Development & Communications Internship

Kenneth Young Center is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit dedicated to providing comprehensive outpatient behavioral health services to individuals of all walks of life. Located in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago, we offer a wide range of services including outpatient therapeutic care, recovery-oriented support, community prevention, LGBTQ+ outreach, older adult services, and crisis intervention. Our team welcomes and celebrates unique perspectives and represents the diversity and vitality of our local communities. Join our team to grow in your career while building stronger, healthier communities.   

Internship Description:
The intern would develop social media content that highlights our programs, impact stories, events, and community partnerships. They will draft short‑form copy for posts, emails, and newsletters aligned with our brand voice and fundraising priorities. The intern might prepare prospect research profiles for potential and identified individual, corporate, and foundation donors, then record pertinent information in the Raiser’s Edge database.

Responsibilities:

• Create social media content that highlights programs, impact stories, events, and community partnerships.
• Write short‑form copy for posts, emails, and newsletters that aligns with the organization’s brand voice and fundraising priorities
•  Support fundraising efforts by conducting prospect identification and research
•  Build profiles and gather information on potential individual, corporate, and foundation donors. 
• Other duties as assigned

Time Frame: One semester (Spring, Summer, Fall available) Interns will work 4-10hours/week. Opportunities for flexible start dates, multiple semesters, or additional works are open for discussion.

Skill Development: The intern will gain hands‑on experience in nonprofit communications, digital content strategy, and donor prospect research. They will strengthen persuasive writing skills tailored to mission‑driven storytelling and fundraising appeals. Through research assignments, they will learn how to analyze publicly available information, assess philanthropic capacity, and synthesize findings into actionable insights. Additionally, they will build professional skills in remote collaboration, project management, and strategic messaging.

Career Development: This internship prepares candidates for entry‑level roles such as Development Assistant, Communications Coordinator, Social Media Specialist, or Prospect Research Associate within nonprofit organizations, healthcare systems, or mission‑driven institutions. The experience is also relevant for roles in marketing, public relations, digital engagement, or advancement services in higher education and healthcare settings. Candidates pursuing careers in nonprofit management, public health communications, fundraising, or corporate social responsibility will find this experience particularly transferable.

For more information regarding this internship, please reach out to careers@kennethyoung.org
(Please note, this is an unpaid internship.)