The Cleveland Foundation Summer Internship Program gives local college students and recent grads an opportunity to work with Greater Cleveland nonprofit and public sector organizations during an 11-week paid summer internship.
All internships are full-time experiences, paid at a rate of $18 per hour.
2025 summer interns will be placed at:
Arts Impact, Inc. – Arts Impact Incorporated is a Cleveland-based organization dedicated to integrating arts into education to foster social and emotional learning. Their primary work includes delivering arts-based STEAM residencies, intensive hands-on learning programs, and out-of-school enrichment initiatives, primarily collaborating with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and other partners. The intern’s project will involve assisting with data compilation, analysis, and presentation for Impact Reports, contributing to program evaluation and the organization’s transition to a cloud-based Salesforce platform, and helping ensure data-driven insights are effectively communicated to stakeholders.
The Buckeye Flame – The Buckeye Flame is Ohio’s LGBTQ+ newsroom, dedicated to amplifying LGBTQ+ voices through compelling storytelling to foster community and civic empowerment. The summer intern will focus on article writing, social media content creation, and engaging in the daily operations of this award-winning newsroom. This primarily in-person role offers hands-on experience with writing impactful stories, enhancing interview skills, and building a robust portfolio.
Canalway Partners – Canalway Partners is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area through community collaboration, education and events. The summer intern will support the development of a communications plan for the Ohio & Erie Canal bicentennial, including historic research, content creation and event planning. This primarily in-person role offers experience in strategic communications, digital storytelling and cultural heritage promotion.
Center for Community Solutions (AIDS Funding Collaborative)– The AIDS Funding Collaborative (AFC), housed within the Center for Community Solutions, strengthens Cuyahoga County’s response to HIV/AIDS through advocacy, funding and community coordination. The summer intern will assist in assessing HIV-prevention resources, compiling service landscape data, and communicating findings through reports, articles, and social media. This hybrid role also involves engaging stakeholders and contributing to strategies to support the local HIV services ecosystem.
The City Club of Cleveland – The City Club of Cleveland is a historic non-partisan free speech forum that fosters civil discourse through programs and engaging leaders and the community through open dialogue. An intern at the City Club will assist with event planning, finalize the Youth Forum Council handbook, and develop resources like a speaker map while gaining hands-on experience in nonprofit operations. This role also offers professional development opportunities, including networking with community leaders, public speaking, and exposure to civic engagement initiatives.
Cuyahoga Arts and Culture – Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC) is a public agency that invests in arts and culture to inspire and strengthen the community, funded by a dedicated tax levy. The summer intern will assist the grantmaking team, create digital and written content for communication platforms, and help connect residents to arts events through ClevelandArtsEvents.com. This hybrid role fosters skills in marketing, project management, and community engagement.
Esperanza, Inc. – Esperanza, Inc. empowers Hispanic/Latinx communities in Northeast Ohio through education and family support services, offering mentoring, scholarships, and workforce development programs. The intern will support planning for the 2025-2026 academic year, evaluate feedback to improve programs, and assist with orientation events for post-secondary students. This hybrid role provides experience in program development, event coordination and community engagement.
Geauga Growth Partnership – Geauga Growth Partnership works to enhance the economic vitality of Geauga County through strategic community initiatives. The intern will focus on researching and developing reliable transportation solutions to improve workforce mobility, collaborating with stakeholders and advocating for funding and policy changes. This role offers valuable experience in project coordination, policy advocacy, and community development.
Julia de Burgos Cultural Arts Center – The Julia de Burgos Cultural Arts Center (JDBCAC) is Northeast Ohio’s longest-standing Latino arts organization, dedicated to preserving and promoting Latino heritage through visual, performing and literary arts. The summer intern will assist with creating a public database for Latino artists, planning and implementing summer programming, and organizing outreach for the Hispanic Heritage Month event. This hybrid internship offers experience in community engagement, event planning and cultural storytelling.
Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry – Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry (LMM) focuses on addressing systemic injustices and providing solutions in areas like housing, workforce development and advocacy. The intern will support the Advocacy Department, assisting with legislative research, community engagement, and event planning for initiatives like Fair Chance housing and voter education. This hybrid role offers hands-on experience in advocacy, database management, and civic engagement.
