One Day, One Internship » non-profit

Ceres

Willy Franzen — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 15:58:41 +0000

Since I’m too young to remember it, I’m sure that many of you are too. In 1989 “a major environmental disaster shook public confidence in corporate America—the Exxon-Valdez oil spill.” It made the environmental costs of business finally feel real to many people, and it resulted in the founding of a non-profit organization called Ceres. They are “a national network of investors, environmental organizations and other public interest groups” that work “with companies and investors to address sustainability challenges such as global climate change.” With the BP oil spill among other environmental crises, it’s quite clear that Ceres has lots more work to do after 20 years of operations. Still, Ceres, which is based in Boston, MA, has accomplished quite a bit in their mission to “integrate sustainability into capital markets.” They launched both the Global Reporting Initiative, which is “now the de-facto international standard used by over 1300 companies for corporate reporting on environmental, social and economic performance,” and the Investor Network on Climate Risk, which is “a group of more than 70 leading institutional investors with collective assets of more than $7 trillion.” They’re obviously a major player in sustainability, and they’re taking the right approach by working with businesses instead of fighting them.

Get Ceres About Your Internship Search

One of the key ideas behind Ceres is their ten principles. It’s a code of corporate environmental conduct that has been adopted by more than 50 companies (13 of which are in the Fortune 500). These principles include: Protection of the biosphere; Sustainable use of natural resources; Reduction and disposal of wastes; Energy conservation; Risk reduction; Safe products and services; Environmental restoration; Informing the public; Management commitment; and Audits and reports. Interestingly enough, many of these principles mirror general good business practices. By endorsing or adopting these principles, a company can “actively commit to an ongoing process of continuous improvement, dialogue and comprehensive, systematic public reporting.” If you like this approach, then you should check out internships at Ceres. Oddly enough, Ceres’ only internship currently available is posted on Idealist. It’s a paid position, and it says that it’s targeted towards grad students, although it’s not clear why they say that in the job description. Interns typically work in areas like research, writing, project coordination, IT and communications, so you have plenty of options.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you know about Ceres?

CoFed

Willy Franzen — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 13:00:57 +0000

While my dad was in college, he and a few of his friends started a café. More than 30 years later, that café is still thriving and was one of my favorite brunch spots when I was at Cornell. The restaurant industry usually chews people up and spits them out, so it’s pretty unusual to see any restaurants last that long, let alone one started by a bunch of amateurs. Hopefully we’ll be seeing more college town success stories like Café Dewitt come out of CoFed, which is a Berkeley, CA non-profit that is “empowering students to create ethically-sourced, community-run cafés on college campuses.” CoFed is all about the triple bottom line, as they not only want to start successful cafés that offer delicious food, but they want to do it in a humane and sustainable way.

Get CoFed

If your mouth is already watering, then keep reading. So far CoFed has raised about $10,000 and has teams at 6 campuses across the West coast: Cal Poly SLO, City College San Francisco, Humboldt State, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, and University of Washington. Each of the teams gets access to CoFed’s training programs and research, so that they can start with a good chance at success. I’ve seen plenty of campus-run dining establishments forced to close, so I know that starting an on-campus cooperative with a shoestring budget will not be easy. Still, I think CoFed is doing a neat thing in a unique way—and how can you not support an organization that improved the quality of food on campus? If reading about CoFed is making you hungry to learn more, then you should check out their Jobs and Internships page. Right now they’re a bit light on funding, so they don’t quite have the budget for full-time jobs. They’re essentially recruiting interns with the potential for full-time jobs as the interns help grow the organization. If you’re looking for an experience over security, then you should check out their opportunities in Development (this one is the most likely to turn into a job), Social Media, Admin, and Event Production. All of the positions start as unpaid, but may become paid in the future. At the very least, you won’t go hungry.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Taxpayers for Common Sense

Willy Franzen — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 13:00:07 +0000

Yesterday, we talked about a non-profit that helps people work towards personal financial responsibility. Today, we’re going to look at an organization that helps our country do it as a group. Imagine that you are at a restaurant. It’s pretty expensive, but you’ve got some money, so you’re going to have a nice dinner. But there’s a twist. Instead of paying for your dinner, you have to pay for the people who sat at your table before you; and the people who sit down next will have to pay for yours. That foie gras is looking good now, isn’t it? This is how the federal government works. They don’t worry about what they can afford now—they just let someone else pay the bill in the future. If the Congressional Budget Office’s latest predictions are any indication, those of us who are in our 20s are going to get stuck with a pretty hefty tab. It’s the biggest problem facing our generation, yet very few people talk about it. We’re going to be the group that gets screwed—the one that has to pay the tab for the people before us while also paying for our own tab. Just you wait. Not only will we be the generation that stumbles into the “real world” due to a terrible recession, but we’ll also be the one that actually pays for everyone else’s extravagance. Luckily, there are organizations like Taxpayers for Common Sense that aim to reign in the federal government’s wasteful spending. They are a Washington, DC based “non-partisan budget watchdog serving as an independent voice for American taxpayers.”

Some Common Sense for Your Internship Search

Taxpayers for Common Sense aims for “a government that spends taxpayer dollars responsibly and operates within its means,” which is why they “work with individuals, policymakers, and the media to increase transparency, expose and eliminate wasteful and corrupt subsidies, earmarks, and corporate welfare, and hold decision makers accountable.” The organization was founded in 1995, and in just 15 years of operation has helped save taxpayers more than $5 billion dollars. That’s a huge accomplishment, but it’s scary how small that number is in relation to our nation’s debt. There’s a long way to go, and it seems that our country’s decision makers are only getting more and more spend happy. It appears that Taxpayers for Common Sense is mostly an advocacy and research organization, since they can only really accomplish their goals by bringing light to pertinent issues. If you’d like to join TCS and help ensure that the bill that our generation pays isn’t quite as outrageous as it could be, check out the Taxpayers for Common Sense Internships page. They offer full-time, paid internships in National Security, Water Policy, Communications, Resources Policy, and Organization Development. It’s your chance to cut your parents’ credit cards.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

How do you feel about paying taxes?

