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

This internship supports the Volunteer Programs team at Make-A-Wish Illinois and offers interns a well-rounded understanding of volunteer program operations, including recruitment, onboarding, engagement, recognition, compliance, and retirement. The Volunteer Program Intern will assist with maintaining accurate volunteer records, supporting process improvement and automation efforts, and contributing to strategic volunteer initiatives led by the Operations department. This role provides valuable insight into how volunteers are integrated into the mission of the Foundation.

Daily Assignments Include:

• Recruiting volunteers, focusing on high-need areas across the state of Illinois
• Calling, emailing, and/or texting volunteers
• Maintaining accurate volunteer contacts, data, and notes in Salesforce
• Assisting with volunteer engagement, recognition, and compliance processes
• Providing on-site volunteer management support at events
• Supporting mailings, templates, trackers, and process documentation
• Supporting process automation, strategic initiatives, and 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
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
• Interest in process improvement and automation
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Salesforce
• 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