • Skill- and knowledge-building opportunities in government affairs and field organizing, especially as it relates to the hospitality industry and small business.
  • Training and experience in grassroots mobilization, voter engagement, and community organizing tactics.
  • Hands-on experience in professional research, writing, and advocacy communications.
  • Opportunities to build the intern's professional network in policy and advocacy sectors. 

Key Responsibilities

Working closely with the Vice President of Government Affairs, major responsibilities of the Public Policy Intern include: 

  • Field Organizing Support: Assisting with outreach to restaurant owners and operators for advocacy campaigns, supporting member participation in lobby days and public hearings, and contributing to grassroots support for policy priorities.
  • Legislative Monitoring: Assisting with tracking and reporting on legislation in city and county governments in the Washington metropolitan area, with a strong focus on the District of Columbia.
  • Policy Research: Conducting research on priority policy issues, providing insightful summaries, and contributing to policy recommendations.
  • Legislative Meetings Support: Supporting the planning and execution of meetings with policymakers, legislative briefings, and advocacy campaigns, including assisting with scheduling, preparing briefing materials, and follow-up communications.
  • Hearing and Testimony Support: Attending public hearings, assisting with testimony preparation, supporting coordination of member and expert witnesses, and tracking legislative proceedings.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Assisting in building and maintaining relationships with government officials, regulatory agencies, and fellow business and industry associations.
  • Event Support: Assisting with the planning and execution of government affairs and member events, including receptions, policy forums, legislative breakfasts, and stakeholder meetings.
  • Records Management: Assisting with updating and maintaining records of local policymakers, key staff, and member engagement activities.
  • Collaboration: Working collaboratively with cross-functional teams within the organization to support alignment between government affairs activities and broader organizational goals

Internship Qualifications

  • Undergraduate or graduate student with a strong interest in government affairs, public policy, advocacy, grassroots organizing, or campaigns.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills and comfort engaging with diverse stakeholders.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships with restaurant owners, community members, and policymakers.
  • Careful attention to detail and proofreading skills.
  • Ability to problem solve and multitask in a fast-paced environment.
  • Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
  • Self-motivated with strong time management skills and willingness to ask questions as necessary.
  • Strong service orientation and passion for advocacy.
  • Computer competencies, including conducting online research and experience with G Suite tools (Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides).
  • Interest in or knowledge of the local food, beverage, and hospitality industry is a plus.

 

Economic Intelligence and Insights Internship

The RAMW Insights and Knowledge Intern will play a central role in advancing our mission by designing and analyzing member surveys, conducting economic research on labor market data, and generating insights that inform our public policy and advocacy work. This internship provides a unique opportunity for individuals interested in survey research, applied economics, and data analysis, including: 

  • Hands-on experience designing survey questionnaires, fielding surveys, and analyzing responses to inform policy positions.
  • Practical experience working with federal economic datasets including Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) data
  • Training in statistical analysis, data visualization, and translating research findings into actionable insights.
  • Practical application of research methods to real-world policy challenges.
  • Opportunities to build the intern's professional network in the advocacy, hospitality, and small business sector. 

Key Responsibilities

Working closely with the Vice President of Government Affairs, major responsibilities of the Economic Intelligence and Insights Intern include: 

  • Survey Research Support: Assisting with designing survey questionnaires, supporting survey administration through platforms like SurveyMonkey, analyzing survey responses, and contributing to reports and presentations for members and policymakers.
  • Economic Data Analysis: Assisting with collecting, organizing, and analyzing federal business and labor market data (such as QCEW, JOLTS, BLS) and identifying trends in restaurant industry employment and economic indicators.
  • Statistical Analysis Support: Supporting quantitative analysis of both survey data and economic datasets, assisting with data visualizations, and contributing to insights that support advocacy priorities.
  • Research and Policy Analysis: Assisting with review of economic research and policy developments to contextualize survey findings and data analysis, supporting advocacy strategies.
  • Report Development: Contributing to policy briefs, research summaries, and data visualizations that translate complex survey and economic data into accessible narratives for members and policymakers.
  • Project Support: Assisting with managing research timelines, maintaining organized datasets, supporting data quality efforts, and helping coordinate with survey participants.
  • Collaboration: Working collaboratively with team members on research projects and supporting the sharing of insights across the organization and industry.