The Financial Clinic

Willy Franzen — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 15:54:12 +0000

When I have a personal finance question, curiosity, or problem, I look to Ramit Sethi for help. His book I Will Teach You To Be Rich and blog by the same name are amazing resources for anyone regardless of financial standing or background. Although people love to blame Wall Street and other societal causes for their own financial misfortune, the truth is that a little education can go a long way in helping people achieve financial success. While Ramit provides educational resources for individuals, The Financial Clinic, a New York City based non-profit, provides a more hands-on approach to promoting economic progress. They call it “a Peace Corps for financial stability.” The truth is that most college students and new grads have enough of their own financial struggles, but if you’re the type of person who has a plan and a system, then The Financial Clinic might be worth taking a closer look at.

Walk in to the Clinic

The Financial Clinic was founded in 2005 to help “build working poor families and individuals’ financial security by addressing their immediate financial challenges and helping them create trajectories for long-term goals and financial mobility.” If you replace “working poor families” with “new grads” and “financial” with “career,” then it kind of sounds kind of like what I’m doing. Anyway, The Clinic focuses on five distinct practice areas, which are Assets, Banking, Credit, Debt, and Taxes. They have a ton of resources and partnerships to help them focus programs on each of these areas, but the key to getting the work done on the ground is their Fellowship Program. You can find the full rundown here, but the basic gist of it is that recruits “devote a year to counseling individuals and families through immediate crises such as consumer debt, home foreclosure and tax difficulties.” It sounds like something between an internship and a full-time job, so I figured you’d want to hear about it. I had trouble with the application link, so you may want to use the contact information posted on Idealist, where you’ll also find information on The Financial Clinic’s Unpaid Consumer Law Internship for Law School students.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Are you financially literate?

OneAmerica

Willy Franzen — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 16:05:21 +0000

Watching the fighter jets scream across the sky during practice runs for the Chicago Air and Water show reminded me of September 11th. I was standing on the beach watching smoke billow from the Twin Towers and could see fighter jets—the only planes in the sky—cruising along as they patrolled the air. I also remember having a sense of anger, and wanting to have someone to blame for the atrocities. I think that most people shared that feeling, at least initially, but some were far less rational about how they dealt with it. September 11th was obviously a terrible day for every American, but it was also the day when life got much harder for people in American of Arab, Muslim, South Asian and other backgrounds. That’s why Seattle, WA based OneAmerica (formerly Hate Free Zone) was founded immediately after September 11th. Their mission is “to advance the fundamental principles of democracy and justice through building power in immigrant communities, in collaboration with key allies.”

OneAmerica OneYou

Beyond facing discrimination, Arabs, Muslims, South Asians in America have also been adversely affected by new government policies. OneAmerica helps give these people a voice in the political process. By working directly in the affected communities, OneAmerica is able to build trust and get people mobilized in a way that can make a difference. OneAmerica does this by focusing on four areas: Civic Engagement, Community Organizing, Policy Advocacy and Research, and Communications and Media. If you’d like to be a part of the work that OneAmerica is doing, then you should take a look at their internships on Idealist. Right now they’re looking for an unpaid Washington New Americans Intern. It looks like they’re flexible on dates, so give them a look and see what makes sense for you.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you think about OneAmerica?

Malaria No More

Willy Franzen — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 14:50:15 +0000

Today we’re going to start with a mind boggling fact. Half of human deaths since the stone age can be attributed to malaria. Half. Starvation, war, cancer, AIDS, and natural disasters have nothing on a tiny little parasite. Chances are that you grew up in a place without malaria. You may have used insect repellent, but was to avoid having an annoying buzz in your ear and a few itchy bumps on your arms or legs. It wasn’t a life or death situation. Unfortunately, in much of the world—especially Africa—a little bug bite can lead to your ultimate demise. Malaria remains one of the biggest problems that the human species faces with 250 million annual cases and 850,000 annual deaths. This costs African nations $12 billion in lost productivity ever year, while consuming 40% of all hospital expenditures. Malaria No More is a New York City based non-profit organization that believes that fighting malaria is “the best humanitarian investment” that can be made right now. They’ve only been around since 2006, but they’ve already done some great work to curb the damage done by malaria.

Internship Search No More

While many global health organizations have a singular focus like funding, advocacy, or implementation, Malaria No More takes an entrepreneurial approach and has its hands in all activities aimed at eradicating malaria. To better understand how Malaria No More works, you should first learn more about the disease that they’re fighting. Then you can take a look at their Approach and how it focuses on using business methods to make an impact. The three areas that Malaria No More focuses on specifically are Communications, Investments, and Resources Mobilization. If you’re intrigued by Malaria No More’s approach, then you should check out their Internships page. They have a number of unpaid internship opportunities posted including positions in Marketing, Communications, Programs, and Development. Check them out and see if you’re a god fit.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you think of Malaria No More’s approach?

SOSMentor

Willy Franzen — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 16:01:08 +0000

Growing up is tough no matter where you come from. As you reach your teenage years, you have to start taking responsibility for yourself—your grades, your ambitions, and your diet. Now imagine growing up in a situation where your parents aren’t all that helpful and your community and its schools don’t have the resources to give you the help that you need to get on the right track. This is often the case in inner-city neighborhoods across America, and this includes many communities in the greater Los Angeles area. That’s why Calabasas, CA based SOSMentor was formed in 2000. They’re a non-profit organization that provides “academic mentoring, resources, and educational support to underserved students and their families.” They also put a huge emphasis on diet and fitness, which are really important things to learn about as you enter adulthood.

Supporting Our Students

SOSMentor addresses the problems found in underserved communities by bringing mentors into the communities and helping students in those communities “pursue careers and higher education and make healthy eating and lifestyle choices.” With a focus on growth, achievement, leadership, and success, SOSMentor is well equipped to do things like “increase grades, reduce violence and substance abuse, lower the rates of teen pregnancies, while increasing high school graduations and college admissions.” If you like the sound of the work that SOSMentor is doing, then you should check out their Internships page. Right now they’re looking for a paid Nutrition Intern, so check them out and see how you can make your transition to adulthood by helping others do the same.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about SOSMentor?

