Office Operations Intern in Chicago, Illinois at Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois

This internship supports the Operations team at Make-A-Wish Illinois and offers the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in office management. The Office Operations Intern will report to the People Operations Coordinator and assist with tasks related to operational logistics and day-to-day office operations as well as key creative projects related to making the office a more magical place for our wish families to visit.

Responsibilities & Projects include:

• Contribute to a more magical in-person experience for our Wish kids and their families through the creative direction & execution of updating our Wish Conference Room. Includes cross-departmental collaboration to understand needs for the space
• Assist with shipping and mailing projects, including researching mailing machine options
• Create Office Reference Sheet to capture all office-related materials, info, links, etc.
• Creative direction & execution of better organizing our shipping & mailing area to make it more functional and wishy!
• Revamp Shipping & Mailing Guide to reflect recent changes
• Support with basement storage organization
• Catering, onsite support of staff retreat (if dates align)
• Respond to phone calls and voicemails from the main line connecting with the appropriate staff member
• Support the maintenance of functional and fully stocked office and kitchen
• Registering visitors with building management through the online tenant portal
• Corresponding with building management in-person or via email
• Greeting onsite guests and visitors
• Additional duties as assigned

Time Commitment: 10-15 hours per week (hybrid work experience), including two weekly in-office days on Tuesdays and 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 verbal and written communication skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word and Excel
• Desire to contribute to the mission of Make-A-Wish

Preferred Qualifications: Coursework in Non-Profit Management, Business Management, Office Management, Design, 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 Tuesdays and 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