On Campus Civic/Political Engagement

Democracy Matters (DM) offers internships to undergraduates of all majors at all colleges and universities nationwide. Our mission is to inform and engage college students and communities in non-partisan efforts to strengthen our democracy. Interns work on your own campus on voter registration, voting reform, money in politics, and government transparency. Democracy Matters gives students a voice in politics, the training and leadership skills for life-long civic engagement.

DM was founded in 2001 by Adonal Foyle, a Colgate University graduate and professional basketball player (former center for the Golden State Warriors). We have given over 1,000 internships to students to work on their own campuses. A paid stipend is available if needed. Interns are provided year-round training and mentoring with experienced DM staff members. They are also provided with materials like banners, buttons, flyers, newsletters etc.

DM interns establish DM chapters on their own campus, recruit other students to work with them, and then create and organize projects and programs to educate their peers. DM chapters organize lectures, discussions, petition campaigns, film series, and speak-outs on campus. They create coalitions with other campus groups, write for their school paper, contact political representatives, register and encourage students to vote, work with their faculty offering class raps, and much more. Each chapter chooses which of these kinds of projects best fit their campus. Or they create their own new ideas for how best to promote education and advocacy.

All DM students are eligible to attend the annual, two day DM student summit to share ideas and organizing strategies, network with other students, hear from experts, and plan how to use best practices in engaging their own campuses.

Democracy Matters staff stand ready to mentor and support our interns as they become leaders in the fight to preserve and strengthen all aspects of our democracy.