NGO & Policy
NGOs (Non Governmental Organizations) are typically Nonprofit organizations that operate independent of government involvement, most often operating on an international level. NGOs promote social or political change on both broad and local scales and play a critical part in developing society, improving communities, and promoting citizen participation both at home and abroad. Like Nonprofits, NGOs employ professionals across functional areas.
“Working in Policy” encompasses a huge variety of roles and refers to work solving governments’ most complex challenges. Public policy refers to the nation’s laws, regulations, and social constructs upheld by legal theory. Policies can respond to specific issues like educational accessibility, workforce development and housing practices. Policy work cuts across multiple sectors and can include working at think tanks, Nonprofits and NGOs, and as city managers, lawyers and diplomats.
We encourage you to check out these recommended resources for career exploration, internship and job searches.
Learn and Explore
- Introduction to Working in Policy & Research
- Why Work in NGO Policy? Learn about policy related jobs at NGOs
- Boston Network for International Development
- InterAction — Represents the largest alliance of US based international and humanitarian NGOs. Their bi-weekly newsletter—Monday Developments—gives great background information on international humanitarian efforts.
- The Center for Policy Analysis at Tisch
- Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE): Focuses on the political life of young people in the United States, especially those who are marginalized or disadvantaged.
- Institute for Democracy and Higher Education: IDHE serves as a leading venue for nonpartisan, applied research, resources, and advocacy on college student political learning and engagement in democracy.
- The Metric Geometry and Gerrymandering Group (MGGG): Boston-based working group led by Moon Duchin of Tufts University and Justin Solomon of MIT
- Tisch College Community Research Center (TCRC): Supports research projects undertaken jointly by community members in partnership with Tufts faculty and/or students.
- United Nations Development Programme: Works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion
- Council on Foundations: Membership organization of more than 2,000 grant-making foundations and giving programs worldwide. Good way to find out more about foundations, international work, etc and news.
- Corporate Impact Careers
Find Opportunities
- Daybook.com: The leading job search resource for political, policy, non-profit and remote jobs
- Summer Jobs that Matter: Work on issues that matter with some of the country’s leading nonprofit organizations.
- Boston Network for International Development
- Human Rights Careers: Human rights organizations that have entry level NGO jobs
- Careers at the United Nations
- Public Service and Policy Fellowships
- NIRA World Directory of Think Tanks: World directory of think tanks
- Worldpress.org Index of International Think Tanks and Research Organizations
- Independent Sector.org: Lists job openings from its 600 member institutions on its web page.
- Care.org: Job site for one of the world’s largest international development and relief organizations with jobs at all levels in countries throughout the world.
- VIISTA — Villanova Interdisciplinary Immigration Studies Training for Advocates: Training program for immigration advocacy
- Jobs and Internships with Amazon’s Public Policy Division
- Jobs and Internships with Facebook’s Public Policy Division
- Legal and Government Relations Opportunities at Google
- Global Jobs: Think Tank and NGO jobs
Professional Associations
- Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management: Education and career advice for public service careers
