2024 Summer Internship Program

Application Deadline: May 21st
In-person Interview Event: May 23rd
Program Start Date: June 3rd  Program End Date: End of August  
Compensation: $20/hr @ 25 hours max per week

Working Style: Hybrid working schedule – remote days M/F & Virtual August, in-person days Tu/W/Th. DS offers flexible working hours between 8am - 6pm EST. 
DoSomething Office: 50 w 17th Street, Floor 11 
 

WHO WE ARE
DoSomething is a thirty year old nonprofit fueling young people to change the world. These young activists have made a difference from donating over 1 million jeans to homeless youth; to over 4,600 young people powering the petition that compelled Apple to create emojis representing people of color; and providing 585,965 menstrual products to achieve gender equity! On top of all that, DoSomething has registered 365,000 young people to vote and claim our democracy since 2018, with our voter turnout rate, above the national average, at 62 percent. Want to know more about our impact? Check out our 2023 Year in Review.

THE PROGRAM
This internship will allow you to significantly contribute to an open project within one of our teams (Programming & Impact, Product & Engineering, People & Culture, Development, Marketing & Communications) while growing a strong transferable skill set and gaining an understanding of non-profit life.. You’ll feel a sense of inclusion and belonging in both your intern cohort and the organization at large. 

WHAT YOU’LL DO & WHAT YOU’LL GET 
Independent Work on Your Team’s Open Project (10 - 16 hours/wk)
Develop and grow project management skills such as: research, utilizing tools/resources, performance tracking/deadlines, creative problem solving, systems thinking, etc. 

Joining Team Meetings (1.5 hours/wk)
Observership; seeing how teams work together, problem solve, and manage projects in live time. Grow your language toolkit, learn best practices. 

Meeting 1:1 w/Your Leader (40 minutes/wk)
This time will allow you to update your leader on project progress, receive feedback, get support with roadblocks, and receive personalized coaching and mentorship. 

Representing DS (5 hours/wk)
This time allows you to serve as a representative for DS’s mission and work. This could look like: tabling at events, working directly with members or donors, social media take overs, etc. 

Professional Development Series (1 hour/wk)
This time is dedicated to your professional development. The first half of our series will cover the business-functions associated with non-profit organizations. The second half will be a speaker series hosted by folks on our team, possible topics: resume building / interview best practices, effective storytelling, data analytics, people leadership, etc. 

Intern Cohort Time (1 hour/wk)
This time allows you to bond with other interns, share what’s going well and make suggestions on how the program could be better. We will relationship build and have some fun! 

THE TEAMS / OPEN PROJECTS @ DS
*Interns will serve on one team, however, you may indicate interest in interviewing with multiple teams

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS 
(M&C) holds the vision of the DoSomething brand and develops effective communications strategies that engage both new and existing members and partners. Our work includes: producing content to power all of our DoSomething newsletters/SMS messaging/social media channels, developing media pitches and forging partnerships with entertainment properties/influencers/youth networks to keep the brand fresh and relevant, building the communications/marketing/promotional strategies for DoSomething programs and campaigns that bring them to life in fresh and exciting ways such as influencer partnerships/unique incentives/video assets, supporting cross-functional teams with communication tools to advance their work, administer our DoSomething monthly scholarship program and manage scholarship marketing partners. Marketing & Communication ensures that DoSomething remains fresh and relevant with all of our key audiences and that our communications remain consistent, accessible, and reach young people where they are and need to hear from us most.

M&C’s OPEN PROJECT
Interns will support DoSomething in the development and execution of our 2024 voter mobilization strategy. This will include researching brands and creating outreach materials to build a network of voter mobilization partners that are joining us in our mission to register 100,000 young people to vote ahead of the 2024 election. Additionally, interns will support in the execution of our voter mobilization content strategy including writing articles and creating social media content to educate members about the electoral process as well as forging partnerships with relevant content creators who can help amplify our content.
 

DOSOMETHING STRATEGIC 
(DSS) is the strategic consulting arm of DoSomething.org, we leverage data and insights on social issues important to young people to advise brands and organizations on how to engage with the next generation as customers, employees, and supporters. DSS leads client engagements to develop social impact platforms, strategize campaigns, and create employee or volunteer programs, while collaborating with research teams to pinpoint areas of shared focus. Additionally, DSS develops thought leadership to disseminate Gen Z insights widely among clients and the social sector. As an earned revenue stream, DSS enhances DoSomething's sustainability and collaborates with the business sector to foster policies promoting better economic conditions for young people.

DSS’s OPEN PROJECT
Interns will support a project seeking to enhance understanding and support for student mental health in one of our client’s school districts. Through a series of primary research activities, beginning with assisting in the development and execution of focus groups, interns will advise on methodology, help design questionnaires, and actively participate in the sessions to collect valuable insights with a diverse group of stakeholders focused on gathering and synthesizing key themes and nuanced perspectives on mental health support within the community. Interns will be responsible for administering surveys to students and parents to quantify needs and identify potential opportunities within the district’s mental health programs. This quantitative data collection is a critical component of the project, aimed at complementing the qualitative insights from the focus groups and interviews. Finally, the intern would contribute to the drafting of a detailed research report. This report will summarize the key findings, incorporate feedback from stakeholders, and present both the raw data and the synthesized insights, ultimately serving as a foundational document to guide future initiatives to improve student mental health support in the school district for tens of thousands of students. 
 

