Internships

Are you looking for an opportunity to show your skills and expand your network while supporting the vast ecosystem of nonprofits in Western NY? Causewave Community Partners addresses strategic, organizational, and marketing challenges in order to build capacity in our area’s nonprofits, coalitions, and communities. We meet our mission by helping our partners reach theirs.

Our partners work on a wide range on causes including access to education, workforce development, protecting our planet, mental health, poverty reduction, social justice initiatives and more.

As part of a small team, interns at Causewave are an integral part of the organization’s work. Interns can expect to work on substantive projects, develop professional skills, network with industry professionals, and benefit from the personal attention of their supervisors. Internship schedules are flexible and usually require a 10-15 hour weekly commitment. Internships are unpaid. Students seeking academic credit should inquire with their school regarding any requirements. Undergraduates and those not currently enrolled in a college or university may apply.

The intern will be mentored and given responsibilities based on ability, interest, and experience.

We’re actively working toward an equitable and inclusive environment for all team members, and seek candidates who will bring diverse perspectives and experiences to our organization.

Education level:
High School diploma or GED

We accept applications on an ongoing basis.

Nonprofit Strategy & Marketing Intern

Responsibilities may include (but are not limited to):

  • Support staff members with the delivery of quality programs to nonprofits, e.g., brand development, communications planning, etc.

  • Assist in developing timely, relevant and fresh content for the website, email, and social media

  • Develop and implement a social media plan for specific events/ initiatives

  • Conduct research to support projects for nonprofit partners

  • Analyze and synthesize data from surveys

  • Support the organization’s administrative activities, including website maintenance/updates, event/program logistics, database management (Salesforce.com), and other general office duties

  • Execute Causewave’s marketing strategy across multiple marketing channels

Interns can expect:

  • To network with staff members and to learn about the variety of roles and responsibilities in nonprofit organizations

  • To conduct independent research and present their findings to a subset of the staff

  • To engage with organizations and leaders from across the WNY nonprofit sector

  • To gain essential knowledge of the day-to-day operation of a small nonprofit organization

Skills required:

  • Strong written and oral communication skills

  • General project management skills

  • Detail-oriented

  • Energetic and flexible

  • Ability to work independently in a hybrid work environment

  • Knowledge of Google suite preferred

Does this describe you? We want to hear from you!
To apply for this internship opportunity, please send a résumé and cover letter to info@causewave.org.

Nonprofit Event Planning & Marketing Intern

Responsibilities may include (but are not limited to):

Event Support

  • Help create a promotional timeline for Causewave and partner events

  • Support creation of email marketing campaigns

  • Assist in brainstorming of creative elements/themes for events

  • Assist with program development and execution, including marketing and coordination

  • Assist with event-related activities, such as planning, promotion, managing vendors, ordering signage, creating public relations opportunities, set-up and clean-up, volunteer coordination and event follow-up activities

Causewave Marketing Administrative Support

  • Assist in creating public relations opportunities for Causewave

  • Assist in developing timely, relevant and fresh content for the website, email, and social media

  • Help develop materials to promote Causewave’s programs and events

  • Support the organization’s administrative activities, including website maintenance/updates, database management (Salesforce.com), and other general office duties

Interns can expect:

  • To network with staff members and to learn about the variety of roles and responsibilities in nonprofit organizations

  • To conduct independent research and present their findings to a subset of the staff

  • To engage with organizations and leader from across the WNY nonprofit sector

  • To gain essential knowledge of the day-to-day operation of a small nonprofit organization

Skills required:

  • Strong written and oral communication skills

  • Ability to manage projects and timelines

  • Ability to conduct research on wide variety of topics and project needs

  • Highly motivated and ability to work independently

  • Energetic and flexible

  • Reliable transportation required

Does this describe you? We want to hear from you!
To apply for this internship opportunity, please send a résumé and cover letter to info@causewave.org.

Are you still reading? Because these things are also important:

We’re committed to diversity. Causewave recognizes the importance of a culture that embraces diversity and appreciates, understands and values individual differences. We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff, board and volunteers at all levels; to creating an inclusive, respectful and equitable environment; to serving our diverse customers with culturally sensitive programs and services; and to continually improving Causewave’s culture, policies and practices through learning and leadership.

Community mindedness: If you dream of the glamour and glory of the marketing/business world, this internship may not be for you. BUT if you think organizations and individuals can be forces for good, and you can’t help but look around for ways to make things better, giddy up.

Grit: There are few people who understand the value of persistence and resilience better than those who spend time working in the nonprofit sector. You should be excited about putting your grit to good use through this opportunity.

Flexibility: We're an ambitious organization. We’ve got big goals and take on a lot to achieve them. Because of that, it’s safe to say that you’ll be jumping from task to task so much that your head may spin. You should be built for that.

Writing skills: You’ll be asked to complete a number of tasks that rely on strong and strategic writing skills. If this isn’t something you see as a strength currently, this internship experience could be an opportunity to work on it.

Detail-oriented: Are you lost without a To Do list? Do you love setting your own deadlines, AND sticking to them? This internship is calling your name.

Team attitude: We are all on the same team, and when one of us succeeds, we all do. That means you’ll look for opportunities to pitch in on things–both big and small.