U.S. PIRG

Willy Franzen — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 13:00:22 +0000

I didn’t watch The Real Housewives of DC the night before last, but it may have been playing in the background while I was trying to fall asleep. Besides hearing people Obama name drop often enough that you could make a college drinking game out of watching the show, I also noticed that lobbying was mentioned multiple times. I don’t really get how lobbying works, but I know that anyone (or I should say any entity) with a political agenda pretty much has to participate. For every interest there is a lobbying group, and some are far more powerful than others. Often this power goes against the public interest. U.S. PIRG is a non-profit federation of state Public Interest Research Groups that “stands up to powerful special interests on behalf of the American public, working to win concrete results for our health and our well-being.” They’re headquartered in Boston, MA; however, they have a Federal Advocacy Office in Washington, DC and state chapters all across the country. Oddly enough U.S. PIRG and its affiliates have chosen to fight lobbying and special interests by being a lobbying group. I understand that they’re fighting for the public interest, but that’s still a special interest, right?

Enter PIRG-atory

U.S. PIRG and the state PIRGs are focused on a number of issues. These include Consumer Protection, Financial Security, Reforming Health Care, Toxics & Public Health, Transportation Solutions, Elections & Government Reform, Tax and Budget Policy, and Affordable Higher Education. I don’t think that anyone would disagree with the fact that these are all important issues. That’s why U.S. PIRG and the state PIRGs have built “a strong network of researchers, advocates, organizers and students in state capitols across the country.” To get a sense for what this network of people are working on, you should take a look at U.S. PIRG’s recent accomplishments. You’ll see things like holding elected officials to higher ethical standards, closing contractor loopholes, and promoting young voter participation. If these sound like things that you’d like to be a part of, then check out U.S. PIRG’s Internships page. They actually do a really nice job with their Internships page, so it should be easy for you to find out about all of their opportunities. They offer unpaid internships in Campaign, Legislative, and Media. They all sound really interesting, and there should be opportunities with the state PIRGs too.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you think of U.S. PIRG’s work?

MicroFinance Transparency

Willy Franzen — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 15:58:59 +0000

It’s been quite a while since we looked at internship in microfinance. I’m not sure whether the recession has had something to do with it, but it seems that there has been a lot less buzz about microfinance over the past year or two than there was in the preceding years. Maybe it’s just me. For those of you who don’t know what microfinance is, Wikipedia defines it as “the provision of financial services to low-income clients, including consumers and the self-employed, who traditionally lack access to banking and related services.” Put more simply, it’s the act of lending small amounts of investment capital to people who wouldn’t have been able to borrow money in the past. Microfinance is a great alternative to many other forms of aid, because it helps build economic foundations that respond to market incentives. MicroFinance Transparency is a Lancaster, PA based non-profit organization that is working to ensure that the field of microfinance stays true to its goals of helping to alleviate poverty. Because microfinance is unregulated and fragmented, MicroFinance Transparency acts as a watchdog that promotes transparency in the industry.

MicroFinance Your Internship

MicroFinance Transparency’s main activity is collecting and reporting data, and most of the data that they focus on is related to the interest rates of microfinance loans. The reason for this is that microfinance and payday loans aren’t all that different in theory; however, it’s the interest rates and the intention of the loans that supposedly make microfinance a poverty alleviation tool (while payday loans likely exacerbate poverty). The best way to get the full rundown of how MicroFinance Transparency works is to read through their Frequently Asked Questions. That’ll tell you nearly everything you need to know about why they’re doing what they’re doing, and if it’s not enough, there’s plenty more on the the MicroFinance Transparency website. If you like what you see, you’ll probably want to check out their Internships page. Right now they’re looking for a paid Data Management Intern in Lancaster, PA or New York City. They also seem to offer general internship opportunities, so check them out and see what makes sense for you.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Have you ever participated in microfinance?

National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare

Willy Franzen — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 14:49:10 +0000

I’ve done a good amount of traveling this summer, and it just so happens that a number of the cities that I’ve visited have significant homeless populations. San Diego stands out the most, but there’s also Denver, San Francisco, and my home, Chicago. It showed me how serious mental health issues can become for individuals and communities. Obviously, mental health issues affect people from all walks of life, but with the homeless it’s visible in a way that most other mental health issues aren’t. The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare is a Washington, DC based organization that acts as “the unifying voice of America’s behavioral health organizations.” They support more than 1,700 member organizations and serve the “more than 6 million adults and children with mental illnesses and addiction disorders.”

Fighting for Our Future

The best way to get a feel for the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare is to watch the video that I’ve embedded below called “Fighting for Our Future.”

The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare “advocates for public policies that ensure that people who are ill can access comprehensive healthcare services,” which means that they’re involved in all kinds of interesting work. If you’d like to be a part of it, you’ll want to check out their Internships page. They don’t list specific internships, but they do give a good rundown of their internship program. They also mention that the positions are paid.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation

Willy Franzen — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 13:52:18 +0000

Over the past year I’ve seen cancer do a lot of damage, and I know that I will see it do more damage as I move through life. Still, I believe by the time I’m starting to get old, cancer won’t be nearly as much of a worry as something else that we haven’t even heard of yet. It doesn’t seem all that long ago when most cancers seemed like a death sentence, but now the majority of cancers have strong treatment options. The problem with cancer treatment is that its short-term effects are often worse than those of the disease. The Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation is trying to change this. They are a New York City based non-profit organization that was started by thankful patients of an oncologist/hematologist whose name is, obviously, Samuel Waxman. The Foundation is “dedicated to supporting a focused research program to develop targeted cancer cell-specific therapies with minimal toxicity, such as differentiation therapy.”

A Foundation for a Cure

I have little or not understanding of the science that Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation focuses on, but I do know that they’ve put $70 million to work since 1976. They have already had success with the treatment that they’ve helped develop for acute promyelocytic leukemia, and there hope is that their research will apply to treating many other forms of cancer too. What makes the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation unique is that their “research is not disease-specific but concept driven.” This means that they have focused on specific way of attacking cancer instead of focusing on treating a specific type of cancer, which is how many cancer related non-profits work. If you’re excited about the research that the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation is doing, you might want to consider an internship with them. Right now they have one unpaid intern position posted on Idealist. It looks like the position is most involved with the development function, so take that into consideration.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you know about Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation?

A Wider Circle

Willy Franzen — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 16:07:18 +0000

The One Day, One Internship LinkedIn Group is growing fast. Join now so you can connect with me and other readers.

