Wish Volunteer Program Intern in Chicago, Illinois at Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois

This internship supports wish granting volunteers at Make-A-Wish Illinois and offers interns hands-on experience with volunteer coordination, wish assignment workflows, and mission-centered communication. The Wish Volunteer Program Intern will help maintain wish volunteer records, support wish granter communications, and assist with program initiatives, process improvements, and other strategic projects within the Operations department.

Daily Assignments Include:

• Assigning wish granters to wish opportunities
• Management of the wish sign-up portal
• Volunteer outreach
• Supporting Wish Volunteer Program initiatives: Wish Celebration Mentor Program, Wish Boost Kit and mailings, and Wish Volunteer recognition and opportunities
• Assisting with Salesforce updates, reporting, and process automation projects
• Additional duties as assigned

Time Commitment: 15 hours per week (hybrid work experience), including one weekly in-office day on Thursdays. The cycle runs from September 3rd, 2026, through December 3rd, 2026. Official start date is on Thursday, September 3rd, 2026, with mandatory in-person intern orientation at 9:30am.

Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Strong attention to detail and data accuracy
• Ability to manage volunteer initiatives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
• Comfort with Microsoft Office, Salesforce, and learning new systems
• Interest in process improvement, automation, and nonprofit strategies
• Desire to contribute to the Make-A-Wish mission

Preferred Qualifications: Coursework in Non-Profit Management, Business, Data Analytics, Operations, Communications, and/or Hospitality

Additional Requirements:

• Must be currently enrolled in a college or university academic program
• Must be able to commute to our downtown Chicago office located at 200 W Monroe St, Suite 1801 Chicago, IL 60606 and be onsite weekly on Thursdays
• Minimum age for all internships is 18
• Selected candidates will be asked to participate in a criminal background check

Benefits

An internship at Make-A-Wish Illinois provides a unique opportunity to see how a renowned nonprofit organization runs from the inside. In addition to the learning opportunities outlined in the internship description, interns also have the opportunity to:

• Participate in connection sessions with each member of our executive leadership team
• Participate in skill-building workshops and check-ins lead by Human Resources
• Build working relationships cross-departmentally with staff and fellow interns
• Contribute to our mission of granting wishes for children with critical illnesses
• Receive recognition from supervisor(s) and staff during cycle closeout celebration