Internship Qualifications

  • Undergraduate or graduate student with coursework or demonstrated interest in economics, statistics, applied statistics, data science, survey methodology, or related quantitative fields.
  • Strong analytical and quantitative skills, with experience or coursework in statistical analysis.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with ability to translate complex data into accessible narratives.
  • Experience with or interest in survey design and administration.
  • Careful attention to detail and strong proofreading skills.
  • Ability to problem solve, work independently, and manage multiple projects.
  • Self-motivated with strong time management skills and willingness to ask questions as necessary.
  • Strong service orientation and collaborative mindset.
  • Computer competencies, including experience with G Suite tools (Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides), survey platforms like SurveyMonkey, and comfort learning new analytical tools.
  • Interest in or knowledge of the local food, beverage, and hospitality industry is a plus.

 

Fundraising and Nonprofit Management Internship

The Member Services Intern will play a critical role in supporting fundraising initiatives, advancing membership growth, designing strategic materials, and coordinating events that strengthen organizational sustainability and member engagement. This internship provides a unique opportunity for individuals interested in gaining hands-on experience in nonprofit management, fundraising, and association leadership, including: 

  • Training in fundraising strategy development, donor cultivation, and nonprofit revenue generation.
  • Hands-on experience in membership development, retention strategies, and member engagement.
  • Practical experience creating fundraising and membership materials, including sponsorship packages, appeals, and member communications.
  • Opportunities to support events from planning through execution and build a professional network in nonprofit management. 

Key Responsibilities

Working closely with the Managing Director, major responsibilities of the Member Services Intern include: 

  • Fundraising Strategy and Support: Assisting in the development and supporting the implementation of fundraising strategies, including identifying prospective donors and sponsors, researching funding opportunities, and supporting cultivation and stewardship activities.
  • Board and Committee Support: Supporting board and committee operations, including preparing meeting materials, coordinating logistics, assisting with meeting documentation (including minutes) and tracking action items, and supporting committee communications and follow-up.
  • Membership Support: Supporting membership recruitment and retention initiatives, including assisting with outreach to prospective members, supporting onboarding of new members, and contributing to strategies that strengthen member value and engagement.
  • Development Materials: Assisting with designing and drafting fundraising materials, including sponsorship packages, donation appeals, grant proposals, impact reports, and donor communications.
  • Event Support: Assisting with the planning and execution of fundraising events, member engagement activities, donor receptions, and networking events from concept through post-event follow-up.
  • Donor and Sponsor Support: Assisting in relationship management with current and prospective donors, sponsors, and partners through personalized communications, acknowledgments, and stewardship activities.
  • Database Support: Assisting with maintaining accurate and up-to-date donor and member records in organizational databases, supporting tracking of contributions and engagement, and helping ensure data integrity and confidentiality.
  • Campaign Support: Contributing to specific fundraising campaigns, membership drives, and organizational initiatives, including annual giving, sponsorship programs, and special projects.
  • Communication Support: Assisting with drafting and editing communications materials, including newsletters, impact reports, member updates, donor acknowledgments, and other materials that demonstrate organizational value.
  • Collaboration: Working collaboratively with cross-functional teams to support fundraising and membership activities that align with organizational priorities and advance the association's mission.

Internship Qualifications

  • Undergraduate or graduate student with coursework or demonstrated interest in nonprofit management, fundraising, philanthropy, public administration, association management, or related fields.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with ability to craft compelling narratives for diverse audiences including donors, members, and stakeholders.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and comfort building relationships with donors, sponsors, members, and community partners.
  • Creative thinking and ability to develop innovative fundraising strategies, membership initiatives, and engagement materials.
  • Careful attention to detail and strong proofreading skills.
  • Ability to problem solve and multitask in a fast-paced environment.
  • Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
  • Self-motivated with strong time management and organizational skills and willingness to ask questions as necessary.
  • Strong service orientation and passion for mission-driven work.
  • Computer competencies, including experience with G Suite tools (Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides) and comfort learning donor management and membership database systems.
  • Interest in or knowledge of the local food, beverage, and hospitality industry is a plus.