Ever get off to a bad start? Maybe it was a class, a sports season, or a new social situation. It’s hard to dig yourself out of the funk, right? Or maybe it was something far more important like life. Millions of people are born into poverty in our country, and that makes it likely that they’ll eventually have children who are born into poverty. It’s a vicious cycle that is nearly impossible to get out of, which means that more and more kids will be born into a very difficult situation. A Wider Circle is a Silver Spring, MD non-profit organization that empowers “children and adults to break the cycles of poverty and poor health.” By providing basic need items to struggling families, A Wider Circle puts people in a situation where success is attainable.

How Wide Is Your Circle?

Every month A Wider Circle furnishes the homes of more than 1,000 people free of charge. They provide basic needs that individuals need to ensure that they can focus on a healthy and productive life that includes education and employment. A Wider Circle isn’t tied to a specific type of help, but instead aims to serve people based on their needs. They do this through a number of programs including Neighbor to Neighbor, Public Housing Wellness, Shelter Support, School Community, and Well Mother, Well Baby. From what I can tell, A Wider Circle really makes the most of the resources they have, and that includes their people. If you want to be one of them, then you should check out A Wider Circle internships on Idealist or on their own Internships page. The opportunities are unpaid and offered in the following areas: Client Relations, Education, IT Support, Management and Strateic Planning, Marketing and Fundraising, Neighbor to Neighbor, Public Housing, Research and Writing, and Well Mother Well Baby.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about A Wider Circle?

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington

Willy Franzen — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 15:48:28 +0000

I live in Chicago where politicians and ethics go together like chocolate chip cookies and ketchup. After living here for a few years, I’m constantly noticing problems (like gang fights at the beach and 3 foot deep potholes) that are clearly the result of many years of inadequate and often corrupt politicians. I actually find it shocking that anyone under 30 (or over 30 for that matter) has any faith in or hope for politicians anymore. There have been way too many scandals. I guess that’s why Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington was started in 2003. They’re a Washington, DC based non-profit that is “dedicated to promoting ethics and accountability in government and public life by targeting government officials — regardless of party affiliation — who sacrifice the common good to special interests.” Oddly enough, the Wikipedia entry for CREW mentions that many of their donors are liberal groups and that most of the members of Congress whom they target are Republicans or conservative Democrats. Since corruption and unethical activity don’t follow party lines, it seems as though CREW might not be living up to its mission of acting “regardless of party affiliation” (which, in my opinion, isn’t the ethical and responsible thing to do).

Will You Join the CREW?

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington is very much a legal organization, as they use the following tools to “force officials to act ethically and lawfully and to bring unethical conduct to the public’s attention”: Litigation, Freedom of Information Requests, Ethics Complaints, IRS Complaints, Federal Election Commission Complaints, and Requests for Investigations. If CREW finds politicians behaving badly, they will find a way to make them pay. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington’s current projects include identifying the country’s worst governors, identifying the most corrupt members in Congress (we have 2 of the top 15 in Illinois), and a state by state ethics breakdown. The thing that I really like about Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington is that they’re not only good and finding and acting information, but they also do an excellent job of presenting it. They don’t issue boring reports—they build engaging websites that make consuming their research enjoyable. If you like what you see at CREW, then you should check out their Internships page. They have unpaid internship opportunities for both undergraduate students and law students. The undergrad positions are in operations and research, and you can find the full descriptions on CREW’s Internships page.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you know about Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington?

Genetic Alliance

Willy Franzen — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 13:01:21 +0000

As humans we must have some innate level of genetics knowledge. We know to look for favorable traits when we search for a reproductive partner, and once we make that choice, we know that our children are supposed to look at least a little bit like us and share some of our traits. That’s why genetic research is so mystifying. It offers the opportunity to know why we are the way we are. Yet, some think that genetic research hasn’t lived up to its billing. I have to agree that it’s extremely disappointing that with all of the genetic knowledge that we’ve gained in the past 20 or so years, it hasn’t helped us cure any major diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, or any form of cancer. However, it still seems that plenty of good has come out of genetics research, and there is reason to hope that a lot more is on the way. Genetic Alliance would agree. They’re based in Washington, DC, and they’re “the world’s leading nonprofit health advocacy organization committed to transforming health through genetics and promoting an environment of openness centered on the health of individuals, families, and communities.”

Is It in Your Genes?

There are all kinds of stakeholders when it comes to genetics research—individuals, doctors, researchers, pharmaceutical companies, disease-specific advocacy organizations, government agencies, non-profits, and plenty more. Each group has its own agenda, but all will benefit from advances in genetics research. Genetic Alliance brings them all together as “the voice of advocacy in genetics” with the goal of transforming health. It’s an exciting goal, and hopefully one that will be fruitful. We can’t control how much genetics have to do with our health, but however much it is, we need to find out and learn how to use that information to our advantage. If you’d like to be a part of that mission, then you might want to consider an internship at Genetic Alliance. Right now they have paid opportunities for the fall in areas like Programs; Health Policy; Biomedical Research, Diagnostics, and Drug Development; Public Health Genomics; Events; Health Informatics and Technology Partnerships; and Human Resources. Take a look at both positions and see if you’ll be a good fit. The deadline to apply is August 1st.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about Genetic Alliance?

Urban Enrichment

Willy Franzen — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 15:02:22 +0000

I never loved school, even though I was always pretty good at it. My classes just never really fulfilled my curiosity. Luckily, my parents were always putting me in exciting (and some not so exciting) after school activities. I had Frank’s Science Den where I’d learn all about cool science stuff like Van de Graaff generators and model rockets. I participated in Odyssey of the Mind where I put my early engineering skills to the test in a competition to see which team (or team’s parents to be more accurate) could build a balsa wood structure that held the most weight. There was Little League, which I loved, and soccer, which I didn’t love. I started playing the drums in 5th grade, and went to all kinds of camps over the summers (but never sleep away). Some of these activities were quite affordable, but others came with a pretty decent price tag. Fortunately, my parents had the resources to let me try all kinds of enrichment activities. Many children across our country aren’t so lucky. The only access they have to enrichment programs are those which are free, and the free ones often get overcrowded in a flash. Urban Enrichment is a new, New York City based non-profit that is making “it possible for elementary school students from low-income families to attend the high-quality artistic and athletic enrichment programs that already exist in New York City.”

