Programmatic Intern

Hybrid – Summer (full-time) 

Position Background: The Chesapeake Bay Trust (the Trust), a non-profit grantmaking organization, seeks a Programmatic Intern interested in gaining experience in the non-profit environmental sector.

Established in 1985, the Chesapeake Bay Trust uses grantmaking as a method to promote community-based participation in the restoration and protection of the natural resources of Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay region.  In the past fifteen years, the Trust has significantly increased its grant-making through new revenue from a wide range of partners, with current annual grant-making of approximately $25 million.  The Trust currently allocates these grant funds through 350-400 awards per year to entities who apply through open, competitive calls for proposals as well as programs such as the Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps. For more information, our grant-making opportunities and programs are located here: https://cbtrust.org/grants/.

Specific Responsibilities and Learning Opportunities:

• Duties at the Trust during the summer include a variety of administrative grant-related tasks supporting our portfolio of community engagement projects, K-12 environmental education, and on-the-ground watershed and habitat restoration that support climate resiliency and public health.
• Duties at the Trust during the summer months may also include field work to assess proposed and completed restoration projects.
• The selected intern will be expected to complete an independent project of the student’s choosing related to watershed, restoration, or forestry issues and aligned with the Trust’s mission. A possible independent project will focus on a data-based outreach strategy for our Urban Trees program. 
• Independent projects completed by interns in the past have been adapted for independent study credit through the student’s university with university and professor permission.
• Students gain a wide range of skills for their resumes beyond traditional environmental organization experience, including grant management and general experience with grant-making and grant-writing.  Students also gain knowledge of and experience with a subset of the 350 to 400 non-profits that we engage every year.
• Applicants must have reliable transportation and should be willing to work nights and weekends as needed.

Qualifications and Skills: Eligible applicants must be undergraduate or graduate students attending a two- or four-year college or university in Maryland with a GPA of 3.00 or higher. In addition, all undergraduate applicants must be entering or continuing their sophomore, junior, or senior year during the fall 2026 semester. Students of all majors are welcome to apply. We will also consider applicants with one or two years of comparable experience in a relevant field. Preference will be given to candidates with interest in urban and community forestry and data analysis, and strong organizational and communication skills. Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite of programs is necessary.

Compensation: The participating intern will work full time during the summer (June through August) at a rate of $15 per hour.

Application Instructions and Deadline: The position will remain open until filled.  Please submit your resume and cover letter. In your cover letter, please address your ability, based on your skills and experience, to accomplish the specific duties of the position as outlined above. Your cover letter is the most important piece of your application. We recognize that the skills needed in this position may be gained from a variety of personal, education, employment, and volunteer experiences. Please do not simply list your previous experience. Your cover letter should describe what makes you a strong match specifically for this position, and why this position is a match for you.

The Chesapeake Bay Trust provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.  Our values guide us to create a workplace where everyone is respected and valued. The Trust strives to recruit, retain, and promote employees that reflect the communities we engage in our work Applicants must have a residential address in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, or Washington D.C and must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. The Trust does not participate in programs that require sponsorship for work visas.

Our accessibility statement is available on our website at Accessibility Statement - Chesapeake Bay Trust