OpenSecrets

Few organizations are able to provide such an unbiased approach to advocating for a more transparent government. CRP has been working for over 30 years to give the public a clear perspective on campaign finance. They bring a unique and invaluable perspective to the world of campaign finance reform, acting as both a service and a resource for citizens, activists and anyone looking to take informed action on this topic.

The Center for Responsive Politics is unmatched in its ability to shine a light on the sheer breadth and power of money in the American political process. No other organization has more comprehensive data and analysis on campaign contributions, Washington's 'revolving door,' and the ever-growing presence of SuperPACs. CRP provides an essential service to the public.

Who’s paying for this election? That’s the question CRP started asking nearly 30 years ago and they’re still working to find the answers and present them to the public in a clear and straightforward way. No other organization does what CRP does: tracking the source and interest group categories of all campaign contributions to candidates for Congress and the presidency, tracking lobbying efforts aimed at the federal government, tracking the personal finances of every member of Congress and top government officials - and doing it all with no political slant, other than believing this information is something every citizen should have.

I was a reporting intern at CRP during summer 2011. As an intern, I was writing and reporting daily (sometimes multiple times a day.) In three short months I gained a basic understanding of campaign finance laws, lobbying, political action committees and much more. I also learned how to write about these complex topics in clear ways that the public could understand. CRP serves an important public resource in that it allows voters to see for themselves how money is spent and where it comes from. At CRP I learned that money touches almost everything in Washington, and I had an amazing time learning it.

I was a communications intern for the Center for Responsive Politics from January to May of 2011. I can say hands-down it was the most enjoyable and educational internship of the four total internships I've had.

The staff is helpful, knowledgeable and dedicated to the admirable work of transparency in government and in federal elections. I have never worked with such an outstanding team of researchers who were always extremely quick and accommodating, particularly for a student whose knowledge of money in politics was originally pretty rudimentary.

I was attracted to CRP's mission when searching for an internship. I believe very few people would argue against transparency in the world of money in politics and CRP is at the front of that vital movement, made all the more important because of recent legal decisions and increasingly expensive political campaigns.

As an intern, I was very much a member of the CRP team -- something internships in so many other organizations lack. I researched, wrote and most importantly learned about contemporary issues of money in politics along with the rest of the staff. I never felt like an inferior in the organization and always felt welcome.

I know firsthand that many of my professors at my university use CRP data in class and in academic articles. I frequently see their name in various media outlets and always get excited, pointing to my friends "I worked there!" They might be tired of hearing it, but I don't anticipate being tired of saying it.