Getting a Non-profit Internship

Find a cause or an organization that you are passionate about
Non-profit work is both demanding and increasingly difficult to come by. Passion for a social cause, organization or job will make the hard work more enjoyable and rewarding, and it will also help you stand out during the application process!

Do your research
Take the time to do some research on the organization you are applying to. Their website, annual reports, client stories and staff/board biographies can tell you a lot about how their mission aligns with yours. If you’re particularly interested in an organization, find their contact information and reach out to see what more you can learn! Be proactive and curious about your organizations of interest – that way, you’ll know what you’re getting into and be more memorable to your interviewers. It’s also a good idea to focus on organizations that have past experience with interns. They’re more likely to have a “mentor” mentality and the capacity to give interns significant, engaging work, rather than just having interns make Starbucks runs and file paperwork.

Get your feet wet with volunteering and internships
One of the best things about working at a non-profit is how often volunteers and interns have the unique opportunity to work on, or even manage, professional-level projects that truly contribute to the organization’s mission. Because non-profits are usually run by small to medium teams, you’ll get great hands-on experience, learn a ton about the organization you work for, and have the chance to collaborate directly with potential employers and their contacts in the field. Be enthusiastic and do more than is asked of you, and make a good impression on your colleagues and supervisors – they might be writing your letter of recommendation soon, or even looking at your application for a full-time position! Even if it doesn’t lead straight into a job, volunteering or interning is great exposure to how non-profits work and a strong selling point on your resume.

Network, network, network
No matter what industry you’re trying to get a job in, building a network of personal connections is hugely important. Stay in touch with former colleagues, supervisors, and even that person you met at the fundraiser who used to be on the board of your favorite foundation. A lot of non-profit hiring is done through word of mouth instead of traditional advertising and recruiting, so the more people you know, the better.

Build a rock star resume
In any job search, your resume should be a concise and compelling display of your skills and accomplishments. When looking for a non-profit job, however, it is also an opportunity to show your passion for the organization’s mission and projects. Highlight experiences that demonstrate your ability to work as part of a diverse team, because most non-profits work with a wide variety of stakeholders. To market yourself as not only professionally capable, but a good fit for the organization as a whole, draw attention to any past volunteer or service experiences, which show your commitment to the sector. Remember, all kinds of skills can be useful at a non-profit – if you advertised an event for your student group, made videos or PowerPoint presentations in class, or led group activities as a camp counselor, mention it!

Take the initiative
While some non-profits may have formal internship application processes, others have unlisted opportunities or will accept potential interns who reach out to them first. If the non-profit’s website doesn’t have any information about a formal application process, email the organization to express your interest and inquire about a potential internship. With a smaller organization, you might even take this opportunity to propose various projects that you would like to take on as an intern. They will appreciate your engagement with the cause and might even want to support your work!

Check out the links below to search for non-profit internships and volunteer opportunities:

• InternMatch lists over 600 non-profits looking for interns RIGHT NOW – find your perfect internship!
• Idealist.org and Volunteermatch.org are two of the best places on the web to look for non-profit internships, jobs, and volunteer opportunities.
• OpportunityKnocks.org has tons of great job and internship postings, as well as articles, tips, and columns on getting jobs in the non-profit sector.
• Philanthropy News Digest currently has over 700 jobs and internships in its database. Is one of them right for you?
• Nonprofit Jobs Cooperative lets you search for jobs in the US by region and job type!
• Interns.org works like an internship dating site, looking at students and organizations to make the best internship matches.
• NonProfit-jobs.org focuses on higher-level jobs, but it can give you a great idea of what organizations are hiring and what kind of skills they’re looking for!
• Nonprofit Opportunities lets you create an account and save your resume online to make the application process easier.
• Non-profit Jobs Seeker provides a comprehensive listing of jobs with career tips for going into non-profits.
• Philanthropy Journal Jobs Listing both lists jobs and gives news of trends and happenings within the non-profit industry.
• Chronicle of Philanthropy is the #1 source of news for non-profit professionals in the US.