Enrich Your Life

Although none of my after school activities directly led me to what I’m doing now (the closest was probably Internet camp back when AOL was still new), I’m sure that they helped my overall education. Moreover, I think that entrepreneurship is to enrichment programs as school is to corporate jobs, so I guess those enrichment programs really did have an effect on me. The way Urban Enrichment works is that they raise money and sponsor students to do all kinds of enrichment programs even if they’re in other neighborhoods. Urban Enrichment’s funding model is the basis of how the organization works, since one of the main goals of the organization is to fund after school activities for students. So far they’ve made some pretty strong progress with 45 students from East Harlem enrolled in enrichment activities, 80% of them participating in multiple semesters, and $80,000 in scholarships, grants, and private donations secured for students. Since Urban Enrichment is such a new non-profit, they only have a posting for a single unpaid Program Coordinator Intern on Idealist, but I expect a lot of growth and more internships in the near future. If you want to get in with an exciting startup non-profit, there’s no better way to start than an internship.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What was your favorite after school activity?

Symphony Space

Willy Franzen — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 13:40:16 +0000

There aren’t a lot of things that I can do for 12 hours straight. I’m not even sure that I can sleep that long anymore unless I’m sick or completely sleep deprived. Yet for some people it’s a tradition to participate in or attend free twelve-hour music marathons. It all started in 1978 when a group of New Yorkers came “together to create their own performing arts center.” It became a movement and a non-profit organization called Symphony Space, which has been “embraced by its cultured and educated neighbors and become the centerpiece of the Upper West Side Renaissance.” Cultural institutions like community theaters can have wonderful effects on neighborhoods and their residents, so it should be no surprise that Symphony Space is still going strong and garnering tons of support 32 years later.

Start on a High Note

There’s no way that I can describe what goes on at Symphony Space better than they do. Here’s how they put it on their History page:

A packed house listening intently as an actor conjures up the mood of a short story…the soulful notes of a jazz trumpet fading into the night…children laughing with glee at the antics of a master puppeteer…dancers creating rhythmic patterns across a darkened stage…high school students cheering one of their own as she accepts congratulations after a public reading of her work…images of cinematic brilliance flickering across a screen…families coming together to watch their kids rock out…this is Symphony Space today.

If that’s the kind of stuff that you get excited about—excited enough to sit and watch for 12 hours—then you should probably consider an internship at Symphony Space. They list positions both on their Employment page and on Idealist. Internships at Symphony Space are available in their Literary Department, Marketing, Development, Artistic Directing, Accounting, Theatre Booking/Film, Education, Business Administration, Audio Editing, Peforming Arts, Social Media, and Artistic Administration. All of the positions are paid a small stipend, and you can apply by contacting Jenny Clarke, Internship Program Consultant, at jenny.clarke@symphonyspace.org

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Have you ever been to Symphony Space?

Daughters of the American Revolution

Willy Franzen — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 14:48:38 +0000

Happy Independence Day! (And Happy Birthday Mom!) Today we’re celebrating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Though I’m sure you’re showing your patriotism, chances are that your celebration includes some combination of barbecuing, beach, beer, baseball, and blowing stuff up. The Daughters of the American Revolution take the Fourth of July a little more seriously. They’re a “non-profit, non-political volunteer women’s service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America’s future through better education for children.” They restrict membership to women “who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution,” so they also happen to be “one of the most inclusive genealogical societies in the country” with 165,000 members. I’ve seen the DAR march in my town’s Memorial Day parade, but their work goes far beyond making public appearances.

Are You a Daughter of the American Revolution?

The Daughters of the American Revolution is responsible for a ton of volunteer work. They put a big focus on historic preservation, which means that they contribute a lot of money to both the building and restoration of commemoratives and memorials. There’s also a huge focus on patriotic public outreach by doing things like publishing a manual on citizenship, participating in naturalization ceremonies, providing flags and flag codes to organizations and schools, offering services to veterans, and granting patriotic awards like DAR Good Citizenship Medals and the DAR Medal of Honor. The DAR also puts a huge emphasis on promoting and supporting education, while also spending a significant time on genealogy. If you’re impressed by the DAR and want to be a part, you might have to check your bloodlines (and presumably your gender); however, if you want another way in, you could check out internships at Daughters of the American Revolution. Right now they’re looking for an unpaid Development Intern. The position has a more detailed description on the DAR Jobs page.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

How are you celebrating the Fourth?

Enterprise Community Partners

Willy Franzen — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 16:41:32 +0000

Chances are that housing is and will be your biggest expense for most of your life. It’s one of our most basic needs, so it makes sense that we spend a lot on it. Unfortunately, housing markets don’t react quickly to changes in demand, so we often have situations where housing becomes unaffordable for many who wish to live in an area. This may be ok when it’s some posh area of town, but what about when people who have lived and worked in area for years can no longer keep up with the real estate prices? Enterprise Community Partners is a Columbia, MD based non-profit that addresses these problems by creating “opportunity for low- and moderate-income people through fit, affordable housing and diverse, thriving communities.” They want to help people living in poverty “move up and out,” and they do this by helping to develop “a diverse mix of affordable and market housing options, access to jobs and social supports, and a strong commitment to the environment and civic participation.”

Join the Enterprise Community

Enterprise Community Partners has been doing their work for more than 25 years, and their site is full of information on what they do and how they do it. You can read about their Programs, Policy Work, Financial Products, and Local Work. They also offer a ton of Information Resources so that you can learn more about the organization and its work. Since 1982 they’ve helped to “develop over 240,000 affordable homes and invest over $9 billion throughout the United States,” so they’re operating on a scale that few other non-profits are. Once you’ve had a chance to check out the links above, you should take a look at internships at Enterprise Community Partners. They have a few opportunities, all of which appear to be paid. These include positions like Communications Intern, Foreclosure Intern (Washington, DC), and Research Intern (Los Angeles, CA). Take a look at them and see which make the most sense for you.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you know about Enterprise Community Partners?

National League of Cities

Willy Franzen — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 13:44:29 +0000

I never thought that I’d live in a major city, yet somehow I ended up in downtown Chicago. It may not be near any trout streams, and an occasional gang fight might break out while I’m playing volleyball at the beach, but I’m actually enjoying Chicago. Cities are filled with opportunities, and with so many opportunities come quite a few challenges. Cities can attack those challenges on their own, but often it’s better if they work together. That’s why the National League of Cities exists (I wonder if there’s an American League of Cities…). They are “the country’s oldest, largest and most represented organization serving municipal governments.” They’re based in Washington, DC and they work to represent their members in a number of ways including “advocating for cities and towns, promoting cities and towns, providing programs and services, keeping leaders informed, strengthening leadership skills, recognizing municipal achievements, partnering with state leagues, and providing opportunities for involvement and networking.” It makes sense that our cities should be working together, and the National League of Cities facilitates that cooperation.

