Clean Virginia is an independent advocacy organization with an associated Political Action Committee. We are working towards a Virginia where clean, affordable, and reliable energy is accessible to all and where elected officials are accountable to the communities they serve. We believe in a government where the public interest has the biggest voice in our policy process and political system—not special interests or corporate monopoly utilities.
About Us: We are a small team dedicated to creating meaningful reform in the Commonwealth. We are a highly collaborative staff; we lean on our team's collective experience, knowledge, and skills and cultivate interpersonal trust and open communication. Clean Virginia believes a staff that reflects the Commonwealth’s diversity is central to our organizational goals of advancing clean governance and an equitable clean energy transition in Virginia. We are committed to 1) building an inclusive team at Clean Virginia in which diversity is deeply appreciated for its ability to strengthen teams, 2) fostering a welcoming work environment in which everyone feels safe, respected, and valued, and 3) offering equitable employment policies and benefits.
About the Role: Clean Virginia seeks a highly motivated and detail-oriented Good Governance Fellow to support our efforts to build a government that works for all Virginians, not just corporations and wealthy special interests. This paid fellowship will focus on original research to quantify corporate influence, explore campaign finance reform pathways, and evaluate enforcement gaps within Virginia’s current ethics and electoral systems. The Fellow will report to the Good Governance Director, work closely with our political and policy teams, and gain exposure to high-impact, real-world policy analysis.
Clean Virginia is headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia. This position has a preference for a candidate located in Charlottesville or Richmond, and this position requires regular, in-person time at our Charlottesville office. During the summer fellowship period, we expect to maintain a regular schedule of Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Charlottesville office. The term runs from May or June through August 2025, with the potential for renewal into the fall.
Position Duties and Responsibilities
- Conduct in-depth research using public databases (e.g., Virginia Public Access Project) to quantify and track corporate political influence in Virginia.
- Analyze legal and policy proposals for banning corporate political contributions, monopoly utility-specific bans, and broader campaign finance reforms.
- Draft memos, reports, and briefing materials summarizing findings for internal and external use.
- Compare Virginia’s current laws on disclosure, enforcement, and contribution limits with those in other states, identifying key opportunities for reform.
- Support the development of policy recommendations on transparency, coordination, and enforcement in campaign finance.
- As needed, assist with communications and outreach materials, translating complex research into clear, compelling insights for public and policymaker audiences.
Compensation and Benefits
- Compensation is $25 an hour.
- Health insurance: 90% employer-paid coverage (available to full-time fellows)
- $75/month personal device reimbursement.
- Workers' compensation coverage
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