PRODUCT & ENGINEERING 
(P&E) leads the organization through continuous evolution of the member experience, program delivery and measurement capabilities to ensure we meet outcomes specified in our strategic plan. We’re artists who imagine, design and deliver the future-state while simultaneously supporting and educating the organization about the current-state.

P&E’s OPEN PROJECT - DATA ANALYSIS
Interns will help us wrangle our new data into meaningful insights and to explore how we can best combine it with our existing and historical data. This opportunity would also include the opportunity to conduct a self-driven data project where the Intern will propose, design, and implement an analysis of the available data to answer a question they or the DoSomething staff members they interact with may have. This will culminate in a presentation to interested team members and the opportunity to leave a lasting impact on the organization. Ideally, this intern would already have some exposure to SQL, BI tools (like Tableau, Power BI, Looker), and at least one programming language in which they feel comfortable wrangling data (like Python, Julia, or R).

P&E’s OPEN PROJECT - PRODUCT RESEARCH
We know that many professional individuals (such as educators and youth leaders) coordinate and run volunteer and service-related activities and programs are also interested in utilizing DoSomething’s programs and platform, and unfortunately the experience is not currently geared towards their needs. Interns will engage in research to understand this audience better and scope how we might be able to design an experience that aids their work in directly engaging young people. This work will include: planning and facilitating user research activities (such as interviews and surveys), participant recruitment (ensuring diverse representation), support the analysis and presentation of research findings, collaborate with and learn from other DoSomething staff members to connect research findings to organizational goals, contribute to ideas for design solutions. Ideally, this intern would already have some exposure to user research and/or focus group management, experience with communications outreach, experience with product-side data analysis.
 

DEVELOPMENT [FUNDRAISING] 
(DEV) serves as an integral part of our organization's sustainability, operating at the nexus of financial stewardship and programmatic support. Our core function is to collaboratively engage with all departments, deeply understanding their programs and initiatives to identify and secure funding that not only supports their needs but also equips the young people we serve and fosters the growth and well-being of our staff. By nurturing relationships with donors, stakeholders, and partners, we ensure the continuity and expansion of our mission-driven work, driving positive impact and fostering a resilient organizational ecosystem.

DEV’s OPEN PROJECT 
Interns will be responsible for supporting a prospect research project. This project focuses on identifying potential funding opportunities through comprehensive prospecting of foundations, corporations, and individuals. The interns will collaborate with various departments as well as the managers on the development team to understand their programs and initiatives, gathering crucial information to tailor partnership approaches effectively. Key responsibilities include utilizing a variety of research tools, analyzing data, and contributing to the development of strategic fundraising initiatives. This project offers a dynamic learning environment for growth-focused individuals studying non-profit administration and business, providing hands-on experience in fundraising and nonprofit operations while supporting their professional development and interests.
 

OFFICE OF THE CEO, DENORA GETACHEW
The CEO holds a pivotal role, steering the organization towards its mission and ensuring effective growth. They oversee the strategic direction, financial management, and overall performance of the organization. Additionally, they often engage in fundraising efforts, cultivate partnerships, and represent the organization to stakeholders and the public. Ultimately, the CEO's primary function is to lead the organization in achieving its goals while upholding its values and maintaining transparency and accountability. DeNora provides valuable thought leadership and serves as a subject matter expert on young people-led activism, supporting and empowering the younger generation to make change. 

CEO’s OFFICE OPEN PROJECT 
Interns will enhance the CEO's online presence and engagement by crafting strategic and compelling social media posts across various platforms. By leveraging the CEO's expertise, insights, and vision, these posts will showcase thought leadership, industry trends, and organizational achievements. Through a tailored content calendar and consistent messaging, we seek to amplify the CEO's voice, foster meaningful connections with stakeholders and young people, and elevate the organization's brand, ultimately driving awareness, trust, and support for its mission.
 

PROGRAMMING & IMPACT
(P&I) is responsible for creating and overseeing the roster of programs and campaigns tied to DoSomething's strategic pillars. We aim to support the long-term civic engagement of our member collective (young people, 13 to 25). 

P&I’s OPEN PROJECT 
Interns will support all of the summer campaign and programming efforts. This looks like creative contribution to the development and implementation of our offerings. Retrieving and analyzing data with member engagement, which includes but is not limited to member surveys, campaign/program participation research. Conducting essential research on future programming topics and alignment with strategic objectives. Partnering with our outreach and working directly with our members. 
 

PEOPLE & CULTURE
(P&C) supports the strategic, administrative, and operational goals of DoSomething and serves as a champion for the people who comprise our work community. Our work includes building and supporting the team, providing coaching/training/development for employees. We also manage several people-based data systems ensuring confidentiality. We contribute to company culture and lead DEIB efforts. We shape and roll out policy, manage performance, and own team recognition. 

P&C’s OPEN PROJECT 
Interns will take on an employee experience and engagement project, creating a people-events calendar of wellness events for our hybrid workforce. This starts with research and budgeting, moves to internal messaging and implementation/facilitation of events, and concludes with measuring success and considering improvements. We’re seeking a fun-generator who is passionate about celebrating and supporting our team.