Enjoy City Life

National League of Cities’ website doesn’t seem to have a ton of basic information on the organization, but according to Wikipedia they are “a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns, and villages and represents more than 218 million Americans, including 49 state municipal leagues.” They do this with six centers: Research and Innovation; Federal Relations; Public Affairs and Member Relations; Enterprise Programs; Conferences, Education and Training; and the Institute for Youth, Education and Families. That means that they have all kinds of interesting work. If you want to get involved, you should check out the internships at National League of Cities. Right now they have two positions posted Childhood Obesity Intern (unpaid) and Immigrant Integration Intern (paid). Give the positions a look, and consider applying. Our cities can use your help.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What city do you live in?

EarthShare

Willy Franzen — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 15:21:25 +0000

I remember selling wrapping paper at my Dad’s office to support my elementary school. I’m sure his employees felt pressured to buy from me so I could win some stupid prize. What a terrible way to raise funds for a school or non-profit—it’s such an intrusion. But what if there was a great way to give money to great causes while at work that wasn’t quite so pushy? There is, and it’s called EarthShare. They’re a Bethesda, MD based non-profit that helps other environmental conservation focused non-profits raise money. They do this by giving employees (at any company that participates) the choice to have funds automatically deducted from their paychecks and donated to either specific member charities or a general EarthShare fund that is distributed amongst all of EarthShare’s member charities.

Do Your Share

In my opinion fundraising is a huge distraction for all non-profits (except maybe for EarthShare). Their number one priority should be focusing on achieving their mission, not getting more money to support their mission. EarthShare takes some of the fundraising burden off of their member charities through their payroll integration. Being an EarthShare member organization has some pretty serious benefits, which is why they have extremely strict eligibility criteria. If you’re interested in working at a non-profit that is focused on taking an innovative approach to fundraising and supporting other organizations that protect our environment, then you need to check out EarthShare’s internships on Idealist. Right now they’re looking for an unpaid Environmental Non-Profit Outreach Intern. It looks like a pretty cool opportunity, so check it out.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Would you donate through EarthShare?

ARKive

Willy Franzen — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 14:44:30 +0000

I’m up in Michigan for my annual Father’s Day fly fishing trip. The town that I stay in is called Grayling, which is named after a fish. Unfortunately, it’s a fish that I’ll never catch here, because it’s extinct—at least the Michigan population is. Back in the 1800s the entire state of Michigan was logged, and apparently the value of the wood harvested from Michigan during the Gold Rush was $1 billion greater than the gold found in California during the same time. That had some serious environmental consequences, and one of those was the extinction of the Michigan Grayling. The introduction of trout to many of Michigan’s rivers didn’t help either, as they outcompeted the grayling for food. Luckily, we still have populations of grayling in Montana, Alaska, and much of Canada. They’re not completely lost, but there are plenty of species that we’ll never get to see. ARKive is changing it. Not only are they fighting to prevent many species from going extinct, but they’re also documenting the world’s most endangered species so even if they are extirpated, they’ll never be completely lost. ARKive is an initiative of Wildscreen, a UK based organization with an American arm located in Washington, DC.

Get on the ARKive

Beyond having an extremely clever name, ARKive also has an insanely cool website. You can access all kinds of information and media related to species on the brink. For instance, you can take a look at the Kirtland’s Warbler, a bird species that also happens to be native to the Grayling, MI area. You can see everything from pictures to a list of threats to the species. It’s an amazing educational tool that will not only preserve species historically even if they don’t make it, but will also help build support to fight the root causes behind species extinction. ARKive has put together a fascinating resource, and you should really spend some time checking it out. If you really like what you see, you may want to start thinking about an internship with ARKive. Right now they’re looking for an unpaid Environmental Education and Outreach Intern. The position is posted on Idealist, and the description tells you how to apply.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What’s your favorite endangered species?

Bridging Nations

Willy Franzen — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 15:37:53 +0000

International relations is becoming more and more important. There is just too much to gain from cooperation across borders for us not to put a lot of effort in developing international relationships. That’s why Bridging Nations exists. They’re a Washington, DC based non-profit organization that uses education to build bridges between nations through education. Their target audience is “leaders in government, business, and the non-profit sector,” and the organization’s message is focused on “promoting an informed, multifaceted forum of exchange.” The end goal is to promote policies that create mutual benefit for people across nations. By bringing together economics, leadership, and technology, Bridging Nations thinks that they can build relationships that will make everyone better off.

Can You Build a Bridge?

Bridging Nations pursues their mission by focusing on four key program areas: India-China-US Relations, Energy Technology and Policy, Education and Innovation, and Leadership and Governance. I find the first two more interesting, because they’re topics that are easier to nail down and focus on than the latter two. Overall, I think that Bridging Nations could do a little better on their messaging because it’s hard to get a good read on what exactly they do. With that said, I know there are plenty of you out there who are interested in international relations, so hopefully you can take a closer look at Bridging Nations and report back with your take on them. Maybe you’ll even do at as an intern since they’re currently looking for unpaid Fall Interns in Marketing and Outreach, Energy Education and Research, International Relations, and Graphic Design. The internship descriptions don’t shed much more light on the organization, but they do look like great opportunities.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you know about Bridging Nations?

German Marshall Fund of the United States

Willy Franzen — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 15:49:53 +0000

Time for a little Sunday morning history lesson. Who remembers the Marshall Plan from history class? It was a plan for rebuilding Western Europe after World War II that was named for Secretary of State George Marshall. In the four years that the plan was active, the U.S. gave $13 billion in aid to a number of European countries. You can get the full rundown on Wikipedia, but those are the basics. This may have been a goodwill gesture, but it was also self-serving. By financing much of Europe’s reconstruction, the US was able to influence the direction that these European governments were taking. That’s important when you’ve just fought a war to oust fascists who were able to gain control due to a power vacuum created by an insufficient resolution to a previous war. Of course, the Marshall Plan didn’t prevent the Cold War, but it did create a much more favorable situation for the U.S. It also helped Germany recover more quickly, and for that they thanked us with the German Marshall Fund of the United States, “a gift from Germany as a permanent memorial to Marshall Plan assistance.” It was a gift of of DM 150 million, and it now lives on as a Washington, DC based non-profit organization that “is dedicated to the promotion of greater understanding and common action between Europe and the United States.”

