Idaho Freedom Rising Initiative

Overview:

Idaho Freedom Foundation (IFF) is the premier free market research institute in Idaho. Officially organized in 2008, IFF's mission is to defeat Marxism and socialism by building a culture of liberty around America's founding principles so that Idahoans can prosper.

Our research, journalism, education, and advocacy dovetail to help Idaho policymakers make better decisions, rooted in conservative principles, so that Idahoans will be better off. IFF's work has been credited with saving taxpayers millions of dollars, eliminating failed government programs, and holding politicians accountable like never before in the state's history.

To further our mission and ensure the survival of liberty in Idaho, there must be efforts to drive young Conservatives to take the fight to the statehouse. We believe this is accomplished, in part, by providing career development opportunities to Conservatives interested in pursuing careers in politics.

The Idaho Freedom Foundation's Freedom Rising Initiative is designed to serve this purpose. The goal is to provide career development opportunities to young Conservatives throughout the state of Idaho. This will provide an avenue to develop new talent for opportunities within our organization and enable more conservative voices to speak on public policy issues in the Gem State.

Model:

This program has three key features:

• Learn: IFF will host year-round policy workshops and speaking events at high school and college campuses throughout the state to help young Conservatives learn about the legislative process and develop their skills in policy analysis. This includes our popular courses like Legislature 101 and new courses like State Budgeting 101, Legislative Advocacy 101, and Writing for Policy Analysis.

• Network: As a member of the State Policy Network, IFF has a national network of thinkers to pool resources and share skills. Access will largely be facilitated through in-person and virtual meetings, referrals, events, seminars, and external educational opportunities. Additionally, IFF staff bring a wealth of knowledge about opportunities for young professionals to connect and navigate the start of their political careers.

• Experience: We provide opportunities for young Conservatives to interact with the Idaho political process by providing two internships that last from January until April. The first opportunity focuses on the legislative process. This intern will work on policy analysis projects, bill ratings, and legislative advocacy. The second focuses on fundraising, communications, and public relations. This position is geared more toward cultivating skills in organizational development, marketing, event planning, graphic design, and advocacy.

Contact:

If you are interested in participating in this program, please reach out using the contact information below. If you are a young Conservative interested in an internship position, please be sure to send an updated resume and cover letter to [email protected]. The cover letter should be no longer than one page and describe your career goals, what skills you hope to gain from the program, and why you feel that the Idaho Freedom Foundation would be a good fit for you.

The application deadline for the 2024 internship cycle is Friday, January 5, 2024. Interviews will be conducted in early to mid-January. Successful applicants can expect to start work on or before January 22, 2024. The internship will be in-person at IFF's Boise office and will last three months, ending on April 26, 2024. Participants will receive a monthly stipend of $1000 to cover living expenses while in Boise.

Niklas Kleinworth
Policy Analyst
Ph: (208) 696-6172
E: [email protected]