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 $17 per hour.
2024 summer interns will be placed at:
The Buckeye Flame – The Buckeye Flame stands as Ohio’s LGBTQ+ newsroom. Its mission is to amplify the voices of LGBTQ+ Ohioans to support community and civic empowerment through the creation of engaging content that chronicles our triumphs, struggles and lived experiences. This internship will provide an opportunity to create content and be involved with every aspect of an award winning newsroom.
Burten, Bell, Carr Development, Inc. – Founded in 1990, BBC is a nonprofit community development corporation with a mission to empower citizens and revitalize communities. BBC has a wealth of neighborhood planning and engagement experience serving the Central, Kinsman and Greater Buckeye neighborhoods. An intern will be primarily responsible for property database management to support our neighborhood revitalization and programs and resident services.
City of Shaker Heights – The City of Shaker Heights has a national reputation for being an early, planned Garden City suburb and continues to be applauded for excellence in both planning and implementation. An intern would work predominantly within the Planning Department which plans for the city’s future by facilitating redevelopment, planning and implementing beautiful public spaces and world-class amenities, and supporting vibrant commercial areas and neighborhoods. It also administers the zoning code and provides support for planning studies on a wide variety of topics, including comprehensive/strategic planning, transit-oriented development, bicycle/pedestrian planning, traffic studies, public art, streetscape and parks.
Cleveland Leadership Center – Cleveland Leadership Center offers civic leadership development programs and opportunities across multiple ages and stages of life – from high school students to retirees. The organization’s needs during the summer focus on its next-generation programs, specifically Campus Cleveland and Summer Look Up To Cleveland and Reach Out To Cleveland. The intern will assist with planning and leadership training workshops with additional opportunities for research and relationship-building in Cleveland.
Cleveland Public Theatre, Inc. – The mission of Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) is to raise consciousness and nurture compassion through groundbreaking theatre and life-changing education programs. CPT’s internship is intended for an emerging professional seeking experience in nonprofit management within our thriving local arts & culture sector. Supported by CPT’s development team, the intern will gain well-guided practice in grant writing and fundraiser organization and would also support internal audit preparation.
Cleveland Rowing Foundation – Cleveland Rowing Foundation (CRF) is a cornerstone in redefining recreation within Greater Cleveland. Since its inception in 1989, CRF has spearheaded a range of rowing programs, catering to diverse age groups and skill levels, spanning high school, collegiate and adult participants. As a key advocate and steward for member organizations, CRF prioritizes democratizing access to rowing while enhancing its quality and reach. The internship will offer a dynamic and multifaceted experience for an intern interested in sports, nonprofit management, environmental stewardship, event coordination and marketing.
Cleveland VOTES – Cleveland VOTES is a nonpartisan democracy-building movement that works to reconstruct and strengthen power through active participation of our collective partners. Guided by a system of networks, we promote informed, action-oriented mobilization that shifts power towards Equitable Civic Engagement and Infrastructure. The intern will primarily work with the communications + narrative strategist along with other staff on educational campaigns and materials.
College Now Greater Cleveland, Inc. – The nation’s first college access organization, College Now was founded in 1967 as a scholarship program for Cleveland public school students. Today, College Now is Ohio’s largest and the region’s leading college access organization. The organization will work with an intern to tailor the experience to their strengths and interests while ensuring their engagement in comprehensive activities within the operations of the Resource Development department within a large nonprofit organization.
Diaper Bank of Greater Cleveland – The Diaper Bank of Greater Cleveland is a nonprofit organization that aims to provide diapers and essential personal care items to families in need, as a shortage of diapers can often lead to health issues for babies and toddlers. In addition to providing diapers, the diaper bank offers resources and educational materials to parents. The organization’s mission is to alleviate the financial burden of purchasing diapers and support the well-being and dignity of families. An intern will be primarily focused on capacity building and fundraising support.
DigitalC – DigitalC was established in 2015 in Cleveland’s historic Hough neighborhood and is poised to serve as more than just an internet service provider. Fueled by the same unyielding spirit that defines Cleveland, the organization is wholeheartedly dedicated to excelling in its mission to bridge the digital divide for Cleveland. Encompassing marketing, event planning and promotion, the internship will encompass bolstering the MidTown Tech Hive’s signature event series.