An International Gift

The German Marshall Fund of the United States now exists as “an independent American public policy and grantmaking institution,” but they continue to work on “the most pressing transatlantic issues, both inside and outside Europe’s changing borders.” Beyond their office in Washington, DC, they also have locations in Berlin, Bratislava, Paris, Brussels, Belgrade, Ankara, Bucharest, Turn, and Stockholm. To get a feel for the kind of work that the GMF does, you can take a look at their Policy Initiatives, their Fellowships, their Experts, and their Grantmaking. If you’re interested in foreign policy, then it’d be hard to find a more interesting place to intern than the German Marshall Fund of the United States. You can check out their Internships page, and take a look at the one unpaid internship that they offer—Partnerships Intern. You can apply by sending a cover letter, references, and current resume to hr@gmfus.org.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Grassroot Soccer

Willy Franzen — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 16:00:57 +0000

Now that we’re done celebrating a hockey victory here in Chicago, it’s time for World Cup fever. I’ve never been a huge fan of soccer—probably because it’s not the most suitable sport for someone who was both chubby and asthmatic growing up—but even I can get into the World Cup. If there’s any sport that bridges all cultures, it has to be soccer. And that means that it’s particularly well suited to international non-profit work. That explains Grassroot Soccer, a Norwich, VT based non-profit that was started by former professional soccer players to help fight HIV in Africa. They do this by training “African soccer stars, coaches, teachers, and peer educators in the world’s most HIV-affected countries to deliver an interactive HIV prevention and life skills curriculum to youth.” They’re especially focused on using the excitement surrounding the 2010 World Cup to increase engagement with their programs.

Kick HIV’s Butt

I actually spent some time on the phone with Grassroot Soccer’s Founder Tommy Clark last year, and learned about how the organization has grown since it started as an idea. Since you probably can’t do that, you should check out this wonderful video that Grassroot Soccer has put together.

Grassroot Soccer has been so successful because they’ve connected two seemingly unrelated things. By taking the excitement around soccer in Africa to bring attention to the plight caused by HIV, they’ve built an organization that is extremely capable of achieving their mission of education and development. If Grassroot Soccer sounds like something that you want to be involved with, then check out their Join the Team page and their Internships page. These internships are a little different, as they’re based in Africa and require a ton of dedication. You can find all of the info on the Internships page and the Internship FAQ. The positions are unpaid, and require fundraising. There’s no info on any office internships in Vermont, but I bet there might be some opportunities there too.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Sunlight Foundation

Willy Franzen — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 15:27:25 +0000

I’m not on a government transparency kick or anything, although I’m not one to to put much trust in those who govern. It just happens that both non-profits that I’m looking at this weekend are focused on helping the public be better informed about what their leaders are actually doing. Today we’re going to look at the Washington, DC based Sunlight Foundation, which is an organization that “uses cutting-edge technology and ideas to make government transparent and accountable.” It used to be that the major media outlets controlled most of the information that flowed out of our government. Sometimes they’d do a good job of reporting, but they need to maintain relationships with government officials if they want the stories to keep coming. Now we live with technology that allows anyone to reach a massive audience. It’s slowly changing the way that government works, and the Sunlight Foundation is pushing to make that happen more quickly.

Where the Sun Does Shine

The Sunlight Foundation is based upon “a fundamental belief that increased transparency will improve the public’s confidence in government.” Considering the level of confidence that most of us have in our government these days, there really isn’t anywhere to go but up. Just like Project Vote Smart, Sunlight Foundation is completely non-partisan. Their goal is transparency, and no other agenda. Here’s what they consider themselves:

A think-tank that develops and encourages new policies inside the government to make it more open and transparent.

A campaign to engage citizens in demanding the policies that will open government and hold their elected officials accountable for being transparent.

An investigative organization that uses the data we uncover to demonstrate why we need new policies that free government data.

A grant-giving institution that provides resources to organizations using technology to further our mission and create community

An open source technology community that revolves around the Sunlight Foundation’s core mission

They clearly do a lot, which means that the Sunlight Foundation could be a really exciting place to work. They don’t seem to have a Jobs or Internships page, but they do list some positions on Idealist. Right now there’s one internship posted: a paid Researching/Reporting Internship. Check it out and see if the Sunlight Foundation might be a good fit for you.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you know about the Sunlight Foundation?

Project Vote Smart

Willy Franzen — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 15:55:19 +0000

We’re in an election year, and it’s a key one (is it ever not?). If you’re not already sick of political ads, you better get ready to be bombarded with misinformation. Politicians spend a huge amount of money trying to convince you that they’ll fix all of our society’s problems (and that their opponents are evil and hate children—seriously I saw an ad in Illinois that said that), yet the facts about every politician are out there and easy to find. A big part of the reason why is Project Vote Smart, a non-profit organization based on a ranch in Philipsburg, Montana. According to Wikipedia Project Vote Smart was founded in 1992 by “40 national leaders, including Barry Goldwater, John McCain, former U.S. Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter.” PVS calls itself “The Voter’s Self-Defense System,” as it operates with the goal of collecting and distributing information about U.S. political candidates in a non-partisan way. They want voters to be able to make informed decisions based on personal values, regardless of what they may be, not political hyperbole.

Are You Smart Enough?

It’s hard to believe that an organization started by politicians is actually non-political, but it is. PVS only takes money from individual contributors and non-political foundations, and they only allow board members to join if they join with a political opposite. Project Vote Smart is all about preserving Democracy and ensuring that we the people are well enough informed to vote in a way that actually aligns with our beliefs. The best way to learn more about PVS is to watch the video embedded below. It’s a little long, and looks a bit outdated, but the content will tell you all of the basic information that you need to know about the organization.

