About the role#
The Canvassing Fellow position is a temporary, full-time role focused on voter outreach for the 2026 election cycle. Fellows work under the mentorship of Michigan United staff to register, educate, and mobilize voters. This program serves as a training ground for emerging leaders who are committed to social justice and movement building. The position concludes on November 6, 2026.
What you'll do#
- Execute door-to-door canvassing to reach voters and identify supporters.
- Participate in daily stand-up meetings and debriefs with the canvassing team.
- Prepare and organize materials for daily outreach.
- Record conversation details accurately using the MiniVAN app.
- Participate in a structured training curriculum to develop organizing and leadership skills.
- Ensure the integrity of canvass data.
- Collect stories, photos, and videos for promotional use.
- Attend monthly staff development and fellowship training sessions.
- Perform occasional relational outreach via SMS.
What you'll need#
- A commitment to Michigan United Action’s theory of change and a focus on racial, gender, and economic justice.
- A desire to learn and grow as an organizer.
- Experience working with a culturally, religiously, and economically diverse staff.
- Ability to engage with the public, share stories, and ask people to take action.
- Effective communication skills and comfort working with strangers.
- Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
- Reliable transportation and the ability to drive to and from canvassing locations.
- A data-capable smartphone.
Location & details#
- Location: Detroit, Michigan.
- Modality: On-site.
- Compensation: $23 per hour for 40 hours per week.
- Bonus: A $500 retention bonus is available for staff who remain through November 6, 2026.
- Benefits: Includes health insurance, a health savings account or stipend after 90 days, paid time off, paid sick time, overtime pay, mileage reimbursement, and stipends for internet and phone use.
About Michigan United
Michigan United is a nonprofit organization founded in 2012. It operates as a statewide network of community members and institutions focused on advocacy and social change. The group organizes around issues including immigrants rights, criminal justice reform, and environmental justice. It maintains a main office in Southwest Detroit and additional locations in Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, and Flint.
How to get in at Michigan United
Applying to Michigan United early gives you a distinct advantage because recruiters review applications as they arrive. Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a role matching your target is published, so you can submit your materials before the applicant pool grows large. This ensures your profile is seen while the team is still actively evaluating candidates. You can also use Intern Insider to surface the specific recruiters behind these roles. Reaching out directly to ask about the position or a potential referral often improves your response rate compared to submitting through a general queue. This approach shows you have done your research and are genuinely interested in the work.