Encore Employment Enterprise, Inc. – Encore Employment Enterprise is a visionary organization committed to reshaping the narrative around aging and fostering a community that thrives on the wealth of experience brought by individuals aged 50 and above, known as “Encores.” With a mission to combat ageism and promote inclusivity, Encore Employment Enterprise envisions a collaborative intergenerational workforce where Encore’s unique skills are shared and valued. An intern will be responsible for moving forward a Local Business Partnership Development and Fundraising Plan.
Frontline Service – Established in 1988, FrontLine Service was founded to reach out to the growing number of men and women in Cuyahoga County who were experiencing homelessness and struggling with severe mental illness. Today, FrontLine Service is the primary agency that reaches out to those throughout Cuyahoga County who are homeless, adults and children who are struggling with mental health issues or thoughts of suicide, and families whose lives have been devastated by violence in their own homes or communities. An intern will work with the Development team to gain experience in fundraising, donor relations, events, communications and administration.
Manufacturing Works – For over 30 years, Manufacturing Works has served as trusted advisors helping manufacturers prosper and grow to build a more equitable economy. Through building trust and strong relationships, we have created a community of manufacturers and diverse solutions providers to create unique solutions that address the needs of manufacturers – specifically to support people, productivity and prosperity. The organization is seeking a dynamic and motivated individual to join their team as a creative content AI intern, playing a key part in exploring the intersection of creativity and artificial intelligence.
MedWorks – Medworks provides free medical, dental, vision and mental health services through mobile clinics in high-need neighborhoods throughout Northeast Ohio for patients of all ages. The organization engages more than 700 community and professional volunteers annually to deliver free state-of-the-art, accessible medical care to thousands of individuals annually. Medworks is seeking a summer intern to serve as a volunteer coordinator, to establish a structure around volunteer recruitment and retention, that staff can maintain moving forward.
Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation – Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation (OBCDC) was incorporated in 1975 and serves “to grow Old Brooklyn through empowered partnerships, leadership, programming and advocacy.” OBCDC is dedicated to improving the quality of life for those living and working in the Old Brooklyn neighborhood and is a recognized leader in addressing the social determinants of health through community development. An intern will be essential in building capacity for grant support related to organizational programming.
Shoes and Clothes for Kids, Inc. – For 54 years, Shoes and Clothes for Kids (SC4K) has provided kids in need in greater Cleveland with new shoes, clothes, and supplies to help them get to school and focus on learning. The organization’s mission is to improve K-8 school attendance by eliminating lack of appropriate clothing, shoes and school supplies as barriers. An intern will help to develop objective and subjective success measures for its Legacy Program, Teacher Free Store, and SC4K Direct (new, direct-to-families distributions).
Starting Point – Starting Point’s mission is to prepare children and youth for a lifetime of success by building the capacity of professionals to provide high-quality care and education, connecting families to those services, and advocating for systems change. Founded in 1990, we serve children, families, and professionals in Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula counties. An intern will support the marketing and communications and Family and Community Engagement departments to enhance Starting Point’s reach in the community.
Towards Employment, Inc. – Towards Employment believes in a dynamic world of work where all people—regardless of race, justice involvement or where they live—have an opportunity to thrive. The organization’s mission is to champion the potential of every person to succeed in a rewarding career today, while working to create an equitable and inclusive workforce for tomorrow. A Policy and Advocacy Intern for Towards Employment will have an opportunity to work on and make meaningful contributions to several key projects that support the actions of the 2022-2025 policy agenda.
Young Latino Network – The Young Latino Network (YLN) is a dynamic organization passionately committed to coalescing the power of Latinx/a/o/e communities in Ohio. The organization’s mission is to liberate and transform our people by amplifying their voices, building pathways to opportunities, and fostering a sense of unity and empowerment within our diverse community. A summer intern will play a pivotal role in bolstering our voter registration initiatives targeting young Latinx communities.
would love to sign up for this !
I’m really impressed by the variety of organizations hosting interns through the Cleveland Foundation’s program. I’m particularly excited to see the representation of local non-profits and companies. Wish the best of luck to all the interns and I’m looking forward to seeing the incredible work they’ll produce!
Congratulations to the host sites of the Cleveland Foundation’s 2024 Summer Internship Program! I’m excited to see the impact these internships will have on the next generation of leaders. Keep up the great work!