If you like what you saw in the video, then you should check out internships at Project Vote Smart. The positions are unpaid, but you’ll get to live on their Montana ranch/research center, which is surrounded by wilderness, elk, moose, and lots of outdoor opportunities. There are also internship opportunities in their Tuscon, AZ office. They provide a ton of information on their Internships page, so you can get all of the details there.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Social Science Research Council

Willy Franzen — Sun, 30 May 2010 17:03:28 +0000

Since college I’ve been fascinated by social sciences. Before then I didn’t realize that you could apply the scientific method to gain more understanding about nearly any topic in the world. Now that I spend lots of my time focused on things like marketing, career development, and writing, I know how important it can be to base your actions on research or the results of experiments. Obviously, social science goes far beyond those areas, and can have huge positive effects on many of the problems that are facing our world. That’s why the Brooklyn, NY based Social Science Research Council exists. Their mission is “to lead innovation in the social sciences, build interdisciplinary and international networks, mobilize knowledge on important public issues, and educate and train the next generation of social science researchers.” By supporting the field of social science, the SSRC helps all kinds of decision-makers make better informed choices about pressing issues.

Research the SSRC

There are thousands of non-profits that deal head-on with the challenges facing our society, but the SSRC isn’t one of them. The SSRC provides the academic foundation for other non-profits to take actions and do more effective work. As the SSRC About page puts it:

The SSRC is guided by the belief that justice, prosperity, and democracy all require better understanding of complex social, cultural, economic, and political processes. We are committed to the idea that social science can produce necessary knowledge—necessary for citizens to understand their societies and necessary for policy makers to decide on crucial questions.

The SSRC supports social science in a variety of ways including programs, fellowships, publications, and grants. If you’re also fascinated by social science, then you should check out internships at Social Science Research Council. They have a number of unpaid opportunities posted including: Communications Intern, Religion and the Public Sphere Program Intern, and Web Production and Communications Summer Intern. Check out the descriptions for more info on how to apply.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you know about the Social Science Research Council?

Achievement First

Willy Franzen — Sat, 29 May 2010 16:21:50 +0000

I have a good friend from Cornell who has been working in the world of education since he graduated with me in 2006. He often sends me recommendations of companies that I should feature, and I’ve actually covered quite a few of them. Earlier this week he sent me a note about Achievement First, a New Haven, CT based non-profit organization that manages charter schools across Connecticut and New York. (Sidenote: Having a friend like mine who is super-connected and aware in a particular industry or area can be huge for your job search.) Achievement First got its start in 1998 when a group of founders got together with the goal of creating a public charter school. They succeeded, and the result was Amistad Academy—and it’s been an amazing result. Over the past 7 years, Amistad Academy students have beat state averages in reading and math on the Connecticut Mastery Tests. In 2003 they built on this success by making Achievement First a separate entity to take the lessons learned from Amistad Academy and spread them throughout the region. Since then Achievement First “has grown into a network that includes 17 academies under nine charters in four cities.”

What Can You Achieve?

The success of Achievement First’s schools has proven that “demographics aren’t destiny.” Urban students can achieve at the same levels as affluent suburban students given the right environment. Achievement First is all about providing these environments. I think that the results speak for themselves. If you’re passionate about education and want to be a part of what Achievement First is doing, then you need to check out their Jobs and Internships page. Right now they’re looking for IT Summer Interns in both New York and Connecticut. Additionally they have a Summer Teaching Fellows Program; however, the deadline for that has passed, so you’ll need to think about it for next year. I’m surprised there isn’t any information on other types of internships, but there’s nothing stopping you from inquiring about those possibilities.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you think of Achievement First?

Echoing Green

Willy Franzen — Sun, 23 May 2010 16:08:12 +0000

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One development that I’ve become more and more aware of since I graduated college is that of social entrepreneurship. The startup culture doesn’t apply solely to for-profit ventures. The tough thing about starting your own non-profit is getting money to run the organization. Early stage businesses can either grow organically by selling products or get investment at the cost of a portion of future revenues. Early stage non-profits don’t have as many options because most donors only want to give money to established non-profits that have a track record of doing good things with the money. That’s where New York City based Echoing Green steps in. They invest in and support “outstanding emerging social entrepreneurs to launch new organizations that deliver bold, high-impact solutions.” Since Echoing Green is already an established non-profit, they’re able to raise money to support upstarts that already have top notch founders and world changing missions, but not much else.

ECHO!

Echoing Green works through a Fellowship Program where they award 12-15 two-year fellowships every year to social entrepreneurs. The fellowships come with up to $90,000 in funding along with consulting support, a network of experienced social entrepreneurs, and an air of legitimacy that most non-profits have to fight for years to get. The video below will give you a little more information about the program.

Obviously, one option beyond seeking out an internship is to start working towards applying for an Echoing Green fellowship. If you have a big idea and the will to make it happen, then go after it. If you’re not quite ready for that kind of undertaking, you should check out internships at Echoing Green. Although the internships page says that there’s nothing available right now, I was able to find an Idealist posting for a paid Development and Fundraising Intern. The application deadline is May 30th, so you still have some time. And if that doesn’t work for you, there is an e-mail address that you can send cover letters and résumés to regardless of what’s posted: Jackie@echoinggreen.org.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you know about Echoing Green?

Americans for Informed Democracy

Willy Franzen — Sat, 22 May 2010 14:35:45 +0000

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Despite the fact that college is a time for absorbing information and learning new things, I often hear students claim that they “live in a bubble.” They feel separated from the real world and often don’t keep up on what’s happening in the news. I think that the growth of the Internet and social media sites like Facebook and Twitter has helped to change this (even since I was in college a few years ago), but the truth is that most of our nation’s young people are woefully uninformed on important issues facing the world. Americans for Informed Democracy is a Washington, DC based non-profit that is trying to change that. They empower “young people in the United States to address global challenges such as poverty, disease, climate change, and conflict through awareness and action” by promoting “just and sustainable solutions at the campus, community, and national level.”

Inform Them of Your Interest

Americans for Informed Democracy was founded after 9/11 by students who were surprised by the “intense sympathy and solidarity” that they received while studying abroad. This showed them the “possibility for a global community of shared values,” and they responded by creating AID to spread awareness about how people of the world can work together to solve some of the big problems that we face. AID is very much a youth focused and youth run organization, so there are some great opportunities for entry level jobs. Their Internships page includes internships in Global Development and Global Health along with a couple of Fellowships. Additionally, there’s a paid Outreach and Communications Guru internship posted on Idealist. If you share AID’s ideals, then get informed about them, and then apply.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you know about Americans for Informed Democracy?