How to Set Up Your Organization For Success With a Robust Internship Program
In the development sector, one of the most underutilized yet abundant resources is youth, young, energetic, and motivated individuals hoping to gain experience, contribute to a cause, and grow their skills. We all know that interns and volunteers enable the organization to save resources and grow their network, but when given the right structure and support, youth have so much more value. They can be a longstanding and an incredible force for good inside your organization.
We’ve seen this firsthand through our collaborations with organizations like PEPY Empowering Youth and The Harvest Project in Cambodia. In both cases youth-led initiatives and intern contributions not only supported project delivery but also added fresh energy, new ideas, and long-term value. If you’re wondering how to build or improve an intern program within your nonprofit, here are six simple but effective practices that lead to significant results.
1. Have a Structured Outreach and Onboarding Plan
Internships and volunteer positions should come with a sense of importance and value. It is crucial for your team and the young people joining as interns to treat the position as a significant role in the organization from the beginning.
Tip: Work with your hiring team to develop hiring processes for volunteers and interns that 1) evaluate the candidate’s cultural fit to the organization and skill level, and 2) provide the candidate clarity on the role and your expectations, just like you would a paid staff member.
2. Align Internships with Clear, Meaningful Goals
Too often, internships default to miscellaneous admin tasks or “helping out wherever needed.” While flexibility is important, young people thrive when they understand how their work fits into the bigger picture.
Start by clearly defining a role that aligns with your organization’s needs and your intern’s interests. Whether it’s managing a social media calendar, supporting outreach during a campaign, or assisting with event planning, giving interns a specific focus fosters confidence and accountability.
Tip: During onboarding, ask interns about their professional goals and tailor projects that align closely with their passions and career aspirations.
3. Provide Structured Mentorship and Capacity Building
Internships should be more than free labor—they are an opportunity to invest in future leaders. Structured mentorship, regular feedback, and basic training go a long way in building their confidence and skill.
A great approach is pairing each intern with a staff member for weekly check-ins. These sessions might involve reviewing tasks, answering questions, or sharing insights about the nonprofit sector, creating mutual benefits for both interns and mentors.
Tip: Consider rotating short weekly skill-shares between interns and staff—everyone has something valuable to teach and learn
4. Foster Ownership and Empowerment
When youth feel trusted to lead, they rise to the occasion. Give interns ownership over a project or campaign—something they can plan, execute, and reflect on from start to finish.
For example, at The Harvest Project, youth interns took the lead on coordinating community surveys, directly shaping future program decisions. Not only did this responsibility embolden interns, but it also significantly improved the quality and authenticity of the project outcomes.
Tip: Always recognize and celebrate intern successes publicly! This builds confidence and acknowledges their valuable contributions.
5. Use Interns as Fresh Eyes and Ears
Compared to incumbent team members, interns can offer insights into younger audience interests and trending topics. Invite them to provide honest feedback on what’s working for your outreach strategies and team building and what could use improvement.
From reviewing your social media presence to assessing your onboarding processes, youth often see possibilities established teams might overlook.
Tip: Hold regular reflection sessions, inviting interns to share candid ideas. This ensures their voices are heard and respected.
6. Create Opportunities for Lasting Connections
The impact of a well-structured internship program should extend far beyond its completion. Provide your interns with tangible outcomes, such as LinkedIn recommendations, testimonials, or portfolio pieces they can leverage in their future careers.
Additionally, establish an alumni network to keep former interns connected, informed, and engaged. These lasting relationships can transform former interns into ongoing advocates and supporters of your mission.
Tip: A personalized thank-you note or recommendation highlighting their unique strengths can create meaningful, long-term connections.
Final Thoughts
Your interns represent potential future leaders and passionate advocates for your organization. With structured roles, consistent mentorship, and empowerment, youth can bring fresh perspectives, innovative solutions, and a contagious enthusiasm to your team.
At Collab with Kat, we deeply value youth engagement and believe in fostering growth and learning at every opportunity. If you’re interested in creating a strong internship program or better engaging young volunteers, we are here to help.
📩 Reach out anytime— we’d love to work together!
Sources
- Read this article from Indeed to learn how to hire the right intern for your organization
- Read Sparkhire’s Essential Questions to Ask to Hire the Best Intern for your organization
- This Forbes article is a great resource that outlines 14 Strategies for Creating an Effective Nonprofit Internship Program
- If you want help encouraging your team to prioritize an internship program, use this article from the Patterson Foundation that outlines internship benefits for the youth and the organization