Mental Health and Addiction Advocacy Coalition – The Mental Health & Addiction Advocacy Coalition (MHAC) promotes education and advocates for policies supporting mental health and addiction services across Ohio. The summer intern will assist with the Regional Behavioral Health Workforce Coalitions by researching higher education programs, building a career pathways tool, and supporting coalition activities. This hybrid role offers experience in workforce development, public advocacy, and community collaboration.
Morgan Art of Paper Making Conservatory and Educational Foundation – The Morgan Conservatory is the largest U.S. arts center dedicated to papermaking, book arts, and letterpress printing, offering workshops, exhibitions, and artist residencies. The summer intern will organize and catalog the Conservatory’s artist archives and create a resource manual for its papermaking and printing equipment. This in-person role provides hands-on experience with archival practices, content creation, and project management in a nonprofit arts setting.
Organic Connects – Organic Connects is a nonprofit focused on engaging urban youth and families with nature through socio-environmental justice, recreation, and STREAM education. The summer intern will support two youth programs: MARE, involving hands-on environmental activities, and REIGN, focused on leadership and career development. This hybrid role offers experience in program coordination, curriculum development, and community outreach.
Pregnant with Possibilities Resource Center – Pregnant with Possibilities Resource Center (PPRC) provides culturally competent sexual health education, perinatal support, and life skills training to help individuals overcome barriers and achieve their goals. The organization is seeking a Data Analyst Intern for an 11-week summer program to collect, analyze, and visualize program data, track performance metrics, and generate insights to improve community impact. This role offers hands-on experience in nonprofit data analysis, strategic evaluation, and program effectiveness assessment while supporting PPRC’s mission to empower women and families.
Rainey Institute – Rainey Institute empowers Cleveland’s youth through arts education, fostering creativity, confidence, and community engagement. The summer intern will conduct a strategic market research project to create audience personas, support grant writing, and assist with donor relations and database management. This in-person role provides hands-on experience in nonprofit development, market research, and strategic communications.
SEEDS of Literacy – Seeds of Literacy is a nonprofit organization committed to empowering adults through free, personalized education, offering one-to-one tutoring to help students improve literacy, obtain high school equivalency, and achieve career goals. With classrooms on Cleveland’s east and west sides, as well as a Virtual Classroom, Seeds serves over 1,600 students annually, ensuring accessible and flexible learning opportunities. An intern at Seeds of Literacy will gain firsthand experience in nonprofit operations, supporting the organization’s mission while developing professional skills in research, communication, and organizational development.
Spanish American Committee for a Better Community – The Spanish American Committee has been supporting Cleveland’s Hispanic community since 1966, offering services in family support, housing, workforce development, and adult education. The summer intern will conduct a gap analysis of workforce client processes, collect community feedback, and develop action plans and standard operating procedures. This in-person role provides experience in program development, data analysis, and community engagement.
The Music Settlement – The Music Settlement, a historic community arts organization, provides accessible music education, therapy, and outreach to diverse populations across Northeast Ohio. The summer intern will support marketing and social media efforts, including content creation, graphic design, and event promotion. This primarily in-person role offers experience in digital marketing, branding, and project management within a dynamic nonprofit arts environment.
Village of Healing – Village of Healing, a Black-led nonprofit, addresses racial disparities in healthcare through culturally sensitive and holistic care. The summer intern will assist with program evaluation, marketing, and donor outreach by collecting feedback, creating social media content, and supporting fundraising efforts. This in-person role offers experience in community engagement, nonprofit development, and health equity advocacy.
Western Reserve Land Conservancy – The Cleveland Tree Coalition (CTC), coordinated by the Western Reserve Land Conservancy, works to restore Cleveland’s urban tree canopy, focusing on education, implementation, policy, and workforce development. The summer intern will conduct tree inventory, analyze qualitative and quantitative data, and create compelling case studies showcasing CTC’s impact. This in-person role offers experience in environmental sustainability, data analysis, and coalition collaboration.
